Parliamentary procedure

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Parliamentary procedure

• Candice M. Dixon
• Region V Chair Emeritus / Parliamentarian

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What is Parliamentary Procedure
A set of rules of order that enable meetings to
be run in an orderly and effective manner.
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Call to Order
A meeting officially begins when the chairperson
or presiding officer calls the meeting to
order. I call this meeting to order. This
meeting will please come to order The
chairperson may or may not choose to also state
the time and/or date the meeting is called to
order (which should be recorded by the secretary).
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Quorum
In order to conduct business there must be a
minimum number or grouping of officers present.
This minimum needed in order for a meeting to
take place is called quorum.
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Motion

• A motion is a way a member or speaker presents
  his/her proposal.
• The proper way to state a motion is
• I move to
• If the motion is not stated correctly it will
  not be recognized.

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Second

• A motion must be seconded.
• A second simply expresses support for discussion
  of the motion.
• The proper way to second a motion is to say
• I second that motion.

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Motion Steps

• Once a motion has been moved and seconded, the
  chairperson or presiding officer should state
• It has been moved and properly seconded that
• Would the maker like to speak to the motion?
• Would the seconder like to speak to the motion?
• The floor is now open for discussion.

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Amend a Motion

• Once a motion is on the floor is possible to
  change/amend it.
• Friendly Amendment A friendly amendment changes
  the motion if and only if the maker and seconder
  of the motion accepts the friendly amendment.
• Move to Amend If the maker and seconder of the
  motion will not accept the friendly amendment, it
  may be necessary to Move to Amend. This,
  pending a second, forces the REB to decide
  whether or not to accept the amended motion.

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Speakers List

• The Vice Chair will maintain a speakers list
  during all meetings that will be used to
  determine the order in which people will speak.
• To get on the speakers list, simply get the
  attention of the Vice Chair by raising your hand.

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Discussion Points

• Point of Information is used only to request
  necessary information relevant to the discussion.
  This should not be used to express your opinion
  on the discussion.
• Point of Order is used to point out where
  something may be out of order or to gain order.
• Parliamentary Inquiry is used to ask a question
  concerning proper parliamentary procedure.

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Getting to A Vote

• If there is no further discussion and no one is
  left on the speakers list the chairperson may
  state Seeing that there is no one left on the
  speakers list we will now move directly into a
  vote
• Any REB member can Call the Question in an
  attempt to proceed to a vote on the motion.
• If you are not ready to vote and would rather
  continue the discussion state I object and the
  it will go back into a discussion.

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Getting to A Vote

• Sometimes, it may be necessary to move the
  question if efforts to call the question have
  been objected to. This is a motion that must be
  seconded.
• If this occurs, you will proceed directly into a
  vote on whether or not to vote on the motion at
  this time.
• Please note that you are not voting on the actual
  motion, but whether or not you are ready to vote
  on it.

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Voting

• There are various ways to vote
• By Consensus this type of voting assumes that
  everyone is in agreement with the motion and does
  not require the exact count of votes.
• If you do not agree with the motion and consensus
  in called, you should state I object
  immediately.
• By Hand Takes the hand counts of all voting
  members.
• By Ballot Requires that everyone submits their
  vote to the parliamentarian on paper. This is
  the most confidential way to vote.
• By Roll Call this calls for the secretary to
  record the vote of each voting member of the REB.
  A roll call vote may be requested if members see
  the need to reconsider the vote at a later time.
  Call for Division

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Voting

• There are three ways to vote
• In Favor Vote in favor if you agree with the
  motion on the floor. Majority In Favor votes
  will mean that the motion passes.
• Opposed Vote opposed if you disagree with the
  motion on the floor. Majority opposed votes will
  mean that the motion fails.
• Abstain Abstentions do not count for or against
  the motion. They are generally only used if
  there is a conflict of interest, or a member
  feels that they are unable to decide on the
  motion.

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Voting

• The Chairperson will then acknowledge the vote
  results by stating
• Motion Carries / Passes
• Motions Fails / Dies

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Questions???

• Candice M. Dixon
• Region V Chair Emeritus / Parliamentarian
• cdixonsu_at_hotmail.com