Parliamentary Procedure

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Parliamentary Procedure
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What is parliamentary procedure?

• An effective and efficient way to conduct a
  meeting using democratic principles.
• The right for all to debate (even minority)
• Majority rule
• Jarrell D. Gray is an outline of Roberts Rules
  of Order (British Parliament).

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Introduction

• Formal parliamentary procedure
• FFA and 4-H Contests
• Large meetings
• Informal parliamentary procedure
• Small meetings

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Using your Guide

• Preface
• Classification and Summary of Motions
• Table of Contents
• Importance of Parliamentary Procedure
• Teaching Parliamentary Procedure
• Fundamental Practices
• Classification/All the motions
• Order of Business/Minutes and Treasures Report
• Review Questions

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Presenting a Motion

• Rise and address the chair
• Recognition from the chair
• Reason for the motion
• Statement of the motion (I move that)
• Second (if its required)
• Repeat of the motion by the chair

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Main Motion

• To present an item of business for consideration
  and action by the chapter.
• A second is required
• Debatable
• Amendable
• Majority vote
• Can be reconsidered

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Example

• Rise and receive recognition from the chair
• Our chapter is running low on funds therefore,
  I move that the chapter have a concession stand
  at the basketball game.

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Seconding the Motion

• Rise and and state in unison
• Mr./Mdm. President/Chairperson, I second the
  motion
• Once a motion has been seconded, the chair
  restates the motion
• It has been moved and seconded that the chapter
  have a concession stand at the basketball game.

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Voting

• Voice
• Show of hands
• Rising (stand)
• Ballot

• Majority
• 2/3
• Rising
• General Consent

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Voting (Cont.)

• All those in favor of having a concession stand
  at the basketball game say I..all opposed say
  no..the Is have it, we will have a concession
  stand at the basketball game.

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Amend

• To modify the motion that is under consideration.
• Requires a second
• Debatable
• Amendable to the second rank
• It can be reconsidered

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Amend (cont.)

• Give a reason therefore I move to amend the
  motion by
• Striking out words
• Inserting words
• Striking out and inserting words

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Amend (cont.)
Motion
1st rank amendment
2nd rank amendment
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Amend (cont.)

• Basketball season is almost over therefore I
  move to amend the motion by striking out the word
  basketball and inserting baseball.
• Our schedule will allow us to have a concession
  stand at every game therefore, I move to amend
  the amendment by inserting the words at every
  baseball game.

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Lay on the table

• To temporarily delay action on an item of
  business.
• Requires a second
• Undebatable
• Unamendable
• Majority vote
• Cannot be reconsidered

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Lay on the table (cont.)

• Give a reason therefore I move that we lay this
  motion on the table.
• What happens to the amendments of a motion that
  is tabled?
• They are tabled as well.

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Take from the table

• To again bring a question before the chapter for
  further consideration.
• Requires a second
• Undebatable
• Unamendable
• Majority vote
• Cannot be reconsidered

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Take from the table (cont.)

• Give a reason therefore, I move that we take
  this from the table.
• What happens if the motion was tabled during an
  amendment and take from the table passes?
• The business comes back in the same form as it
  was tabled.

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Division of the Assembly

• To determine the accuracy of a vote, especially
  when taken by voice or by show of hands.
• A second is not required
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• Recognition is not necessary
• It can interrupt a speaker
• It cannot be reconsidered
• Simple say division during the vote
  announcement.

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Point of Order

• To enforce the rules by calling attention to a
  violation of the rules or a mistake in procedure.
• Doesnt require a second
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• Recognition is not necessary
• A vote is not required unless it is referred to
  the chapter for their decision
• Cannot be reconsidered
• Can interrupt a speaker

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Point of Order (Cont.)

• When a violation or mistake takes place, a member
  can rise and state Mr./Mdm. President/Chairperson
  , I rise to a point of order
• The point must then be stated by the member, and
  then restated by the presiding officer.

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Parliamentary Inquiry

• To permit a member to gain parliamentry
  information.
• A second is not required
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• A vote is not required
• It cannot be reconsidered
• A vote is not required
• It can interrupt a speaker

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Parliamentary Inquiry (Cont.)

• Mr./Mdm. President/Chairperson, I rise to a
  point of parliamentary inquiry.
• Presiding officer- State your point.
• The member can then ask a parliamentary question.

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Appeal from the decision of the Chair

• To obtain a decision from the chapter to a
  question on which the president has made a
  decision.
• Requires a second
• Debatable, unless it relates to indecorum
• Cannot be amended
• A majority or tie vote sustains the chair
• It can be reconsidered
• Does not require recognition

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Appeal (cont.)

• Mr./Mdm. President, I appeal from the decision
  of the chair
• Mr./Mdm. President, I second the appeal
• Would you state your appeal?
• The member must then give a reason
• After the vote the chair is either sustained or
  not sustained.

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Previous Question

• To terminate discussion on the motion or motions
  before the chapter and to secure an immediate
  vote.
• Undebatable
• Unamendable
• Two-thirds vote
• It may be reconsidered before the affirmative
  vote is taken on the pending question, or
  questions.

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Previous Question (Cont.)

• Mr./Mdm. President/Chairperson, (Recognition) I
  move the previous question.

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Refer to a Committee

• To place the question temporarily in a committee.
• Second is Required
• Debatable and Amendable
• Majority Vote
• It may be reconsidered before the committee takes
  up the question.

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Refer to a Committee (cont.)

• I believe we need more information on this
  matter therefore, I move to refer this motion to
  committee.
• Standing
• Special
• Power to act?
• Committee members?

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Suspend Standing Rules

• To permit the chapter to do something that cannot
  be done without violating its standing rules.
• Second is required
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• Majority vote
• Cannot be reconsidered

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Nominations and Elections

• To present to the chapter the name of a candidate
  for a certain office or position.
• A second is not required to nominate
• A majority vote is required to elect

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Opening Nominations

• Reason (information or a main motion)
• Opening or reopening nominations
• Second
• Undebatable and Amendable as to time only
• Majority Vote
• Only the negative vote can be reconsidered

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Closing Nominations

• Second
• Undebatable and Amendable as to time only
• 2/3 vote

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Leave to Withdraw a Motion

• To permit the withdrawal of a motion from
  consideration by the chapter
• Second is not required
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• Majority Vote
• Cannot be withdrawn after voting has commenced
• Affirmative vote may not be reconsidered

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Leave to Withdraw (cont.)

• Permission is requested to withdraw my motion.

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Reconsider

• To permit the reconsidering of a vote previously
  taken on a motion and to again reconsider the
  question.
• Second
• Debatable if the question to which it applies is
  debatable
• Unamendable
• Majority Vote
• Cannot be Reconsidered

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Reconsider (cont.)

• I move to reconsider the vote on the motion
  thatI voted on the prevailing side.
• After reconsider passes, you must act on the
  motion itself!

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Rescind

• To cancel action taken by the chapter.
• Second
• Debatable and Amendable
• Majority if previous notice, otherwise
  two-thirds.
• It cannot be applied to action that cannot be
  reversed
• Only the negative vote can be reconsidered

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Rescind (cont.)

• I move to rescind the motion that.
• If rescind passes, the motion is eliminated!

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Adjourn (unqualified)

• To terminate the meeting.
• Second
• Undebatable and Unamendable
• Majority vote
• Cannot be reconsidered
• Cannot be done while the chapter is voting!
• When time is designated, it becomes qualified and
  is treated like a main motion.

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Lets get out of here!