PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

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PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

• D E L T A S I G M A T H E T A S O R O R I T
  Y, I N C.

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Agenda

• Deltas Governing Documents
• Learning Activity 2
• Order of Business
• How Members Express Themselves
• Types of Motions
• Learning Activity 3
• Presenting Motions
• Question/Answers
• Wrap-up and Evaluation

• Introduction
• Meditation
• Icebreaker
• Purpose/Objectives
• Definitions
• Parliamentary Procedure
• Robert Rules of Order
• Learning Activity 1
• Principles of Parliamentary Procedures

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Objectives

• Define parliamentary procedure and identify the
  reasons for using it
• Define Roberts Rules of Order
• Identify and describe the steps in presenting and
  disposing of a motion
• Classify motions into classes of privileged,
  incidental, subsidiary, unclassified, and main
• Describe the purpose of the most often used
  procedures such as main motion, amend, refer to
  a committee, point of order, adjourn, lay on the
  table, and others
• Identify whether certain motions require a
  second, whether they are debatable and/or
  amendable, the vote necessary for passage,
  whether the motion may be reconsidered and/or
  rescinded, and other significant information

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Icebreaker
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What is Parliamentary Procedure?

• Refers to the rules of democracythat is, the
  commonly accepted way in which a group of people
  come together, present and discuss possible
  courses of action, and make decisions
• Defines how groups of people, no matter how
  formal or informal, can most effectively meet and
  make decisions in a fair, consistent mannerand
  make good use of everyone's time

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Why Should I Know Parliamentary Procedure?

• Time tested method used by Delta Sigma Theta to
  conduct business
• Empowers you as a member of your chapter
• Prepares you to be more effective when
  participating in your business meetings
• Adds structure to your meetings
• Provides an orderly fashion for your discussions
  and decision making

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What are Rules of Order?

• Written rules of parliamentary procedure formally
  adopted by a group of people or by an
  organization
• Relate to the orderly transaction of business in
  meetings and to the duties of officers in
  facilitating the conduct of business
• Help ensure that the organization functions
  smoothly and that questions about procedure can
  be resolved quickly and fairly
• Include bylaws, standing rules, policy manuals,
  and other rules, inc.

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Learning Activity 1Parliamentary Procedures Quiz
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General Principles

• The rights of the sorority supersede the rights
  of individual Sorors.
• All members have equal rights, privileges, and
  obligations rules must be administered
  impartially.
• The minority has rights which must be protected.
• A quorum must be present to do business or to
  vote.
• The majority rules.

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General Principles

• Silence is consent. The chair should not call for
  abstentions.
• Two-thirds vote rules.
• Members may not make a motion or speak in debate
  until they have been recognized by the chair and
  thus have obtained the floor.
• One question at a time and one speaker at a time.
• Debatable motions must receive full debate.

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General Principles

• Once a question is decided, it is not in order to
  bring up the same motion or one essentially like
  it at the same meeting.
• Personal remarks in debates are always out of
  order.
• In voting, members have the right to know at all
  times what motion is before the assembly and what
  affirmative and negative votes mean.

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Parliamentary Terms
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Governing Documents

• What governing documents do you use
• to provide order in chapter operations?
• National Constitution and Bylaws
• Chapter Policies Procedures
• Chapter Rules of Order
• Roberts Rules of Order
• Chapter Management Handbook
• The Ritual

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Key Players

• President
• Secretary
• Parliamentarian
• Members

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Learning Activity 2Parliamentary Terms Quiz
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Order of Business (Agenda)

• Call to Order
• Roll call
• Reading of Minutes
• Officers Reports
• Committee Reports
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• Announcements
• Adjournment

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How Members Express Themselves

• Members express themselves in the form of motions
• Make a motion
• Second a motion(s)
• Debate/discuss motions
• Vote on motions
• Call a point of order

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Basic Types of Motions

• Privileged Motions
• Not related to the business on the floor but to
  the rights of the members
• Have the right to interrupt business
• Because of their high privilege, are undebatable
• Have a rank among themselves

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Basic Types of Motions

• Subsidiary Motions
• Relate directly to the main motion thats on the
  table
• May change the words of the motion, send it to
  committee, delay it, etc.
• Designed to expedite business
• Class of motions most often used in meetings
• Have a rank among themselves

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Basic Types of Motions

• Main Motions
• A proposal that certain action be taken
• Allows the group to do its work
• Can be made only when no other motion is pending
• Must be capable of standing by itself
• Lowest in ranked motions
• Requires a second, is debatable, is amendable
• Normally takes a majority vote
• Exception?

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Basic Types of Motions

• Incidental Motions
• Deal with questions of procedure
• Arise out of another pending motion or item of
  business
• Are not debatable
• Exception Motion to appeal from the ruling of
  the chair

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Basic Types of Motions

• Restorative Motions (Unranked)
• Reconsider and Rescind
• Separate category Contradict the parliamentary
  rule that once a question has been decided it
  cannot be brought up again at the same meeting
• Roberts Rules of Order says, Within limits,
  members have the right to rethink a situation if
  they feel their decision has been made too
  quickly or without enough information.

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Questions Pertaining to Motions

• Is It In Order?
• Your motion must relate to the business at hand
  and be presented at the right time. It must not
  be obstructive, frivolous or against the bylaws.
• May I Interrupt The Speaker?
• Some motions are so important that the speaker
  may be interrupted to make them. The original
  speaker regains the floor after the interruption
  has been attended to.
•  
•  

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Questions Pertaining to Motions

• Do I Need a Second?
• Usually, yes. A second indicates that another
  member would like to consider your motion. It
  prevents spending time on a question that
  interests only one person.
• Is It Debatable?
• Parliamentary procedure guards the right to free
  and full debate on most motions. However, some
  subsidiary, privileged and incidental motions are
  not debatable.
•  

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Questions Pertaining to Motions

• Can It Be Amended?
• Some motions can be changed by striking out or
  inserting wording, or both. Amendments must
  relate to the subject as presented in the main
  motion.
• What Vote Is Needed?
• Most require only a majority vote (more than half
  the members present and voting). But, motions
  concerning the rights of the assembly or its
  members need a 2/3 vote to be adopted.

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Questions Pertaining to Motions

• Can It Be Reconsidered? 
• Some motions can be debated again and revoted to
  give members a chance to change their minds. The
  motion to reconsider must come from the winning
  side.

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Learning Activity 3Parliamentary Motions Match
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How Motions are Presented

• A Member requests the floor.
• Member rises.
• Addresses the chair, Madam President.
• The floor is assigned.
• Chair recognizes the member.
• Chair assigns the floor by calling her name or
  microphone number (if appropriate).
• The motion is made.
• Introduce motion by saying, I move

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How Motions are Presented

• The motion is seconded.
• Another member will second your motion.
• If there is no second, the motion dies.
• The chair restates the motion.
• The chair states, It has been moved and seconded
  that which places the motion before the
  membership for consideration and action.
• The membership either debates the motion or it
  moves directly to a vote.

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How Motions are Presented

• Debate is held.
• The chair opens debate by saying, Is there any
  discussion?
• All comments and debate must be directed to the
  chair.
• Debate continues unless motions have been adopted
  to limit or close debate.
• The chair puts the question to a vote.
• The chair restates the motion.
• The vote is taken.
• The chair announces the vote.

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Questions and Answers
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Resources

• National Constitution By-Laws, Delta Sigma
  Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Roberts Rules of Order
• Chapter Management Handbook, Delta Sigma Theta
  Sorority, Inc.
• The a-b-cs of Parliamentary Procedures
• Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance
• Officers Institute Manuals, Delta Sigma Theta
  Sorority, Inc.
• National Association of Parliamentarians
• Jim Slaughter, Certified Professional Registered
  Parliamentarian
• http//www.csuchio.edu/sac/parliament.html
• http//www.robertsrules.otg/rulesintro.htm
• www.jimslaughter.com
• www.parliamentarians.org

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Evaluations

• Thank you for attending our workshop.
• Please complete the evaluation
• and submit to your trainer.