| |
| |
| To the Reader | |
| |
| |
| Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
| The Significance of Parliamentary Law | |
| |
| |
| Parliamentary Law Safeguards Rights | |
| |
| |
| What Is Parliamentary Law? | |
| |
| |
| What Organizations Must Observe Parliamentary Law? | |
| |
| |
| When Must Organizations Observe Parliamentary Law? | |
| |
| |
| Where Parliamentary Rules Are Found | |
| |
| |
| Requirements for a Parliamentary Authority | |
| |
| |
| |
| Fundamental Principles of Parliamentary Law | |
| |
| |
| The Purpose of Parliamentary Law | |
| |
| |
| Equality of Rights | |
| |
| |
| Majority Decision | |
| |
| |
| Minority Rights | |
| |
| |
| The Right of Discussion | |
| |
| |
| The Right to Information | |
| |
| |
| Fairness and Good Faith | |
| |
| |
| |
| Presentation of Motions | |
| |
| |
| Steps in Presenting a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Addressing the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Recognition by the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Proposal of a Motion by a Member | |
| |
| |
| Seconding a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Statement of a Motion by the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Example of the Presentation of a Motion | |
| |
| |
| |
| Classification of Motions | |
| |
| |
| Classes of Motions | |
| |
| |
| Main Motions | |
| |
| |
| Subsidiary Motions | |
| |
| |
| Privileged Motions | |
| |
| |
| Incidental Motions | |
| |
| |
| Classification of Unlisted Motions | |
| |
| |
| Changes in Classification of Motions | |
| |
| |
| |
| Precedence of Motions | |
| |
| |
| Order of Precedence | |
| |
| |
| Basic Rules of Precedence | |
| |
| |
| Example of Precedence | |
| |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Motions | |
| |
| |
| The Basic Rules of Motions | |
| |
| |
| What Is the Precedence of the Motion? | |
| |
| |
| Can the Motion Interrupt a Speaker? | |
| |
| |
| Does the Motion Require a Second? | |
| |
| |
| Is the Motion Debatable? | |
| |
| |
| Can the Motion Be Amended? | |
| |
| |
| What Vote Does the Motion Require? | |
| |
| |
| To What Other Motions Can the Motion Apply? | |
| |
| |
| What Other Motions Can Be Applied to the Motion? | |
| |
| |
| When Can a Motion Be Renewed? | |
| |
| |
| Chart: Changing Main Motions Already Voted On | |
| |
| |
| |
| Main Motions | |
| |
| |
| The Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| The Main Motion Defined | |
| |
| |
| Phrasing the Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| The Main Motion in Resolution Form | |
| |
| |
| Discussion on the Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| Disposition of the Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adopting the Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Main Motion | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| What Votes Can Be Reconsidered? | |
| |
| |
| Proposal of the Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| Who Can Move to Reconsider? | |
| |
| |
| Debate on the Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adopting the Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Rescind | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| What Motions May Be Rescinded? | |
| |
| |
| Vote Required to Rescind | |
| |
| |
| Rescind and Expunge | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Rescind | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Rescind | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Resume Consideration | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Limitations on the Motion to Resume Consideration | |
| |
| |
| Precedence over Other Main Motions | |
| |
| |
| Adhering Motions and Resuming Consideration | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Resume Consideration | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Resume Consideration | |
| |
| |
| |
| Subsidiary Motions | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Amend | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| What Motions May Be Amended? | |
| |
| |
| Amendments Must Be Germane | |
| |
| |
| Amendments May Be Hostile | |
| |
| |
| Limitations on Pending Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Debate on Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Amendment by Substitution of a New Motion | |
| |
| |
| Filling Blanks | |
| |
| |
| Withdrawing and Accepting Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Adhering Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Voting on Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Vote Required on Amendments | |
| |
| |
| Amending Actions Already Taken | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Amend | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Amend | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Refer to Committee | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Provisions Included in the Motion to Refer | |
| |
| |
| Instructions to a Committee | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Refer | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Refer | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Postpone Definitely | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Differences in Postponing Temporarily and Definitely | |
| |
| |
| Limitations on the Motion to Postpone Definitely | |
| |
| |
| Postponing as a General or Special Order | |
| |
| |
| Types of Postponement | |
| |
| |
| Consideration of Postponed Motions | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Postpone Definitely | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Postpone Definitely | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Limit or Extend Debate | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Types of Limitations on Debate | |
| |
| |
| How Limiting Debate Affects Pending Motions | |
| |
| |
| Termination of the Motion to Limit Debate | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Limit Debate | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Limit Debate | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Close Debate | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Confusion Caused by Former Name | |
| |
| |
| Proposal of the Motion to Close Debate | |
| |
| |
| How Closing Debate Affects Pending Motions | |
| |
| |
| Termination of the Motion to Close Debate | |
| |
| |
| Two-thirds Vote Required | |
| |
| |
| Question! | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Close Debate | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Close Debate | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Postpone Temporarily | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Reasons for Postponing Temporarily | |
| |
| |
| Time Limits on the Motion to Postpone Temporarily | |
| |
| |
| Adhering Motions Also Postponed | |
| |
| |
| Use of the Term "to Table" | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Postpone Temporarily | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Postpone Temporarily | |
| |
| |
| |
| Privileged Motions | |
| |
| |
| Question of Privilege | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Member's Right to Request Privilege | |
| |
| |
| Interruption by a Question of Privilege | |
| |
| |
| Privileges of the Assembly | |
| |
| |
| Personal Privileges | |
| |
| |
| Motions as Questions of Privilege | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Proposing a Question of Privilege | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing a Question of Privilege (Request) | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Recess | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Difference Between Recess and Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| Limitations and Restrictions on the Motion to Recess | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Recess | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Recess | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Qualified and Unqualified Motions to Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| Completion of Business Before Adjournment | |
| |
| |
| Adjournment to a Later Time | |
| |
| |
| Adjournment and Dissolution | |
| |
| |
| Voting on Adjournment | |
| |
| |
| Adjournment at Previously Fixed Time | |
| |
| |
| Business Interrupted by Adjournment | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| |
| Incidental Motions | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| When an Appeal May Be Taken | |
| |
| |
| Statement of the Question on Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Statement of the Reasons for Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Vote on an Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Effect of the Motion to Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Appeal | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Suspend Rules | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Which Rules Can Be Suspended? | |
| |
| |
| Which Rules Cannot Be Suspended? | |
| |
| |
| Restrictions and Time Limits on Suspension of Rules | |
| |
| |
| The "Gordian Knot" Motion | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Adoption of the Motion to Suspend Rules | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing the Motion to Suspend Rules | |
| |
| |
| Point of Order | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| How Points of Order Arise | |
| |
| |
| When a Point of Order May Be Raised | |
| |
| |
| Ruling on Points of Order | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Request for Point of Order | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Point of Order | |
| |
| |
| Parliamentary Inquiry | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Right of Members to Inquire | |
| |
| |
| When an Inquiry Interrupts | |
| |
| |
| Inquiry Addressed to the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Request for Parliamentary Inquiry | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Interruption | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Parliamentary Inquiry | |
| |
| |
| Request to Withdraw a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Right of the Proposer to Withdraw a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Permission to Withdraw a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Recording Withdrawn Motions | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Request to Withdraw a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Request to Withdraw a Motion | |
| |
| |
| Request for Division of Question | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| Motions That the Presiding Officer Can Divide | |
| |
| |
| Motions That the Presiding Officer Cannot Divide | |
| |
| |
| When Division of Question May Be Proposed | |
| |
| |
| Alternative Proposals for Dividing a Question | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Request for Division of Question | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Request for Division of Question | |
| |
| |
| Request for Division of Assembly | |
| |
| |
| Purpose | |
| |
| |
| Form | |
| |
| |
| When Division May Be Requested | |
| |
| |
| Verification of a Vote by the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Effect of Request for Division of Assembly | |
| |
| |
| Rules Governing Request for Division of Assembly | |
| |
| |
| |
| Notice of Meetings and Proposals | |
| |
| |
| Importance of Notice | |
| |
| |
| Notice Protects Members | |
| |
| |
| Notice of Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Notice of Proposed Actions | |
| |
| |
| Waiver of Notice | |
| |
| |
| |
| Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Meetings and Conventions Defined | |
| |
| |
| Regular Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Special Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Continued Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Failure to Call Meetings | |
| |
| |
| |
| Quorum | |
| |
| |
| Necessity for a Quorum | |
| |
| |
| Quorum Requirements | |
| |
| |
| Computing a Quorum | |
| |
| |
| Raising a Question on Quorum | |
| |
| |
| Presumption of a Quorum | |
| |
| |
| |
| Order of Business | |
| |
| |
| Usual Order of Business | |
| |
| |
| Flexibility in the Order of Business | |
| |
| |
| Agenda | |
| |
| |
| Consent Agenda | |
| |
| |
| Call to Order | |
| |
| |
| Reading of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Postponement of Reading of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| "Dispensing" with Reading of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Reports of Officers | |
| |
| |
| Reports of Committees | |
| |
| |
| Unfinished Business | |
| |
| |
| New Business | |
| |
| |
| Announcements | |
| |
| |
| Adjournment | |
| |
| |
| |
| Debate | |
| |
| |
| The Right of Debate | |
| |
| |
| Extent of Debate on Motions | |
| |
| |
| Obtaining the Floor for Debate | |
| |
| |
| Recognition of Members During Debate | |
| |
| |
| Speaking More Than Once | |
| |
| |
| What Is Not Debate? | |
| |
| |
| Relevancy in Debate | |
| |
| |
| Dilatory Tactics | |
| |
| |
| Members' Conduct During Debate | |
| |
| |
| Presiding Officer's Duties During Debate | |
| |
| |
| Time Limits on Debate | |
| |
| |
| Cutting Off Debate | |
| |
| |
| Bringing a Question to Vote | |
| |
| |
| Informal Consideration | |
| |
| |
| |
| Votes Required for Valid Actions | |
| |
| |
| Significance of a Majority Vote | |
| |
| |
| Requiring More Than a Majority Vote | |
| |
| |
| Requiring Less Than a Majority Vote | |
| |
| |
| Importance of Defining the Vote Required | |
| |
| |
| Different Meanings of Majority Vote | |
| |
| |
| Plurality Vote | |
| |
| |
| Unanimous Vote | |
| |
| |
| Tie Vote | |
| |
| |
| Vote of the Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Computation of a Two-thirds Vote | |
| |
| |
| Computing a Majority for Separate Questions | |
| |
| |
| Computing a Majority When Electing a Group | |
| |
| |
| Voting Separately for Equal Positions | |
| |
| |
| When Members Cannot Vote | |
| |
| |
| |
| Methods of Voting | |
| |
| |
| Voting Is a Fundamental Right | |
| |
| |
| Voting in Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Voice Vote | |
| |
| |
| Rising Vote | |
| |
| |
| Roll Call Vote | |
| |
| |
| Ballot Vote | |
| |
| |
| Voting by General Consent | |
| |
| |
| Voting by Mail | |
| |
| |
| Voting by Proxy | |
| |
| |
| Changing a Vote | |
| |
| |
| Announcing the Result of a Vote | |
| |
| |
| All Votes Binding During a Meeting | |
| |
| |
| |
| Nominations and Elections | |
| |
| |
| Choosing Organization Leaders | |
| |
| |
| Bylaw Provisions on Nominations and Elections | |
| |
| |
| Nominations from the Floor | |
| |
| |
| Voting for Candidates Not Nominated | |
| |
| |
| Selecting a Nominating Committee | |
| |
| |
| Duties of a Nominating Committee | |
| |
| |
| Qualifications of Nominees | |
| |
| |
| Nomination to More Than One Office | |
| |
| |
| Nominating Committee Members as Candidates | |
| |
| |
| Single and Multiple Slate | |
| |
| |
| Election Committee | |
| |
| |
| Counting Ballots | |
| |
| |
| Determining Legality of Ballots | |
| |
| |
| Report of Election Committee or Tellers | |
| |
| |
| Vote Necessary to Elect | |
| |
| |
| Casting of Ballot by the Secretary | |
| |
| |
| Motion to Make a Vote Unanimous | |
| |
| |
| When Elections Become Effective | |
| |
| |
| Challenging a Vote | |
| |
| |
| Challenging an Election | |
| |
| |
| |
| Officers | |
| |
| |
| The President as Leader | |
| |
| |
| The President as Administrator | |
| |
| |
| The President as Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| When the President Presides | |
| |
| |
| The President-elect | |
| |
| |
| The Vice President | |
| |
| |
| The Secretary | |
| |
| |
| The Corresponding Secretary | |
| |
| |
| The Treasurer | |
| |
| |
| The Member Parliamentarian | |
| |
| |
| The Sergeant-at-Arms | |
| |
| |
| Honorary Officers | |
| |
| |
| Powers and Liabilities of Officers | |
| |
| |
| Delegation of Authority by Officers and Boards | |
| |
| |
| Term of Office | |
| |
| |
| Vacancies | |
| |
| |
| Removal of Officers | |
| |
| |
| |
| Committees and Boards | |
| |
| |
| Importance of Committees | |
| |
| |
| Advantages of Committees | |
| |
| |
| Standing Committees | |
| |
| |
| Special Committees | |
| |
| |
| Committees for Deliberation | |
| |
| |
| Committees for Action | |
| |
| |
| Selection of the Committee Chairman | |
| |
| |
| Selection of the Committee Members | |
| |
| |
| Ex Officio Members of Committees | |
| |
| |
| Powers, Rights, and Duties of Committees | |
| |
| |
| Working Materials for Committees | |
| |
| |
| Committee Meetings Limited to Members | |
| |
| |
| Procedure in Committee Meetings | |
| |
| |
| Committee Hearings | |
| |
| |
| The Board of Directors | |
| |
| |
| The Executive Committee of the Board | |
| |
| |
| Conflicts of Interest | |
| |
| |
| |
| Committee Reports and Recommendations | |
| |
| |
| Form of Committee Reports and Recommendations | |
| |
| |
| Agreement on Committee Reports | |
| |
| |
| Presentation of Committee Reports | |
| |
| |
| Consideration of Committee Reports | |
| |
| |
| Record of Committee Reports | |
| |
| |
| Minority Reports | |
| |
| |
| Presentation of Committee Recommendations | |
| |
| |
| |
| Conventions and Their Committees | |
| |
| |
| General Structure of Conventions | |
| |
| |
| Instruction of Delegates | |
| |
| |
| Convention Committees | |
| |
| |
| Use of Reference (or Resolutions) Committees | |
| |
| |
| Duties of Reference Committees | |
| |
| |
| Hearings of Reference Committees | |
| |
| |
| Reports of Reference Committees | |
| |
| |
| |
| Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Importance of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Responsibility for Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Preparing Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Reading and Correction of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Approval of Minutes | |
| |
| |
| What Minutes Should Contain | |
| |
| |
| What Minutes Should Not Contain | |
| |
| |
| The Minute Book | |
| |
| |
| |
| Charters, Bylaws, and Rules | |
| |
| |
| Types of Charters | |
| |
| |
| Constitution and Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Drafting Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Adoption of the Original Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| When Bylaws Go into Effect | |
| |
| |
| Provisions for Amending Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Proposing Amendments to Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Form for Proposed Amendments to Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Considering Amendments to Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Vote Required on Amendments to Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Revision of Bylaws | |
| |
| |
| Interpreting Bylaws and Rules | |
| |
| |
| Special and Standing Rules | |
| |
| |
| Parliamentary Authority | |
| |
| |
| Detailed Procedures | |
| |
| |
| Supplementing Procedural Rules by Motions | |
| |
| |
| Adopted Policies | |
| |
| |
| |
| Finances | |
| |
| |
| Setting Up Financial Records | |
| |
| |
| Report of the Treasurer | |
| |
| |
| Report of the Auditor | |
| |
| |
| Financial Safeguards | |
| |
| |
| |
| Legal Classifications of Organizations | |
| |
| |
| Meeting to Form an Organization | |
| |
| |
| Temporary and Permanent Organizations | |
| |
| |
| Incorporated and Unincorporated Organizations | |
| |
| |
| Statutory Requirements | |
| |
| |
| Nonprofit Organizations | |
| |
| |
| |
| Rights of Members and of Organizations | |
| |
| |
| Relationship Between Member and Organization | |
| |
| |
| Rights of Members | |
| |
| |
| Rights of Organizations | |
| |
| |
| Relationship of Individual and Organizational Rights | |
| |
| |
| Discipline and Expulsion of Members | |
| |
| |
| Resignations | |
| |
| |
| |
| Staff and Consultants | |
| |
| |
| The Executive Secretary | |
| |
| |
| The Accountant | |
| |
| |
| The Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations | |
| |
| |
| The Attorney | |
| |
| |
| The Parliamentarian | |
| |
| |
| |
| Dealing with Disapproved or Obsolete Motions | |
| |
| |
| Adjourning to an Adjourned Meeting | |
| |
| |
| Call for the Orders of the Day | |
| |
| |
| Committee of the Whole | |
| |
| |
| Dispense with the Reading of the Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn | |
| |
| |
| Object to Consideration | |
| |
| |
| Postpone Indefinitely | |
| |
| |
| The Previous Question | |
| |
| |
| Quasi-Committee of the Whole | |
| |
| |
| Reconsider and Enter on the Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Simplification of Motion to Reconsider | |
| |
| |
| |
| Often-Asked Questions | |
| |
| |
| |
| Governmental Boards, Councils, Commissions, and Committees | |
| |
| |
| Governmental Bodies and Parliamentary Law | |
| |
| |
| Organization of Governmental Bodies | |
| |
| |
| Notice Requirements | |
| |
| |
| Quorum | |
| |
| |
| Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Presiding Officer | |
| |
| |
| Powers and Duties of Members | |
| |
| |
| No Seconds Required | |
| |
| |
| Voting | |
| |
| |
| Vacancies | |
| |
| |
| Removal of Members | |
| |
| |
| Parliamentary Authority | |
| |
| |
| Rights of Citizens Attending Meetings | |
| |
| |
| |
| Suggested Bylaw Provisions for A Local Organization | |
| |
| |
| |
| Model Minutes | |
| |
| |
| Notes | |
| |
| |
| Definitions of Parliamentary Terms | |
| |
| |
| Principal Rules Governing Motions | |
| |
| |
| Incidental Motions | |
| |
| |
| The Chief Purposes of Motions | |
| |
| |
| Index | |