CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Epigraph

The Editions of This Manual

Cite This Book

Section and Paragraph Numbering

Abbreviations in This Book

Preface to the Twelfth Edition

Introduction

Principles Underlying Parliamentary Law

I
THE DELIBERATIVE ASSEMBLY: ITS TYPES AND THEIR RULES

§1   The Deliberative Assembly

1:1 Nature of the Deliberative Assembly

1:9 Types of Deliberative Assembly

1:24 Applicability of Modified Parliamentary Rules in Small Boards and in Committees

§2   Rules of an Assembly or Organization

2:5 Corporate Charter

2:8 Constitution; Bylaws

2:14 Rules of Order

2:23 Standing Rules

2:25 Custom

II
THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN A DELIBERATIVE ASSEMBLY

§3   Basic Provisions and Procedures

3:3 Minimum Composition of a Deliberative Assembly

3:9 Pattern of Formality

3:15 Call to Order; Order of Business

3:21 Means by Which Business Is Brought Before the Assembly

3:30 Obtaining and Assigning the Floor

§4   The Handling of a Motion

4:2 How a Motion Is Brought Before the Assembly

4:25 The Consideration of a Main Motion: Basic Steps

4:58 Adoption of a Motion, or Action Without a Motion, by Unanimous Consent

4:64 Relation of Other Motions to the Main Motion

III
DESCRIPTION OF MOTIONS IN ALL CLASSIFICATIONS

§5   Basic Classifications; Order of Precedence of Motions

5:1 Classes of Motions

5:3 Secondary Motions as an Underlying Concept

§6   Description of Classes and Individual Motions

6:1 Main Motions

6:3 Subsidiary Motions

6:11 Privileged Motions

6:15 Incidental Motions

6:25 Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly

§7   Standard Descriptive Characteristics of Motions

IV
MEETING AND SESSION

§8   Meeting, Session, Recess, Adjournment

8:1 Explanation of Terms

8:3 Interrelation of the Concepts

8:11 Significance of Session

§9   Particular Types of Business Meetings

9:1 Regular Meeting

9:13 Special Meeting

9:17 Adjourned Meeting

9:20 Annual Meeting

9:24 Executive Session

9:28 Public Session

9:30 Electronic Meetings

V
THE MAIN MOTION

§10 The Main Motion

10:2 Distinction Between Original Main and Incidental Main Motions

10:8 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

10:9 The Framing of Main Motions

10:26 Main Motions That Are Not in Order

10:28 Treatment of Main Motions

10:37 Notes on Example Format Throughout the Book

10:38 Form and Example

10:44 Previous Notice of Motions

10:52 Motion to Adopt and Motion to Ratify

VI
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS

§11 Postpone Indefinitely
(To drop the main motion without a direct vote on it)

11:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

11:3 Further Rules and Explanation

11:6 Form and Example

§12 Amend

12:7 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

12:8 Further Rules and Explanation (with Forms)

12:92 Filling Blanks

§13 Commit or Refer

13:7 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

13:8 Further Rules and Explanation

13:25 Form and Example

§14 Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely)

14:4 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

14:5 Further Rules and Explanation

14:20 Form and Example

§15 Limit or Extend Limits of Debate

15:5 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

15:6 Further Rules and Explanation

15:19 Form and Example

§16 Previous Question
(Immediately to close debate and the making of subsidiary motions except the motion to Lay on the Table)

16:5 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

16:6 Further Rules and Explanation

16:20 Form and Example

§17 Lay on the Table
(To interrupt the pending business so as to permit doing something else immediately)

17:3 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

17:4 Further Rules and Explanation

17:20 Form and Example

VII
PRIVILEGED MOTIONS

§18 Call for the Orders of the Day
(To demand to take up the proper business in order)

18:4 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

18:5 Further Rules and Explanation

18:9 Form and Example

§19 Raise a Question of Privilege

19:6 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

19:7 Further Rules and Explanation

19:11 Form and Example

§20 Recess

20:5 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

20:6 Further Rules and Explanation

20:8 Form and Example

§21 Adjourn

21:6 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

21:7 Further Rules and Explanation

21:16 Form and Example

§22 Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn

22:6 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

22:7 Further Rules and Explanation

22:12 Form and Example

VIII
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS

§23 Point of Order

23:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

23:3 Further Rules and Explanation

23:12 Form and Example

§24 Appeal

24:3 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

24:4 Further Rules and Explanation

24:9 Form and Example

§25 Suspend the Rules

25:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

25:3 Further Rules and Explanation

25:17 Form and Example

§26 Objection to the Consideration of a Question

26:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

26:3 Further Rules and Explanation

26:8 Form and Example

§27 Division of a Question

27:3 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

27:4 Further Rules and Explanation

27:12 Form and Example

§28 Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim

28:2Standard Descriptive Characteristics

28:3 Further Rules and Explanation

28:10 Form and Example

§29 Division of the Assembly

29:4 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

29:5 Further Rules and Explanation

29:8 Form and Example

§30 Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and the Polls

30:3 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

30:4 Further Rules and Explanation

§31 Motions Relating to Nominations

31:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

31:3 Further Rules and Explanation

§32 Request to Be Excused from a Duty

32:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

32:3 Further Rules and Explanation

§33 Requests and Inquiries

33:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

33:3 Further Rules and Explanation (with Forms)

33:3 A. Parliamentary Inquiry

33:6 B. Request for Information

33:11 C. Request for Permission (or Leave) to Withdraw or Modify a Motion

33:20 D. Request to Read Papers

33:22 E. Request for Any Other Privilege

IX
MOTIONS THAT BRING A QUESTION AGAIN BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY

§34 Take from the Table

34:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

34:3 Further Rules and Explanation

34:8 Form and Example

§35 Rescind; Amend Something Previously Adopted

35:2 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

35:3 Further Rules and Explanation

35:7 Form and Example

35:13 Rescind and Expunge from the Minutes

§36 Discharge a Committee

36:4 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

36:5 Further Rules and Explanation

36:12 Form and Example

§37 Reconsider

37:9 Standard Descriptive Characteristics

37:10 Further Rules and Explanation

37:36 Form and Example

37:46 Reconsider and Enter on the Minutes

X
RENEWAL OF MOTIONS; DILATORY AND IMPROPER MOTIONS

§38 Renewal of Motions

38:4 Nonrenewability During the Same Session, and Exceptions

38:8 Conditions That May Impede Renewal at a Later Session

§39 Dilatory and Improper Motions

39:1 Dilatory Motions

39:5 Improper Motions

XI
QUORUM; ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RELATED CONCEPTS

§40 Quorum

40:2 Rules Pertaining to the Quorum

40:11 Manner of Enforcing the Quorum Requirement

40:13 Call of the House

§41 Order of Business; Orders of the Day; Agenda or Program

41:5 Usual Order of Business in Ordinary Societies

41:37 Taking Up Business out of Its Proper Order

41:40 Orders of the Day

41:58 Agenda or Program

XII
ASSIGNMENT OF THE FLOOR; DEBATE

§42 Rules Governing Assignment of the Floor

42:2 Recognition of a Member

42:6 Assignment of the Floor When More Than One Person Claims It

42:18 Interruption of a Member Assigned the Floor

§43 Rules Governing Debate

43:4 Summary of Procedures Incident to Debate

43:8 Length and Number of Speeches

43:14 Modification of General Limits of Debate

43:19 Decorum in Debate

43:29 Rule Against the Chair’s Participation in Debate

43:31 Occasions Justifying Brief Discussion Outside Debate

43:35 Principles Governing the Debatability of Motions

XIII
VOTING

§44 Bases for Determining a Voting Result

44:1 Majority Vote—the Basic Requirement

44:3 Two-Thirds Vote

44:7 Modifications of Usual Bases for Decision

44:11 Plurality Vote

44:12 Tie Votes and Cases in Which the Chair’s Vote Affects the Result

§45 Voting Procedure

45:1 Rights and Obligations in Voting

45:11 Regular Methods of Voting on Motions

45:17 Other Methods of Voting

XIV
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

§46 Nominations and Elections

46:1 Nominations

46:30 Elections

XV
OFFICERS; MINUTES AND OFFICERS’ REPORTS

§47 Officers

47:2 Principles Applying to Holding of Office

47:5 Elected Officers

47:43 Appointed Officers or Consultants

47:57 Vacancies

§48 Minutes and Reports of Officers

48:1 Minutes

48:17 Reports of Officers

XVI
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

§49 Boards

49:3 The Executive Board of an Organized Society

49:8 Ex-Officio Board Members

49:11 Officers of Boards

49:12 Bodies Subordinate to a Board

49:15 Conduct of Business in Boards

§50 Committees

50:11 Appointment of Committees

50:21 Conduct of Business in Committees

§51 Reports of Boards and Committees

51:2 General Considerations Affecting Board and Committee Reports

51:20 Board Reports

51:23 Form and Reception of Committee Reports in General

51:30 Disposition of Particular Types of Committee Reports

51:60 Oral Reports; Partial and Minority Reports

§52 Committee of the Whole and Its Alternate Forms

52:4 Committee of the Whole

52:19 Quasi Committee of the Whole (Consideration as if in Committee of the Whole)

52:24 Informal Consideration

52:28 Aids to the Crystallization of Opinion

XVII
MASS MEETINGS; ORGANIZATION OF A PERMANENT SOCIETY

§53 Mass Meetings

53:1 Distinguishing Characteristics of a Mass Meeting

53:3 Organization of a Mass Meeting

53:14 Transaction of Business Specified in the Call

53:28 Adjournment

53:32 Series of Mass Meetings; Temporary Society

§54 Organization of a Permanent Society

54:2 First Organizational Meeting

54:11 Work of the Bylaws Committee

54:14 Second Organizational Meeting

§55 Merger, Consolidation, and Dissolution of Societies

55:1 Combining of Societies

55:4 Dissolution of a Society

XVIII
BYLAWS

§56 Content and Composition of Bylaws

56:1 Nature and Importance of Bylaws

56:3 Committee to Draw Up Bylaws

56:16 Content of Bylaw Articles

56:58 Sample Bylaws

56:68 Some Principles of Interpretation

§57 Amendment of Bylaws

57:2 Method of Handling Bylaw Amendments

57:10 Amending a Proposed Amendment to the Bylaws

57:14 Giving Notice of Amendments

57:15 Time at Which a Bylaw Amendment Takes Effect

57:18 Captions, Headings, and Article and Section Numbers

XIX
CONVENTIONS

§58 Conventions of Delegates

58:6 Basic Provisions in Bylaws

58:11 Convention Members and Alternates

58:19 Caucuses

§59 Organization of a Convention of an Established Society

59:2 Advance Preparation

59:9 Services of a Parliamentarian

59:10 Formal Organization Procedure at the Convention

59:14 Credentials Committee

59:27 Committee on Standing Rules

59:48 Program Committee

59:61 Convention Arrangements Committee

59:67 Resolutions Committee

§60 Conventions Not of a Permanent Society

XX
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

§61 Discipline of Members and Guests

61:6 Dealing with Offenses in a Meeting

61:22 Offenses Elsewhere Than in a Meeting; Trials

§62 Removal from Office and Other Remedies for Dereliction of Duty in Office or Misconduct

62:2 Remedies for Abuse of Authority by the Chair in a Meeting

62:16 Removal from Office

§63 Investigation and Trial

63:2 Rights of the Society and the Accused

63:7 Steps in a Fair Disciplinary Process

63:38 Committee on Discipline

CHARTS, TABLES, AND LISTS

I. Chart for Determining When Each Subsidiary or Privileged Motion Is in Order

II. Table of Rules Relating to Motions

III. Sample Forms Used in Making Motions

IV. Motions and Parliamentary Steps

• Which Are in Order When Another Has the Floor and Do Not Require a Second

• Which Are in Order When Another Has the Floor but Must Be Seconded

• Which Are out of Order When Another Has the Floor but Do Not Require a Second

V. Motions and Parliamentary Steps

• Which Are Not Debatable and Not Amendable

• Which Are Not Debatable but Are Amendable

• Which Are Not Amendable but Are Debatable

• On Which Debate Can Go into the Merits of the Main Question or the Question Which Is the Subject of the Proposed Action

VI. Motions Which Require a Two-Thirds Vote

VII. Motions Whose Reconsideration Is Prohibited or Limited

• Cannot Be Reconsidered At All

• A Negative Vote Cannot Be Reconsidered

• An Affirmative Vote Cannot Be Reconsidered

VIII. Table of Rules for Counting Election Ballots

Discover More

APPENDIX: Sample Rules for Electronic Meetings

About the Authors

Index