Boldface page numbers refer to definitions. Italic page numbers refer to tables or boxed examples. The letter n, preceded by a page number and followed by a note number, indicates a footnote.
Absence
of delegate, 171–172
of members: votes affected by (see Majority of the entire membership); when insufficient number remain (see Quorum)
and proxies, 118
of winning candidate in election, 80
when chair should abstain, 69
when members should abstain, 69–70, 117
“Accepting” an amendment, 117
Acclamation, election by, 79
Accountants, 158
Ad hoc committees. See Special committees.
Add a paragraph, 47
Add words, 40–42
Addressing the chair, 19–20, 31–32. See also Recognition to speak.
Adjournment (Adjourn), 17, 128, 208, 209, 210, 212. See also Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn.
chair’s handling of, 141–142
in committees, 164
effect on pending or unfinished business, 15, 17, 128, 146, 209
minutes’ treatment of, 152
as privileged motion, 128
rank of, 105
time for reconvening, 128–129
Administrative rules. See Standing rules.
“Adopted” (motion agreed to), 25
Advice, parliamentarian’s role to provide, 95
in convention program, 173, 177–178
Alternates (convention delegation), 170, 171–172
Amend. See Amendments.
Amend Something Previously Adopted, 60–62, 132, 210
applied to convention standing rules, 177
majority of entire membership may adopt, 67
minutes, to correct after initial approval, 121
Amendability
and chair’s handling of motions, 203n1
of commonly used motions, 210–211
SDC 6 in RONR, 107
Amendments (Amend), 38–51, 39, 139–141, 210–211, 212
to agenda, 120
to amendments, 49–50
“bigger bite” rule, 51
chair should practice, 142n3
committee recommendations of, 167n1, 168
to convention resolutions, 179
“friendly amendments,” 117
germaneness rule, 50
minutes’ treatment of, 150–151
prevented by Previous Question, 36
putting the question on, 41, 140–141
secondary (or second degree), 49–50
as secondary motion relating to pending motion, 24
stating the question on, 41, 139–140
as subsidiary motion, 126
tertiary (or third degree) forbidden, 50
types of, 212; insert or add a paragraph, 47; insert or add words, 40–42; strike out a paragraph, 47; strike out and insert words, 44–46; strike out words, 42–44; substitute, 47–49
written submission may be required, 39, 148
Announcement of voting result, 25–27, 71–74, 76, 203–206, 207–208
Annual conventions. See Conventions.
Annual treasurer’s reports, 156–158
Annul. See Rescind.
Appeal, 90–93, 129, 207, 210, 213
chair has preference to speak on, 90
chair stands when debating, 142
debatability of, 90–91
minutes’ treatment of, 152
Parliamentary Inquiry answer not subject to, 95
precedence over other motions, 106
Applicability
of incidental motions, 106
of motions, SDC 2 in RONR, 106
Appointment of committee members, 55–56, 154, 166
Approval of minutes. See Minutes.
“Are you ready for the question?” 24, 203
Arguments. See Debate.
Articles. See Bylaws.
Assembly
boards and other types of, procedural differences, 112
boards subordinate to, 160
committees, procedural differences, 112, 165
deliberative (see Deliberative assembly)
Division of the Assembly (see Division of the Assembly)
motions that bring a question again before the assembly, 132–133
privileges of the assembly (see also Raise a Question of Privilege), 128
Assignment of the floor. See Recognition to speak.
Attacks, personal, 31
Attendance by guests or non–committee members, 128, 165, 179
Auditors, auditing committee, 156, 158
“Aye,” used in voice vote, 24–26
chair’s participation in, 69, 112
counting rules in RONR, 108
motion for, 130
recorded in minutes, 152
“Bigger bite” amendments, 51
Blank ballots. See Abstentions.
Boards, 159–162
authority and types of, 160
board of directors in bylaws, 85
chairman’s participation at meetings (see also Chair), 112–113, 165
ex-officio members of, 113
executive board in bylaws, 85
executive committee as “board within a board,” 160
independent vs. subordinate, 160
meeting by telephone or videoconference, 122, 162
“polling” of members, 162n1
quorum in, 162
rules and procedures: adoption within board, 160; informal in small boards, 112, 161
Bookkeeping, 156–158
Booklet of rules, members’, 88
Breaches of the rules, 90–93. See also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order.
Breaking a tie, 69–70, 112–113
Breaks, taking. See Recess.
Bringing a question again before the assembly, 57–62, 132–133
Budgets
Point of Order and Appeal example, 91–93
Suspend the Rules example, 94
Business
chair announces next item of, 25–26
interruption of (see Interrupting business)
main motion brings before assembly, 19, 126
“old business,” 15
order and classes of (see Order of business)
priority of, Appeal relating to, 90–91
privileged motions unrelated to, 127–128
schedule of, adhering to, 128
Unfinished Business, 15
Business meetings. See Meetings.
amendment of, 85
committee member selection, provisions for, 55–56
ex-officio positions created by, 113
members’ copies of, 88
president brings to meetings, 143
Call (notice) of a meeting, 62, 145
board meetings, 162
committee meetings, 164
draft minutes with, 153
notice of motions with, 62, 145
Call for the Orders of the Day (member’s demand for enforcing the proper schedule of business), 128
rank of, 105
“Calling the question,” 36–37, 87–88, 118
Candidates
election procedures, 79–80
election vote requirements, 66–67, 75–76
Motions Relating to Nominations, 131
nomination procedures, 78–79
write-ins, 79
“Carried” (motion adopted), 27
Categories of business. See Order of business.
Chair (verb, to conduct a meeting), 4
Chair (person presiding at a meeting), 12, 138–143. See also Chairman; President (regular presiding officer of an assembly).
addressing the chair, 19
“the chair,” 12
“chair” as variation of “chairman,” 12n1
motions, ensuring correctness, 22
motions, may require in writing, 20, 39, 139, 148
parliamentarian, relation to, 95
participation at committee and small board meetings, 161, 165
participation in debate and making motions, 69, 112
participation in voting, 69–70, 74, 112–113, 206
practice of core procedures, 142n3
presiding techniques for, 138–143
secretary serving as, 147
strictness of, 8
temporary or single-meeting, 12, 138n1, 147
vice-president serving as, 138
Chairman (presiding officer with no specific other title), 4–5, 12. See also Chair; President (regular presiding officer of an assembly).
“chair” or “chairperson” as variations of, 12n1
committee (see Committees: chairman)
“Madam Chairman” or “Mr. Chairman” as form of address, 19
Chairperson (variation of “chairman”), 12n1
to decision of the chair (see Appeal)
to delegates’ credentials, 174–175
to voice-vote result (see Division of the Assembly)
Changing a custom, 88
Changing or revisiting a previous decision, 57–62, 132–133
Changing the wording of a pending motion
by motion (see Amendments)
Characteristics of motions, standard, 102, 106–108
Charges, disciplinary, 123
Charter. See Corporate charter.
Citations to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 6n1
Classes of motions. See Motions.
Closed meetings. See Executive session or closed session.
Closing debate. See Previous Question.
Closing nominations, 78
Closing the meeting. See Adjournment.
Closing the polls, 130
Commit or Refer, 54–55, 127, 210–211, 213. See also Committees.
amendment and debate of, 55
prevented by Previous Question, 36
rank of, 105
treasurer’s report to auditing committee, 158
Committees, 163–168. See also Commit or Refer.
chairman (see also Chair): participation at meetings, 112–113, 165; selection of, 55–56
discharging matters from, 132
documents of, 153
ex-officio members of, 113
executive committee, 160
instructions to, 54–55, 148, 166
meetings: action without, 164; calling, 164; telephone or videoconference, 164
members: notice of appointment, 154; roll of, 143, 147; selection of, 55–56, 166
minutes-like memoranda, 165
nominating committee, 78–79, 166
quorum in, 164
reports of, 166–168
rules and procedures: adoption within committee, 165; informal, 112, 165
secretary of, 165
special (or select, or ad hoc) and standing committees, 55–56, 165–166
subcommittees, 165
term of service on, 56
Conference calls, 122, 162, 164
Conflicts between rules, 84–88
Conflicts of interest, 69, 117
Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim, 130
Consideration of a Question, Objection to, 119, 129–130
Consideration of motions, 23–26, 26–27
Contested credentials, 174–175
Credentials Committee, 172–175
debate limits in, 176
organizing, 172–173
Program Committee, 173, 177–178
quorum in, 174
Resolutions Committee, 178–179
standing rules, 172, 174, 176–177; committee on, 172, 176
Corporate boards, 160
members’ copies of, 88
Correction of minutes. See Minutes.
Correction of mistakes (changing or revisiting a previous decision), 57–62, 132–133
Correspondence, 154
Counted votes (standing or show of hands), 25–27, 71–74. See also Ballot votes.
Courtesy in debate, 31–32
Courtesy resolutions, 179
Credentials, 170
certification of, 154
contests, 174–175
Credentials Committee, 172–175
desk, 170–171
forms, 170
Criticism in debate, 31
“Dark horse” candidate, 67
Debatability of motions, 32, 210–211
Appeal, 90–91
and chair’s handling of motions, 203n1
Commit or Refer, 55
Postpone to a Certain Time, 53
SDC 5 in RONR, 107
Suspend the Rules, 93
Debate, 19–20, 23–24, 26–27, 28–37. See also Debatability of motions.
chair sits during speeches, 142
chair’s participation in, 69, 112; at committee and small board meetings, 161, 165
close immediately, motion to (see Previous Question)
delegates and alternates, 171–172
“Is there any further debate?,” use of phrase, 24, 203
limits of, 29, 34–35; at committee and small board meetings, 161, 165; at conventions, 176; extending member’s time by Suspend the Rules, 93–94; extending member’s time by unanimous consent, 68; modifying (see Limit or Extend Limits of Debate)
personal attacks forbidden in, 31
Decision of the chair, 22, 90–93
demanded by a member (see Point of Order)
overturning (see Appeal)
Parliamentary Inquiry response doesn’t constitute, 95
Decision-making process, 18–27. See also Motions.
Definite postponement. See Postpone.
appointment or election, notification of, 154
credentials, certification of, 154
credentials contests, 174–175
president and vice-president, 171
replacement by alternates, 171–172
rights and duties, 170–171
roll of, adoption and amendment of, 173–175
seating of, as convention members, 173–174
voting instructions to, 171
Delegations, 171
credentials challenge to, 175
president and vice-president in, 171
Deletions. See Amendments: types of.
Deliberative assembly, 5, 31, 102, 118
in RONR, 102
Demanding a rising vote. See Division of the Assembly.
Demanding a separate vote on one motion in a package, 176. See also Division of a Question.
Demanding enforcement of the rules. See Point of Order.
Demanding the proper schedule. See Call for the Orders of the Day.
Dilatory motions, in RONR, 103
Directors. See Boards.
Disbursements, 156–157
Discharge a Committee, 132
Disciplinary procedures, 123
Discussion
formal (see Debate)
informal, in committees and small boards, 161, 165
Division of a Question, 130
on demand of one member, 176
Division of the Assembly (member’s demand for a standing vote), 70–71, 72–74, 106, 130, 211, 213
Documents for committees, 153
Draft agenda, 16
Drafting of bylaws, 85
Drafting of convention rules, 176
Dues, 156
Duty, Request to Be Excused from, 122, 131
Elections, 79–80. See also Ballot votes; Candidates.
by acclamation, 79
finality of, 80
notice to winners, 154
Electronic meetings, 122, 162, 164
Embarrassing motions, 119–120, 126, 129–130
Ending a meeting. See Adjournment.
Ending debate. See Previous Question.
Errors, procedural, 90–93. See also Appeal; Point of Order.
Excused from a Duty, Request to be, 122, 131
Executive board in bylaws, 85. See also Boards.
Executive committee, 160
Executive session or closed session
as question of privilege, 128
votes in, 121
Expelling members, in RONR, 109
Extend debate. See Limit or Extend Limits of Debate.
Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn, 105, 128–129
Floor, having the and yielding the, 19. See also Recognition to speak.
Floor, nominations from, 78
Formality of speech in debate, 31–32
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on parliamentary procedure, 110–123
“Friendly amendments,” 117
Germaneness
of amendments, 50
in debate, 30
Guest speakers, 150
Guests, excluding from meeting. See Executive session or closed session.
Hearings (in committee), 165, 179
Illegible ballots, 115
Immediately pending motion, 104
Impartiality of the chair, 69–70, 112–113
Improper motions, in RONR, 103
“In order” or “not in order,” chair’s ruling on a motion, 22, 90–93, 95. See also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order.
Incidental main motions, 129n1
Incidental motions, 106, 129–131
Incorporation, 84–85
Indecorum, Appeal relating to, 90–91
Indefinite postponement. See Postpone Indefinitely.
Independent boards, 160
Informal procedure in committees and small boards, 112, 161, 165
Information, Request for (or Point of), 95n2, 131, 206, 213
Inquiry, Parliamentary, 94–95, 131, 207, 213
Insert or add a paragraph, 47
Insert or add words, 40–42
Instructions
delegate, 171
Intermission in meeting. See Recess.
Interpretation of assembly’s rules, 90–93, 94–95
Interpretations, RONR Official, 109
Interrupting a speaker, 213
Division of the Assembly, 70–71, 213
Previous Question, improper, 36–37, 87–88, 118
questions, nonprocedural (Request for Information), 29, 34, 213
questions, procedural (Parliamentary Inquiry), 94–95, 213
SDC 3 in RONR, 107–108
Interrupting business, 23–24, 104–106. See also Lay on the Table; Secondary motions.
chair restates question after, 139
Invocation, 16
“Is there any further debate?” 24, 203
“Is there any further (or “new,” or “further new”) business?” 15, 17, 209
“Is there any objection?” 68
Lay on the Table, 127
improper use in place of Postpone to a Certain Time, 119
killing a motion with, improper, 119
rank of, 105
Take from the Table to resume, 132
Length and number of speeches. See Debate: limits of.
Letters, 154
Limit or Extend Limits of Debate, 34–35, 127, 213. See also Debate: limits of; Previous Question.
in committees, not used, 165
extending a member’s time by Suspend the Rules, 93–94
rank of, 105
“Lost” (motion defeated), 25–26
bylaws, may not violate, 86
minutes’ treatment of, 149, 150–151
original and incidental, 119, 129n1
rank of, 105
written submission of, 20
Majority, 12
Majority of the entire membership
as quorum requirement, 12
as vote requirement, 61, 67, 116
Majority of the members present, 116
abstentions and, 116
chair’s vote to affect result, 69–70, 112–113
convention rules, to suspend, 177
faulty definitions of, 115
in negative required to overturn chair’s ruling, 91
Maker of motion, preference in recognition for, 29
Making a motion, 20–21, 22, 212
delegates and alternates, 171–172
Mass meetings, in RONR, 103
Meetings
beginning (see Call to order)
closed-door (see Executive session or closed session)
ending (see Adjournment)
full-scale vs. small, 4, 112, 161
in-person vs. other methods of business, 122, 162, 164
as prerequisite for votes and actions, 66–67, 162, 164
regular or special, recorded in minutes, 149
and sessions, compared, 58n1; in RONR, 102
steps in conducting, 11–17, 141–142, 209
Membership roll, 147. See also Roll-call votes.
Minutes, 12, 13, 14, 16, 120, 121, 148–153
approval (Reading and Approval of Minutes), 13, 14, 16, 147, 153, 209; recorded in minutes of next meeting, 149
in committees, memoranda like, 165
corrections, how to record, 121, 149, 153
discussions not included, 120, 148–149, 150
draft: order-of-business memo based on, 146; sent to members before approval, 153; status of, 153
inspection by members, 153
motions, wording in, 20, 138–139, 148, 150–152
notices of motions (previous notice), 152
recent, brought to meetings, 147
recording devices and, 149n5
reports, how recorded in, 150
rulings of the chair (Point of Order and Appeal), 90, 92
secretary’s comments, 150
votes, how to record, 152
Mistakes, correcting (changing or revisiting a previous decision), 57–62, 132–133
Modify a Motion, Request for Permission (or Leave) to, 117, 131
Motions, 18–27, 19, 103–108, 124–133, 206–208, 210–211, 213. See also Amendments; Main motions; Precedence of motions; Secondary motions; specific motion names.
debate on (see Debatability of motions; Debate)
dilatory, in RONR, 103
form of, in RONR, 108
improper, in RONR, 103
making (see Making a motion)
modification requested by maker, 117, 131
notice of (see Previous notice)
omitting: in committees and small boards, 161; by unanimous consent (see Unanimous consent)
RONR’s treatment of, 102–108
seconding (see Seconding a motion)
secretary copies down, 20, 148
secretary reads, 148
standard descriptive characteristics, 102, 106–108
stating the question on (see Stating the question)
steps in bringing up, 19–22, 26–27
steps in considering, 23–26, 26–27
summary of motions of all classes, 124–133
voting on (see Putting the question; Votes and voting)
withdrawal requested by maker, 122, 131
Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and the Polls, 130, 211
precedence over other motions, 106
Motions Relating to Nominations, 131
Motions that bring a question again before the assembly, 132–133
Motives not subject to debate, 31
“Move” (when making a motion), 20. See also Making a motion.
“Moved and seconded” (after motion is made). See Stating the question.
Names of members, avoiding, 32
New Business, 15
in agenda or order of business, 13, 17, 147
chair’s call for, 15, 25–26, 26–27, 209
“No,” used in voice vote, 24–26
No confidence, vote of, 116
Nominating committee, 78–79, 166
Nominations, 78–79. See also Candidates; Elections.
from the floor, 78
motions relating to, 131
by nominating committee, 78–79
reopening, 131
“Not in order,” ruling a motion, 22, 90–93, 95. See also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order.
Notice of a meeting. See Call (notice) of a meeting.
Notice of motions. See Previous notice.
Number and length of speeches. See Debate: limits of.
Objection to the Consideration of a Question, 119, 129–130
Objection to unanimous consent, 68, 117
Obtaining the floor. See Recognition to speak.
Officers, 137–162. See also Candidates; Elections; Nominations.
minimum essential, 12n2
notice of election, 154
removal, 123
taking office, time of, 80
Official Interpretations, RONR, 109
Official records, kept by secretary, 153
“Old Business,” as incorrect alternative to Unfinished Business, 15
Online meetings, 122, 162, 164
Open the polls, motion to, 130
at conventions, 172
Order, Point of. See Point of Order.
Order of business, 13–17, 146–147, 209
agenda vs. standard, 16–17
Call for the Orders of the Day to conform to, 128
chair brings to meetings, 143
chair should be familiar with, 141
simplified standard, 13
standard, 13n6
Order of precedence of motions, 104–106, 143
Orders, general and special, 53n1, 147n3
Orders of the Day, Call for the, 105, 128
Organizing a new group, in RONR, 109
Original main motions, 119, 129n1
“Out of order,”
chair’s ruling on a motion (see also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order), 22, 90–93, 95
member, 22n1
Overturning the chair’s decision. See Appeal.
Papers, Request to Read, 131
Paragraph or Seriatim, Consideration by, 130
Paragraphs, amending, 47–49
Parliamentary authority, 7, 84, 86
bylaws provision adopting, 86–87
Parliamentary Inquiry, 94–95, 131, 207, 213
Parliamentary procedure, 5
immediately pending motion, 104
Personal attacks forbidden, 31
Personal or pecuniary interest, 69, 117
Personal privilege. See Raise a Question of Privilege; Request for Any Other Privilege.
Platform statement, prepared by Resolutions Committee, 179
Pledge of Allegiance, 13, 16, 146, 209
at conventions, 172
Plurality vote, 66
Point of Information. See Request for Information.
Point of Order, 90–93, 129, 207, 213
chair stands when ruling on, 142
minutes’ treatment of, 90, 152
Parliamentary Inquiry may assist in raising, 95
precedence over other motions, 106
quorum, noting absence of, 114
timeliness of, 90n1
Policies. See Standing rules.
“Polling” of board members, 162n1
Polls, Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and, 106, 130
Postpone, Postpone Definitely, Postpone to a Certain Time, 53–54, 127, 211, 213
amendability of, 53
debatability of, 53
limit on length of postponement, 54
prevented by Previous Question, 36
rank of, 105
“tabling” as improper use of Lay on the Table in place of, 119
Postpone Indefinitely (to drop the main motion without a direct vote), 119–120, 126
rank of, 105
Postpone temporarily. See Lay on the Table.
Precedence of motions, 103–104
order of, 104–106, 143; in RONR, 102, 108
SDC 1 in RONR, 106
Preference in recognition, 29–30
in RONR, 103n1
Presence of president and secretary, recorded in minutes, 149
Presence of quorum. See Quorum.
“Present and voting,” 24, 177, 178. See also Abstentions; Votes and voting.
Present but not voting. See also Abstentions.
in roll-call vote, 152
President (regular presiding officer of an assembly), 12, 137–143. See also Chair (person presiding at a meeting); Chairman (presiding officer with no specific other title).
address, forms of, 19
committee members, appointment by, 55–56, 166
committees, may not establish, 166
as delegate to convention, 171
“Madam President” or “Mr. President” as form of address, 19
meeting materials for, 143
minutes, presence recorded in, 149
minutes, signature on, 152
presiding techniques for, 138–143
vice-president in place of, 138, 171
Presiding, 12
techniques for, 138–143
Presiding officer. See Chair; Chairman; Committees; President.
Prevailing side, eligibility for Reconsider, 132–133
Previous notice (of motions), 61–62, 145
minutes’ treatment of, 152
Previous Question (immediately close debate and the making of certain secondary motions), 35–37, 120, 127, 208, 210–211, 213
“calling the question” improper in place of, 36–37, 87–88, 118
rank of, 105
Priority of business. See also Call for the Orders of the Day; Precedence of motions.
Appeal relating to, 90–91
Privilege, Raise a Question of, 128
rank of, 105
Privilege, Request for Any Other, 131
Privileges of the assembly, 128
Program (featured events within meeting), inclusion in minutes, 150
Program (order of business at convention), 173, 177–178. See also Agenda.
Proposals. See Motions.
Proxy votes, 118
Putting the question (taking the vote on a motion), 24–25, 70–74, 203–206, 207–208. See also Votes and voting.
on amendments, 41–42
on Appeal, 207
on Previous Question, 208
“Question!,” calling out to try to end debate (“calling the question”), 36–37, 87–88, 118
Question, Objection to the Consideration of, 119, 129–130
Question and Answer Forum, 109, 112
answers to FAQs, 110–123
Question of Privilege, Raise a, 128
rank of, 105
Questions
nonprocedural, asking the chair or a member (see Request for Information)
of privilege (see Question of Privilege, Raise a)
privileged (see Privileged motions)
procedural, asking the chair (see Parliamentary Inquiry)
actions permitted in absence of, 13
boards, 162
bylaws, specified in, 12n3
committees, 164
convention, 174
disappearing during meeting, 114
ex-officio members and, 113
Raise a Question of Privilege, 128
rank of, 105
Ranking of motions. See Precedence of motions.
Ranking of rules, 84–88
Ratification, 13n5
Read Papers, Request to, 131
Reading and Approval of Minutes. See Minutes: approval.
Recess, 17, 128, 208, 211, 213
until called to order by chair, 17
interrupts pending motion, 23–24
rank of, 105
Recognition to speak, 19–20, 29–30, 212
chair should learn procedures for, 142n3
in committees and small boards, 161, 165
having the floor and yielding the floor, 19
preference in recognition, 29–30; chair speaking on Appeal, 90
Recommendations
assembly’s action on, 14
by committees, 55, 166–168; Resolutions Committee, 179
hearings to influence, 165
by president to create a committee, 166
Reconsider, 58–60, 132–133, 211
application to other motions, SDC 8 in RONR, 107
Recording devices, 149n5
Records kept by secretary, 153
Refer (send a motion or subject to a committee). See Commit or Refer.
Regular meetings. See Meetings.
Removal from office, 123
Renewal of motions, 62
in RONR, 103
Repeal. See Rescind.
Reports, 14
committee, 166–168
in sample agenda, 16
tellers’, 74–76
treasurer’s, 156–158
Request for Any Other Privilege, 131. See also Raise a Question of Privilege.
Request for Information (to ask a nonprocedural question), 29, 32, 34, 95n2, 131, 206, 213
Request for Permission (or Leave) to Withdraw or Modify a Motion, 131
Request to Be Excused from a Duty, 131
resignations, 122
Request to Read Papers, 131
Requests and Inquiries, 131
applied to convention standing rules, 177
majority of entire membership may adopt, 67
Resignations, 122
Resolutions. See also Main motions.
in committee reports, 166–168
Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim, 130
at conventions, and Resolutions Committee, 178–179
read by secretary, 148
“Respectfully submitted,” 152
Retaking a vote, 70–74
Rising (standing) votes, 70–74
upon demand by a member (see Division of the Assembly)
Robert, Henry Martyn, 5–6
Robert, Henry Martyn III, 6
Robert’s Rules Association website, 101, 109, 112
Robert’s Rules of Order, history of, 5–6
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 6–7, 87n2, 99–109, 112
citation form for, 6n1
how to use, 99–109
president’s study of, 143
Roll-call votes, 130, 148, 152
RONR, abbreviation for Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 6, 100
RONR Official Interpretations, 109
Rounding of numbers in vote calculations, 115
Rule book. See Parliamentary authority; Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
Rules
in boards and committees, 112, 160–161, 165
for conference telephone call, 122
enforcement of (see also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order), 90–93
members’ copies of, 88
parliamentarian’s role, 95
questions about: frequently asked, 110–123; during a meeting, 94–95
rationale for having, 1–8
in RONR, how to look up, 99–109
suspension of (see Suspend the Rules)
types and ranking of, 84–88
Ruling a member out of order, 22n1
Ruling a motion not in order, chair’s duty, 22, 90–93, 95. See also Appeal; Parliamentary Inquiry; Point of Order.
Schedule of business, 128. See also Agenda; Order of business.
SDCs. See Standard descriptive characteristics of motions.
Secondary (second-degree) amendments, 49–50
Secondary motions (subsidiary, privileged, and incidental), 23–24, 103–106, 126–131. See also Main motions; Motions that bring a question again before the assembly.
minutes’ treatment of, 149, 151–152
yield to and take precedence of each other, 104
Seconding a motion, 21, 22, 212
boards, not required in small, 161
committees, not required when made on behalf of, 167
in conventions, 179
Point of Order regarding, 90n1
to Reconsider, any member may, 59
SDC 4 in RONR, 107
Secret votes. See Ballot votes.
of committees, 165
and minutes (see also Minutes): comments not included in, 150; preparation of, 148–153; presence recorded in, 149; reading, 14, 147
motions, reading, 148
record-keeping duties, 153
votes, assists in counting, 148
Select committees. See Special committees.
Separate vote on one motion in a package, right to demand, 176. See also Division of a Question.
Seriatim consideration, 130
Session, 58n1
Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn within same, 128–129
and meeting, compared, 102
Setting aside the orders of the day, 128
“Settled” rule for amendments, 50–51
in small boards, 161
Signature on minutes, 152
Sit and stand, when to
chair: in assembly, 142, 208; in committees and small boards, 161
member: in assembly, 19–22; in committees and small boards, 161
Speaking at a meeting. See Debate; Recognition to speak.
Special committees, 55, 56, 166
also called ad hoc, or select, 166
auditing committees as, 158
Special meetings. See Meetings.
Special orders, 147n3
Special rules of order, 84, 86–87
adoption or amendment, vote required, 86
for conference telephone call, 122
in conventions, 176
FAQs do not account for, 112
members’ copies of, 88
Speeches. See Debate.
Speeches, length and number of. See Debate: limits of.
Stand and sit, when to. See Sit and stand, when to.
Standard descriptive characteristics of motions, 102, 106–108
Standing (rising) votes, 70–74, 204, 206
upon demand by a member (see Division of the Assembly)
Standing committees, 54, 55–56, 165–166
auditing committees as, 158
adoption or amendment, vote required, 87
in conventions, 176–177
members’ copies of, 88
Stating the question (on a motion), 21–22, 138–139, 203
on Appeal, 207
chair should practice, 142n3
Stockholders, 160
Strike out a paragraph, 47
Strike out and insert a paragraph. See Substitute.
Strike out and insert words, 44–46
Strike out words, 42–44
Subcommittees, 165
Subordinate boards, 160
Suspend the Rules, 93–94, 129, 211, 213
amendment of, not permitted, 93
convention standing rules, 177
debate on, not permitted, 93
precedence over other motions, 106
Sustaining the chair’s decision. See Appeal.
Table, Lay on the. See Lay on the Table.
“Table” a motion, 119–120
Tables in RONR, 107–108
Take from the Table, 132
Taking precedence (one motion of another), 103–104
Teleconferences and videoconferences, 122, 162, 164
Tellers
for ballot votes, 74–76
for counted votes (rising or show of hands), 72
reports of, 75–76
Temporary or single-meeting presiding officer, 12, 138n1, 147. See also Chairman.
Third-degree amendments, 50
Tie vote, 69–70, 74, 112–113, 206
Appeal, chair’s decision sustained by, 91
defeats motion, 69
Timeliness of Point of Order, 90n1
Transferring time in debate, 29
Treasurer, 155–158
reports, 156–158
Trials, removal from office, 123
Two-thirds of the entire membership, 116
Two-thirds of the members present, 116
Two-thirds vote, 24, 67, 115, 210–211
abstentions and, 116
for bylaw amendments, 85
chair’s vote to affect result, 69–70, 113
debate, to close or prevent, 36–37, 87–88, 118, 119–120
debate, to limit or extend limits of, 34
form for taking and announcing result, 204–206, 208
in motions table, 210–211; in RONR, 107
Objection to the Consideration of a Question, to sustain, 130
to remove from office without previous notice, 123
Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted, to adopt without previous notice, 61
rules of order, to adopt or amend, 86
to set aside the orders of the day, 128
standing (rising) vote used for motions requiring, 70
standing rules in a convention, to adopt parliamentary, 176–177
standing rules, to amend without previous notice, 87
to Suspend the Rules, 93–94, 177
Unanimous consent, 68
amendment by, 117
changing agenda by, 178
closing debate by, 118
Unfinished Business, 53
Vice-president, 137–143
takes place of president, 138, 171
Videoconferences and teleconferences, 122, 162, 164
Voice votes, 24–27, 72–73, 203. See also Roll-call votes.
“Vote!,” calling out to try to end debate, 36
Votes and voting, 24–27, 65–76, 203–206, 207–208. See also Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and the Polls; Putting the question.
by ballot (see Ballot votes)
bylaws, to amend, 85
chair should learn procedures, 141
chair’s announcement of result, 25–27, 71–74, 76
chair’s participation in, 69–70, 112–113, 161, 165, 206
chair’s taking of (see Putting the question)
convention standing rules, to adopt or amend, 176
counted standing or show-of-hands (see Counted votes)
delegates and alternates, 171–172
doubt result of (demand a division), 130, 211, 213
in executive session, 121
majority of the entire membership, 61, 67, 116
majority of the members present, 116
majority vote (see Majority vote)
member’s right to require a formal vote, 68
member’s right to vote, 69
minutes’ treatment of, 152
plurality vote, 66
by proxy, 118
required for particular motions, 24, 210–211; SDC 7 in RONR, 107
separate vote on one motion in a package, right to demand, 176
by show of hands, 71, 161, 205–206
special rules of order, to adopt or amend, 86
standing (rising) (see also Division of the Assembly), 70–74
standing rules, to adopt or amend, 87
tie (see Tie vote)
two thirds (see Two-thirds vote)
by voice: regular method of voting (see Voice votes); roll-call response (see Roll-call votes)
write-in, 79
Website, Robert’s Rules Association, 101, 109, 112
Withdraw or Modify a Motion, 131
Withdrawal of resignation, 122
“Without objection,” 68
Words, amending, 40–46
Words forbidden in debate, 31
Write-in votes, 79
Written motions, 20, 39, 139, 148
Yielding (one motion to another), 103–106, 104
SDC 1 in RONR, 106
“You,” avoided in debate, 31
“You are out of order,” 22n1