Robert's Rules of Order by Robert, Henry M., III; Honemann, Daniel H.; Balch, Thomas J.; Seabold, Daniel E.; Gerber, Shmuel -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents 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

28:2 Standard 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

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