ROBERTs RULE OF ORDER

Basic Summary
By: Mandy Diaz

Robert's Rules: What Is It?

Robert's Rules of Order is a system of
parliamentary procedures first published in
1876 by Henry Robert, an American army
general.
Robert's Rules of Order are used to promote
orderly discourse and debate, to defend the
parliamentary rights of the minority, to act
on the will of the majority, and to streamline
the workings of the business of the Forum.

Basic Rules

Business, Motions, Discussion

Business is conducted in any Forum meeting by means of motions
introduced by individuals present at the meeting. Business may only
be conducted when a quorum--a significant minority of the
membership stipulated by the Bylaws--is present.

An individual is typically permitted to speak by raising his or her

hand and waiting for the Facilitator to recognize the potential
speaker by calling upon him or her. When an individual has been
recognized, he or she is said to have the floor; that is, he or she has
the right to offer any motion or discussion that is in order at that
time.

A speaker may yield the floor permanently when he or she is

finished speaking, or temporarily for an inquiry or for a
secondary motion. No one can interrupt a recognized speaker
who has the floor. Anyone who interrupts without just cause
should be ruled out of order by the Facilitator.

No member can speak twice on one topic while there is a member

remaining who wishes to speak and has not spoken once.

A motion that brings new business before the assembly is called

a main motion, and it is submitted to consideration--debate and a
vote--when it has been seconded by a show of support from
some member other than the individual who proposed it. Only
one main motion may be considered at a time.

Agenda
The agenda describes the purpose of a meeting and what
topics are to be discussed and acted upon. Usually an agenda
is sent out with the meeting notices ahead of time. If not, an
agenda is proposed by a member of the assembly (meeting) at
the beginning of a meeting.

Once an agenda is put on the floor and seconded, it must be put

before the assembly for acceptance or rejection by a voice vote.
Once an agenda is accepted by the assembly by vote, the only
topics to be discussed and acted upon are those that appear on the
agenda. Anything else is out of order.

Facilitator
The Facilitator is a member of the assembly designated by
appointment or by vote to govern the meeting. It is his or her
job to see that all parliamentary rules are being followed.

The Facilitator of the Coordinating Body has no vote at the

meeting, except in the case of a tie. He or she is to be impartial
in applying all the rules. He or she cannot enter into any
discussion or make any proposals of motions. If the Facilitator
wants to enter the discussion of the meeting, he or she must give
up the Facilitator position. A Facilitators ruling can be appealed
by any member of the assembly. This means the ruling of the
Facilitator is put before the assembly for a vote on whether they
sustain his or her ruling or reject it.

Examples of Making Motions,Amendments,

and Interrupting Speakers
Motions and Amendments
A motion is simply a proposal with a thought of acting on a topic
on the agenda in a specific manner. For instance, at a meeting of
farmers, on the agenda ap pears the topic "This year's crop of
apples." After discussing this topic at length, a farmer rises and is
recognized by the Facilitator and says, "I wish to make a motion to
the effect that this crop of apples be used to make apple pies."
Another farmer rises and says, "I second the motion."

Once this motion has been made and seconded it must be

put to a vote before the assembly after a discussion period,
provided there is someone who wishes to speak for or
against the motion.

However, another farmer rises and says, "I make a motion

that this year's crop of apples be used to make cider." This
farmer is out of order!

The motion on the floor waiting to be acted upon is to make the

crop into apple pie. This motion must be accepted or rejected
before any other motion can be entertained. In other words, no
motion or proposal can be made at a meeting while there is
another motion on the floor duly seconded which has not been
acted upon.

An amendment to a motion is an additional idea to the

motion which does not destroy the original intent of the
motion.

Example: Another farmer rises and says, "I wish to make an

amendment to the motion. My amendment is that the apple
pies should be sold in the wholesale market." Another farmer
rises and says "I second the amendment." When this happens,
the amendment is put before the assembly for a vote and then
the motion is voted on afterwards. Once an amendment is
accepted by the assembly, it now becomes part of the original
motion.

Interrupting Speakers
There are times when any member of the assembly can
interrupt the speakers or the Facilitator without waiting for
recognition by the Facilitator. Interruptions can be made on "a
point of order" or "a point of procedure," these points must be
recognized by the Facilitator immediately.

Point of Order with this point anyone can interrupt any

speaker when he is not speaking on the subject matter on
the floor.

Example: The subject being discussed on the floor is apples.

A member asks for the floor and is recognized by the
Facilitator and when he begins to speak he starts to discuss
carrots. Immediately a member of the assembly rises and
without waiting for the Facilitator to recognize him, he
addresses the Facilitator in this manner: "Mr. or Ms.
Facilitator, I rise to a point of order." The Facilitator must
recognize him at once and say: "What is your point of order?"
The member replies, "Mr. or Ms. Facilitator, the topic on the
floor is apples and this member is talking about carrots, he is
out of order." The Facilitator should reply, "Your point is well
taken" and then return to the speaker and tell him, "Please
keep the discussion on apples or relinquish your privilege of
speaking."

Point of Procedure This is the time the Facilitator

can be interrupted by anyone when he or she is not
doing his or her duties as a Facilitator.

Example: There is a motion on the floor which has been

seconded and the Facilitator tried to proceed to the next order
of business without putting the motion to a vote.
A member rises without waiting to be recognized by the
Facilitator and says, "Mr. or Ms. Facilitator, I rise to a point of
procedure." The Facilitator should say, "What is your point of
procedure?" The member replies "Mr. or Ms. Facilitator, there
is a motion on the floor, duly seconded, to make the apple crop
into pies which has not been voted on and you now are
proceeding into the next order of business which is carrots. I
feel before carrots can be taken up, the motion should be voted
on." The Facilitator should reply, "Your point of procedure is
well taken, the motion on the floor will be voted on before we
proceed into the next order of business."

For Fair and Orderly

Meetings

Provides common rules and procedures for

deliberation and debate in order to place the whole
membership on the same footing and speaking the
same language

The fundamental right of deliberative assemblies require all

questions to be thoroughly discussed before taking action!

The assembly rules - they have the final say on everything!

Silence means consent!

Obtain the floor (the right to speak) by being the first to

stand when the person speaking has finished; state
Mr./Madam Chairman. Raising your hand means nothing,
and standing while another has the floor is out of order!
Must be recognized by the Chair before speaking!

Debate can not begin until the Chair has stated the motion
or resolution and asked "are you ready for the question?" If
no one rises, the chair calls for the vote!

Before the motion is stated by the Chair (the question)

members may suggest modification of the motion; the mover
can modify as he pleases, or even withdraw the motion without
consent of the seconder; if mover modifies, the seconder can
withdraw the second.

The "immediately pending question" is the last

question stated by the Chair! Motion/Resolution Amendment - Motion to Postpone

The member moving the "immediately pending

question" is entitled to preference to the floor!

No member can speak twice to the same issue

until everyone else wishing to speak has spoken to it
once!

All remarks must be directed to the Chair. Remarks

must be courteous in language and deportment - avoid
all personalities, never allude to others by name or to
motives!

The agenda and all committee reports are merely

recommendations! When presented to the assembly
and the question is stated, debate begins and changes
occur!

The Rules

Point of Privilege: Pertains to noise, personal comfort, etc.

- may interrupt only if necessary!

Parliamentary Inquiry: Inquire as to the

correct motion - to accomplish a desired result,
or raise a point of order

Point of Information: Generally applies to

information desired from the speaker: "I should
like to ask the (speaker) a question."

Orders of the Day (Agenda): A call to

adhere to the agenda (a deviation from the
agenda requires Suspending the Rules)

Point of Order: Infraction of the rules, or

improper decorum in speaking. Must be raised
immediately after the error is made

Main Motion: Brings new business (the next item

on the agenda) before the assembly

Divide the Question: Divides a motion into two

or more separate motions (must be able to stand
on their own)

Consider by Paragraph: Adoption of

paper is held until all paragraphs are debated
and amended and entire paper is satisfactory;
after all paragraphs are considered, the entire
paper is then open to amendment, and
paragraphs may be further amended. Any
Preamble can not be considered until debate
on the body of the paper has ceased.

Amend: Inserting or striking out words or

paragraphs, or substituting whole paragraphs or
resolutions

Withdraw/Modify Motion: Applies only after

question is stated; mover can accept an
amendment without obtaining the floor

Commit /Refer/Recommit to Committee:

State the committee to receive the question or
resolution; if no committee exists include size of
committee desired and method of selecting the
members (election or appointment).

Extend Debate: Applies only to the

immediately pending question; extends until a
certain time or for a certain period of time

Limit Debate: Closing debate at a certain

time, or limiting to a certain period of time

Postpone to a Certain Time: State the time

the motion or agenda item will be resumed

Object to Consideration: Objection must be

stated before discussion or another motion is stated

Lay on the Table: Temporarily suspends further

consideration/action on pending question; may be made
after motion to close debate has carried or is pending

Take from the Table: Resumes consideration of

item previously "laid on the table" - state the motion
to take from the table

Reconsider: Can be made only by one on the

prevailing side who has changed position or view

Postpone Indefinitely: Kills the question/resolution

for this session - exception: the motion to reconsider
can be made this session

Previous Question: Closes debate if

successful - may be moved to "Close Debate" if
preferred

Informal Consideration: Move that the

assembly go into "Committee of the Whole" informal debate as if in committee; this
committee may limit number or length of
speeches or close debate by other means by a 2/3
vote. All votes, however, are formal.

Appeal Decision of the Chair: Appeal for the

assembly to decide - must be made before other
business is resumed; NOT debatable if relates to
decorum, violation of rules or order of business

Suspend the Rules: Allows a violation of the

assembly's own rules (except Constitution); the
object of the suspension must be specified

All motions must be seconded and adopted by a

majority vote unless otherwise noted.
All motions may be debated unless otherwise noted.

About Motions

Purpose of Motion

To Enact Motion

Main Motion

to take action on behalf of the body

debatable; requires majority vote

Adjourn

end the meeting

not debatable; immediately voted upon and

requires majority vote

Call for Orders of the Day

asks to stick to the agenda

not debatable; requires 1/3 majority to

sustain

Call to Question

closes debate and forces vote

not debatable; requires 2/3's majority vote

Motion to Limit or Extend

Debate

limits or extends debate

not debatable; requires 2/3's majority vote

Point of Order

is a question about the process or a

particular motion

automatic if granted by Chair

Point of Information

to ask about the process or particular

motion

automatic

Motion to Rescind

to change the results of a vote

requires 2/3's majority vote to reverse results

of earlier vote

Motion to Suspend the

Rules

suspend formal process for a short period

debatable and requires 2/3's majority vote

About Debate
Each motion that is debated receives ten minutes of
debate. The member initiating the motion speaks first.
The Chair asks for a rebuttal. All members wishing to
speak about the motion receive the opportunity to speak
before any one member speaks for a second time.

About Voting
Majority vote is more than half of the members. 2/3's
vote is more 2/3s or more of the members. Be sure to
announce what is being voted on before the vote.

TAPOS NA !!!