UIL Capital Conference Presented by AT&T Conference Center Kirk Overbey, PRP June 30, 2015 [email protected] Kirk Overbey: Professional Registered Parliamentarian Parliamentarian, Texas State Board of Education Former President, Texas State Association of Parliamentarians Masters degrees in engineering and business Judge for Parliamentary Team Competitions ▪ FBLA, FCCLA, HOSA & SkillsUSA ▪ State and national level
2 National Assoc. of Parliamentarians organized in 1930 Promotes the Study and Teaching of the Principles of Parliamentary Law Credentialing: Registered Parliamentarian and Professional Registered Parliamentarian Texas State Assoc. of Parliamentarians organized in 1955 Local Units Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, and Tyler
3 4 Parliamentary Procedure, as we use it today, is of English origin The term derives from the English Parliament Saxon invasions during 5th and 6th century introduced a democratic style of government at the village level The Norman Conquest of 1066 eventually had to recognize the strong English traditions
5 Magna Carta, 1215 The king cannot levy a tax without permission of the barons No other European king had this restriction By the 1400s . . . Parliament would not levy a tax, until it had aired its grievances before the king Grievances evolved into legislation (agreements with the king) “Grievance before Supply” was the method
6 Each American colony practiced it First in the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619 Then in Plymouth town meetings, 1621 And for the next 150 years Colonists viewed themselves as Englishmen with all the rights of Englishmen Continental Congress used the same procedure as the House of Commons from 1775 to 1789 7 Thomas Jefferson writes first American parliamentary manual, 1801 Luther Cushing writes first manual for ordinary assemblies, 1844 Writes first manual for state legislatures, 1856 Henry M. Robert Henry Robert writes definitive manual, 1876 11th edition is the current one, published in 2011
8 Alexis de Tocqueville Visited United States in 1831-33 Wrote a book: “Democracy In America” Associations are the real source of democracy in America ▪ Protestant churches ▪ Trade associations ▪ Political associations ▪ Professional associations ▪ Hobbies and interests, etc.
9 House of Commons 18th century
House of Commons Jefferson’s Manual current
U.S. House of Cushing’s Legislative U.S. Senate Cushing’s Manual Representatives Manual
Mason’s Manual of Robert’s Rules of Legislative Procedure Order Newly Revised
Ordinary Assemblies State Legislatures
10 The chair recognizes Billy Armbruster’s mother . . .
11 1. Only one matter of business to be considered at a time Only one main motion but higher ranking motions can be pending 2. The majority rules but the following also have rights: Individual make motions, debate, and vote Minority greater than one third hence 2/3 vote for some motions Absentees notification of meetings & certain motions 3. There must be free and impartial debate in a reasonable amount of time 4. Equal justice to all members from others and the Chair 5. Courtesy to and from others at all times 6. Meetings are to be conducted as efficiently as possible 7. The Society has the right to protect itself from unruly, obnoxious members 12 Respect the Pending Business Confine remarks to the merits of the pending question Do not speak adversely on a prior action not pending Refrain from speaking against one’s own motion Respect Members Refrain from attacking member’s motives Avoid using member’s names Reading of reports, quotations, etc. only allowed by unanimous consent Respect the Chair Address all remarks through the chair Take your seat when interrupted by the chair Refrain from disturbing the assembly 13 . . . And two opposed!
14 Business is conducted through Motions Without a motion, no discussion But in committees, there can be some leeway