Pocket Guide to Parliamentary Procedure
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A Handbook of Parliamentary Procedure
A Handbook of Parliamentary Procedure irginia Publication 305-772 Cooperative Revised 1991 Extension Virginia Tech * Virginia State This publication is made possible, in part, by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan, to the Center for Volunteer Development at Virginia Tech and the Cooperative Extension Services of the following states: ALABAMA ARKANSAS ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Normal, Alabama Little Rock, Arkansas (205) 851-5710 (501) 373-2500 AUBURN UNIVERSITY and Auburn, Alabama Pine Bluff, Arkansas (205) 844-3681 (501) 541-6500 TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY Tuskegee, Alabama (205) 727-8114 GEORGIA MISSISSIPPI FORT VALLEY STATE COLLEGE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY Fort Valley, Georgia Lorman, Mississippi (912) 825-6268 (601) 877-6125 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Athens, Georgia (912) 382-3509 TENNESSEE VIRGINIA TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Nashville, Tennessee AND STATE UNIVERSITY (615) 320-3650 Blacksburg, Virginia (703) 231-7966 Center for Volunteer Development Virginia Cooperative Extension programs, activities, and employment opportunities are available to all people regardless of race. color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, or political affiliation. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. James F. Johnson, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg; Clinton V. Turner, Administrator. 1890 Extension Program. Virginia State. Petersburg. TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES and RESPONSIBILITIES .............................. 1 M em ber Privileges ...................................................... 1 M em berpl............................ Responsibilities ................... 1 KEYS TO BEING A GOOD MEMBER .......................................... 1 M E ETIN G S . 2 Types of M eetings ..................................................... -
Motions Explained
MOTIONS EXPLAINED Adjournment: Suspension of proceedings to another time or place. To adjourn means to suspend until a later stated time or place. Recess: Bodies are released to reassemble at a later time. The members may leave the meeting room, but are expected to remain nearby. A recess may be simply to allow a break (e.g. for lunch) or it may be related to the meeting (e.g. to allow time for vote‐counting). Register Complaint: To raise a question of privilege that permits a request related to the rights and privileges of the assembly or any of its members to be brought up. Any time a member feels their ability to serve is being affected by some condition. Make Body Follow Agenda: A call for the orders of the day is a motion to require the body to conform to its agenda or order of business. Lay Aside Temporarily: A motion to lay the question on the table (often simply "table") or the motion to postpone consideration is a proposal to suspend consideration of a pending motion. Close Debate: A motion to the previous question (also known as calling for the question, calling the question, close debate and other terms) is a motion to end debate, and the moving of amendments, on any debatable or amendable motion and bring that motion to an immediate vote. Limit or extend debate: The motion to limit or extend limits of debate is used to modify the rules of debate. Postpone to a certain time: In parliamentary procedure, a postponing to a certain time or postponing to a time certain is an act of the deliberative assembly, generally implemented as a motion. -
Simplified Parliamentary Procedure
Extension to Communities Simplifi ed Parliamentary Procedure 2 • Iowa State University Extension Introduction Effective Meetings — Simplifi ed Parliamentary Procedure “We must learn to run a meeting without victimizing the audience; but more impor- tantly, without being victimized by individuals who are armed with parliamentary procedure and a personal agenda.” — www.calweb.com/~laredo/parlproc.htm Parliamentary procedure. Sound complicated? Controlling? Boring? Intimidating? Why do we need to know all those rules for conducting a meeting? Why can’t we just run the meetings however we want to? Who cares if we follow parliamentary procedure? How many times have you attended a meeting that ran on and on and didn’t accomplish anything? The meeting jumps from one topic to another without deciding on anything. Group members disrupt the meeting with their own personal agendas. Arguments erupt. A few people make all the decisions and ignore everyone else’s opinions. Everyone leaves the meeting feeling frustrated. Sound familiar? Then a little parliamentary procedure may just be the thing to turn your unproductive, frustrating meetings into a thing of beauty — or at least make them more enjoyable and productive. What is Parliamentary Procedure? Parliamentary procedure is a set of well proven rules designed to move business along in a meeting while maintaining order and controlling the communications process. Its purpose is to help groups accomplish their tasks through an orderly, democratic process. Parliamentary procedure is not intended to inhibit a meeting with unnecessary rules or to prevent people from expressing their opinions. It is intended to facilitate the smooth func- tioning of the meeting and promote cooperation and harmony among members. -
Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2021
Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2021 Updated January 25, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL30857 Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2021 Summary Each new House elects a Speaker by roll call vote when it first convenes. Customarily, the conference of each major party nominates a candidate whose name is placed in nomination. A Member normally votes for the candidate of his or her own party conference but may vote for any individual, whether nominated or not. To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of all the votes cast for individuals. This number may be less than a majority (now 218) of the full membership of the House because of vacancies, absentees, or Members answering “present.” This report provides data on elections of the Speaker in each Congress since 1913, when the House first reached its present size of 435 Members. During that period (63rd through 117th Congresses), a Speaker was elected six times with the votes of less than a majority of the full membership. If a Speaker dies or resigns during a Congress, the House immediately elects a new one. Five such elections occurred since 1913. In the earlier two cases, the House elected the new Speaker by resolution; in the more recent three, the body used the same procedure as at the outset of a Congress. If no candidate receives the requisite majority, the roll call is repeated until a Speaker is elected. Since 1913, this procedure has been necessary only in 1923, when nine ballots were required before a Speaker was elected. -
Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination
Order Code RL32102 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination Updated December 6, 2004 Jay R. Shampansky Legislative Attorney American Law Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination Summary The Senate cloture rule requires a super-majority vote to terminate a filibuster (i.e., extended debate). The Appointments Clause of the Constitution, which provides that the President is to “nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, ... appoint” judges, does not impose a super-majority requirement for Senate confirmation. Critics of the Senate filibuster argue that a filibuster of a judicial nomination is unconstitutional in that it effectively requires a super-majority vote for confirmation, although the Appointments Clause does not require such a super-majority vote. It has been argued that the Senate’s constitutional power to determine the rules of its proceedings, as well as historical practice, provide the foundation for the filibuster. The question of the constitutionality of the filibuster of a judicial nomination turns on an assessment of whether the Senate’s power to make rules governing its own proceedings is broad enough to apply the filibuster rule to nominations. Several factors have the effect of entrenching the filibuster (i.e., making it possible to filibuster a proposed amendment to the rules). Supporters and critics of the filibuster of judicial nominations disagree about the relative roles of the President and the Senate in regard to judicial appointments, about whether the Senate has a duty to dispose of the President’s judicial nominations in a timely fashion, and about whether a simple majority of Senators has a constitutional right to proceed to a vote on a nomination. -
Legislative Process Lpbooklet 2016 15Th Edition.Qxp Booklet00-01 12Th Edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 1
LPBkltCvr_2016_15th edition-1.qxp_BkltCvr00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 2:49 PM Page 1 South Carolina’s Legislative Process LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 1 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 2 October 2016 15th Edition LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 3 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS The contents of this pamphlet consist of South Carolina’s Legislative Process , pub - lished by Charles F. Reid, Clerk of the South Carolina House of Representatives. The material is reproduced with permission. LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 4 LPBooklet_2016_15th edition.qxp_Booklet00-01 12th edition 11/18/16 3:00 PM Page 5 South Carolina’s Legislative Process HISTORY o understand the legislative process, it is nec - Tessary to know a few facts about the lawmak - ing body. The South Carolina Legislature consists of two bodies—the Senate and the House of Rep - resentatives. There are 170 members—46 Sena - tors and 124 Representatives representing dis tricts based on population. When these two bodies are referred to collectively, the Senate and House are together called the General Assembly. To be eligible to be a Representative, a person must be at least 21 years old, and Senators must be at least 25 years old. Members of the House serve for two years; Senators serve for four years. The terms of office begin on the Monday following the General Election which is held in even num - bered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. -
Conducting Local Union Officer Elections a Guide for Election Officials
Conducting Local Union Officer Elections A Guide for Election Officials Official Ballot X X U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards Material contained in this publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission of the federal government. Source credit is requested but not required. Permission is required only to reproduce any copyrighted material contained herein. This material will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-0123 TTY* phone: 1-877-889-5627 *Teletypewriter Conducting Local Union Officer Elections A Guide for Election Officials U.S. Department of Labor Thomas E. Perez, Secretary Office of Labor-Management Standards 2010 (Revised May 2014 and January 2019) A Message to Local Union Election Officials Congratulations! You have been selected to serve as an election official in your union. You may have volunteered, been elected by the membership, appointed by your union’s president, chosen by one of the candidates, or maybe you were “drafted” to serve in this role. In any event, during the upcoming weeks you and your fellow election officials will be entrusted with the responsibility of providing members with the opportunity to exercise the most fundamental of union rights, the right to elect their union’s officers by secret ballot. Don’t underestimate the importance of your role — you are an essential part of the democratic process. The persons elected to office will help shape the future of your union as they handle the union’s finances, are involved in contract negotiations and grievances, and conduct other business affecting the welfare of your union’s members. -
1- Rules of the House of Representatives 1.0 Procedural and Parliamentary Authority 1-1 Manual. the Wyoming Manual of Legisla
Rules of the House of Representatives 1.0 Procedural and Parliamentary Authority 1-1 Manual. The Wyoming Manual of Legislative Procedures, Revised, shall be referred to as the "Manual." 1-2 Parliamentary Practice. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the House in all cases to which they can apply and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules and orders of the House and Joint Rules. [Ref: Mason's §§ 30 to 32] 1-3 Suspension of Rules. No change, suspension, or addition to the rules of the house shall be made except by a two-thirds vote of the elected members. [Ref: Mason's §§ 279 to 287] 2.0 House Organization 2-1 Removal of Officers. A vote of at least two-thirds of the elected House members for the removal of any officer of the House shall be sufficient to vacate the chair or office. [Ref: Mason's § 581] 2-2 House Committees. The Speaker of the House after conferring with the majority and minority leaders shall appoint members to House standing committees subject to House Rule 2-3. House standing committees are as follows: 1. Judiciary 2. Appropriations 3. Revenue 4. Education 5. Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources 6. Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources 7. Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions 8. Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs 9. Minerals, Business and Economic Development 10. Labor, Health and Social Services 11. Journal 12. Rules and Procedure [Ref: Mason's §§ 600 to 602] -1- 2-3 Committee Membership. -
Myths and Half Truths Concerning Parliamentary Procedure: Bet You Have Heard Some of These!
Myths and Half truths concerning parliamentary procedure: Bet you have heard some of these! Commentary on each: 1. Exofficio members never have right to vote. The term exoffico simply means “by virtue of”. That is, some groups may have the president or vice president as a member of any or all committees; the county agent may be listed as “exoffico” member of the Extension Board; the student body president may be an exoffico member of the community foundation, etc. The State Fair board has an exoffico spot listed for the governor and others. Whether the person filling this spot has voting rights maybe spelled out in the group’s governing documents. The default according to RONR would be that they would have full rights while serving on the board—that is, right to present motion, debate, and vote. Many groups because of either provisions in their governing documents or custom to not allow for full rights (often this is because of the misconception of rights of exoffico). 2. Executive Committee can always over ride decision of whole assembly. The default is that nobody (officer or officers or executive committee) can over ride the will of the assembly. So any such authority must be found other than in their parliamentary authority. On the other hand commonsense says it may be necessary—for example: the body at their annual convention voted to hold the next annual convention on the same corresponding date AND at the same location. Due to other circumstances it is later found that either the date will not work at that site or that site will not be available— so a decision will have to be made by the executive committee (or other designated committee). -
Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards By: Wendy S
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE FOR ROAD COMMISSION BOARDS BY: WENDY S. HARDT MICHAEL R. KLUCK & ASSOCIATES Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Controlling authority ◦Open Meetings Act ◦County Road Law ◦Robert’s Rules of Order (guidance) Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Quorum = majority of the members of the board Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards No Quorum = No Formal Action Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Quorum Determination 5-Person Board = 3 members 3-Person Board = 2 members Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Conflict of Interest May still vote if – ◦ lack of quorum ◦ work 25 hours per week or less for public entity ◦ full disclosure, made part of the public record ◦ financial interest ≤$250.00 or 5% of contract Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Chairperson = Responsible for following parliamentary procedure and deciding all points of order. Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards Voting Rules ◦ Abstention counts as a “no” vote. ◦ All Board members, absent a conflict of interest, may vote. Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards •Each county road commissioner holds office until his/her successor is appointed or elected and qualified. Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards ◦ Super-majority may not be required, except where legislation so provides. ◦ Proxy voting is not allowed. Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards ◦ Roll call voting is not generally required. However, for certain closed sessions of the Board, as 2/3 roll call vote of members elected or appointed and serving is required. Parliamentary Procedure for Road Commission Boards ◦ Be careful about trying to arrive at a consensus before a meeting. ◦ E-mail communications are discoverable and could constitute a violation of the Open Meetings Act. -
The Role of the Speaker
THE ROLE OF THE SPEAKER The Speaker is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) elected in a secret ballot by all MLAs to preside over debates and ensure that the Legislative Assembly follows established rules of behaviour and parliamentary procedure. THE SPEAKER AS PRESIDING OFFICER The election of a Speaker is the first item of business for a new Parliament and takes place on the first sitting day after each provincial general election or when a Speaker resigns, retires, or dies. Once elected, the Speaker must remain neutral at all times and can only vote to break a tie. The Speaker is responsible for ensuring that all MLAs are treated fairly and impartially. One of the Speaker’s most difficult tasks is balancing the right of the majority to conduct business with the right of the minority to be heard. It is the Speaker’s job to interpret and enforce the Standing Orders - the Legislative Assembly’s rules for parliamentary procedures - to ensure that debates are carried out properly and that all MLAs have the opportunity to participate. To assist the Speaker in maintaining order, MLAs cannot participate in a debate until they are formally recognized by the Speaker. Once recognized, MLAs must direct their speeches or questions to the Speaker, not to each other. Any MLA who disobeys the rules or makes unparliamentary remarks can be disciplined by the Speaker. The Speaker’s Chair in the Legislative Chamber OTHER DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER Although the Speaker is neutral and avoids taking public positions on political matters, the Speaker continues to serve as an MLA. -
ROBERT's RULES of ORDER Simplified and Applied
6399-8_2 FM 6/20/02 11:05 AM Page iii ROBERT’S RULES of ORDER Simplified and Applied Second Edition by Robert McConnell Production 6399-8_2 FM 6/20/02 11:05 AM Page iv Robert’s Rules of Order: Simplified and Applied, 2nd edition Copyright © 2001 by Robert McConnell productions Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-750-4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com.You can contact the Publisher directly for permission by email at [email protected] or on the web at www.wiley.com/about/permission. Trademarks:Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo,Webster’s New World, and the Webster’s New World logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission.All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associat- ed with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty:While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.