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 FM.F 7/30/01 1:43 PM Page vii Contents Preface . .xvii Introduction . .xix PART I: Meetings and Organizations 1 The Basics . .3 Structure of an Organization . .3 Applying Democratic Principles to Organizations . .4 Defining Parliamentary Procedure . .6 Importance of Parliamentary Procedures . .7 Basic Principles of Parliamentary Procedure . .7 Taking Up Business One Item at a Time . .8 Promoting Courtesy, Justice, Impartiality, and Equality . .9 The Rule of the Majority and Protection of the Minority . .11 2 The Order of a Business Meeting . .13 Planning and Using Agendas . .13 Accepted Order of Business . .14 Creating a Specific Agenda . .16 Adopting the Agenda . .18 Mailing an Agenda to the Members . .19 Consent and Priority Agendas . .19 Quorum . .20 How to Keep a Record of the Quorum . .22 What to Do When No Quorum Is Present . .22 A Business Meeting in Action . .23 Calling the Meeting to Order . .23 Reading and Approving the Minutes . .23 Reports of Officers . .25 Reports of Committees . .26 Unfinished Business and General Orders . .28 New Business . .28 Adjourning the Meeting . .30 3 Presenting Business to the Assembly . .31 Basic Steps in Presenting a Motion . .31 Making a Main Motion . .33 vii 6399-8 FM.F 7/30/01 1:43 PM Page viii viii Robert’s Rules of Order Discussing a Motion . .35 Taking the Vote . .37 Completing the Action on the Motion . .39 Important Points to Remember Before Making a Motion . .39 Resolutions . .43 4 Debating the Motion . .45 Rules of Debate . .46 Limitations on Debate . .49 Debatable Motions And Undebatable Motions . .49 5 Voting . .53 Procedure for Taking a Vote . .54 The Majority Rules . .55 Majority Vote Defined . .56 Modifications in Majority Vote . .56 A Two-Thirds Vote . .59 A Three-Fourths Vote . .59 The Tie Vote . .60 Ways the Vote Can Be Taken . .60 Taking a Vote by Voice . .61 Taking a Vote by Show of Hands . .61 Taking a Vote by Rising (Standing) . .62 Taking a Vote by Ballot . .62 Taking a Vote by Mail . .64 Taking a Vote by E-mail . .65 Taking a Vote by General or Unanimous Consent . .66 Doubting the Result of the Vote . .68 Calling for a Division . .68 Doubting the Result of a Ballot Vote or Roll Call Vote . .69 Other Voting Procedures . .69 Frequently Asked Questions About Voting . .70 PART II: Motions Simplified 6 Motions . .75 Classes of Motions . .75 Main Motions . .76 Secondary Motions . .78 6399-8 FM.F 7/30/01 1:43 PM Page ix Contents ix Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly . .81 Previous Notice of Motions . .82 The Ranking of Motions . .82 7 Using Subsidiary Motions to Help Adopt a Main Motion . .85 Postpone Indefinitely . .85 Amend . .87 Voting on Amendments to the Main Motion . .90 Refer to a Committee . .94 Committee (or Quasi-Committee) of the Whole . .95 Consider Informally . .96 Postpone to a Certain Time . .97 Postpone to a Certain Time Made into a Special Order . .98 Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate . .99 Previous Question (Close Debate) . .101 Lay on the Table . .104 Legitimate Uses of the Motion Lay on the Table . .105 8 Using Privileged Motions . .107 Calls for the Orders of the Day . .107 Raise a Question of Privilege . .109 Recess . .111 Adjourn . .112 Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn . .114 Fix the Time at Which to Adjourn . .115 9 Using Incidental Motions . .117 Point of Order . .117 Appeal from the Decision of the Chair (Appeal) . .118 Requests and Inquiries . .120 Request for Permission to Withdraw or Modify a Motion . .122 Request To be Excused from a Duty . .124 Object to Consideration of a Question . .125 Division of the Assembly . .126 Division of the Question . .127 Suspend the Rules . .128 6399-8 FM.F 7/30/01 1:43 PM Page x x Robert’s Rules of Order 10 Using Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly . .133 Take from the Table . .133 Reconsider . .134 Rescind and Amend Something Previously Adopted . .137 Discharge a Committee . .140 PART III: Membership 11 Officers . .143 Elected Officers . .143 The President . .144 Setting Goals for the Organization . .145 Performing Administrative Duties . .145 Presiding at Meetings . .145 Becoming an Effective Presiding Officer . .151 Legal and Ethical Considerations . .152 The Vice President . .152 The Secretary . .153 Meeting Minutes . .154 The Structure of the Minutes . .155 Approval of and Corrections to the Minutes . .160 Finalized Form of the Minutes . .160 Carrying out the Actions in the Minutes . .161 The Treasurer . .161 The Treasurer’s Duty in Small Clubs . .162 The Treasurer’s Report in Small Clubs . .162 The Treasurer’s Duty in Larger Organizations . .163 Boards . .165 Bylaws and Boards . .166 Ex Officio Board Members . .169 Handling Resignations . ..