Rules of Order

Summary Version For Fair and Orderly Meetings & Conventions

Robert’s Rules of Order – Summary Version For Fair and Orderly Meetings & Conventions

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 conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership – the right of the deliberate majority to decide. Complementary is the right of at least a strong minority to require the majority to be deliberate – to act according to its considered judgment AFTER a full and fair “working through” of the issues involved. Robert’s Rules provides for constructive and democratic meetings, to help, not hinder, the business of the assembly. Under no circumstances should “undue strictness” be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation.

The fundamental right of deliberative assemblies requires 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 cannot 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!

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 cannot 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

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Robert's Rules of Order Motions Chart

Part 1, Main Motions.

These motions are listed in order of precedence. A motion can be introduced if it is higher on the chart than the pending motion. § indicates the section from Robert’s Rules.

§	PURPOSE:	YOU SAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§21	Close meeting	I move to adjourn	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§20	Take break	I move to recess for…	No	Yes	No	Yes	Majority
§19	Register complaint	I rise to a question of privilege	Yes	No	No	No	None
§18	Make follow agenda	I call for the orders of the day	Yes	No	No	No	None
§17	Lay aside temporarily	I move to lay the question on the No table	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§16	Close debate	I move the previous question	No	Yes	No	No	2/3
§16	Limit or extend debate	I move that debate be limited to…	No	Yes	No	Yes	2/3
§15	Postpone to a certain time	I move to postpone the motion to…	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§14	Refer to committee	I move to refer the motion to…	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§13	Modify wording of motion	I move to amend the motion by…	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§12	Kill main motion	I move that the motion be postponed indefinitely	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
§11	Bring business before assembly (a main motion)	I move that [or "to"]…	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority

Part 2, Incidental Motions.

No order of precedence. These motions arise incidentally and are decided immediately.

§	PURPOSE:	YOU SAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§23	Enforce rules	Point of Order	Yes	No	No	No	None
§24	Submit matter to assembly	I appeal from the decision of the chair	Yes	Yes	Varies	No	Majority
§25	Suspend rules	I move to suspend the rules	No	Yes	No	No	2/3
§26	Avoid main motion altogether	I object to the consideration of the question	Yes	No	No	No	2/3
§27	Divide motion	I move to divide the question	No	Yes	No	Yes	Majority
§29	Demand a rising vote	I move for a rising vote	Yes	No	No	No	None
§33	Parliamentary law question	Parliamentary inquiry	Yes	No	No	No	None
§33	Request for information	Point of information	Yes	No	No	No	None

Part 3, Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly.

No order of precedence. Introduce only when nothing else is pending.

§	PURPOSE:	YOUSAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§34	Take matter from table	I move to take from the table…	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§35	Cancelpreviousaction	I move to rescind…	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	2/3 or Majority with notice
§37	Reconsider motion	I move to reconsider…	No	Yes	Varies	No	Majority

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