Parliamentary ProceduresParliamentary Procedures

Principles of Health SciencePrinciples of Health Science

History of Parliamentary ProcedureHistory of Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary Procedure arose out of the Parliamentary Procedure arose out of the early days of English Parliamentary Law.early days of English Parliamentary Law.

Formalized by an individual name General Formalized by an individual name General Henry M. RobertsHenry M. Roberts

-19th century US Army Engineer-19th century US Army Engineer

-Robert’s Rules of Order-Robert’s Rules of Order

What is Parliamentary Procedure?What is Parliamentary Procedure?

An organized way to conduct business, An organized way to conduct business, and make decisions in meetings using 3 and make decisions in meetings using 3 basic principles. basic principles.

Principles: Principles:

1. The right of the majority to rule1. The right of the majority to rule

2. The right of the minority to be heard2. The right of the minority to be heard

3. The equal right of each individual to be 3. The equal right of each individual to be heard and represented.heard and represented.

What is Parliamentary Procedure?What is Parliamentary Procedure?

““Fundamentally, parliamentary procedure Fundamentally, parliamentary procedure defines how groups of people, no matter defines how groups of people, no matter how formal or informal, can most how formal or informal, can most effectively meet and make decisions in a effectively meet and make decisions in a fair, consistent manner—and make good fair, consistent manner—and make good use of everyone’s time.” (NAP)use of everyone’s time.” (NAP)

Who Uses Parliamentary Who Uses Parliamentary Procedure?Procedure?

U.S. CongressU.S. Congress

State legislaturesState legislatures

City and county councilsCity and county councils

School boardsSchool boards

ClubsClubs

Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations

Important TermsImportant Terms Adjourn-close the Adjourn-close the

meetingmeeting Aye-yesAye-yes Debate-to discussDebate-to discuss Germane-closely related Germane-closely related

to, or having a direct to, or having a direct bearing uponbearing upon

Has the floor-has the right Has the floor-has the right to speakto speak

Lay on table-a motion Lay on table-a motion made to put the current made to put the current motion on hold until a motion on hold until a later timelater time

Point of Order-a motion Point of Order-a motion made to point out that a made to point out that a mistake has occurred in mistake has occurred in Parliamentary ProcedureParliamentary Procedure

Point of information-a Point of information-a motion made when a motion made when a member needs to gather member needs to gather additional information or additional information or ask a questionask a question

Minutes-a record of all Minutes-a record of all the proceedings the proceedings performed at the meeting-performed at the meeting-not what was said, but not what was said, but what was donewhat was done

Simple MajoritySimple Majority

51% or more-the rule of simple majority51% or more-the rule of simple majoritySince the primary objective is to determine Since the primary objective is to determine

the will of the majority and execute its will, the will of the majority and execute its will, a simple majority must be used.a simple majority must be used.

Equal Rights Equal Rights

All members have All members have equal rights, privileges equal rights, privileges and obligationsand obligations

Guarantees the right of Guarantees the right of the majority to decidethe majority to decide

Rights of minority are Rights of minority are respected by Parli respected by Parli Procedure. The right to Procedure. The right to be heard and oppose be heard and oppose are the rights of the are the rights of the minority.minority.

Each member has an Each member has an equal right to propose a equal right to propose a motion, debate, ask for motion, debate, ask for information, and vote. information, and vote.

Only one question can Only one question can be considered at a be considered at a time. time.

Any motion restricting Any motion restricting the rights of members the rights of members to speak or vote must to speak or vote must be passed by a 2/3 be passed by a 2/3 majority vote.majority vote.

AgendaAgenda

A list of all of the work to be considered at A list of all of the work to be considered at the meeting—order of business.the meeting—order of business.

Decided by the Chair or President prior to Decided by the Chair or President prior to the meetingthe meeting

AgendaAgenda

Usual agenda includes:Usual agenda includes:

1. Call to order-done by 1. Call to order-done by the Chair or acting Chair the Chair or acting Chair with a gavelwith a gavel

2. Taking of roll by the 2. Taking of roll by the secretarysecretary

3. Reading of the 3. Reading of the minutes from the minutes from the previous meetingprevious meeting

4. Treasurer’s Report4. Treasurer’s Report

5. Report of Officers5. Report of Officers

6. Standing Committee 6. Standing Committee ReportsReports

7. Special Committee 7. Special Committee ReportsReports

8. Unfinished Business8. Unfinished Business

9. New Business9. New Business

10. Program 10. Program

11. Adjournment11. Adjournment

OfficersOfficers

President, Chair, Chairman, Presiding President, Chair, Chairman, Presiding OfficerOfficer

SecretarySecretaryTreasurerTreasurerHistorianHistorianParliamentarianParliamentarianSergeant at ArmsSergeant at Arms

PresidentPresident

Conduct meetings according to the chapter Conduct meetings according to the chapter bylaws and standing rulesbylaws and standing rules

Take the leadership role when working with Take the leadership role when working with officers and membersofficers and members

Develop the Program of Work and coordinate Develop the Program of Work and coordinate activities with the chapter advisoractivities with the chapter advisor

Keep chapter meetings and activities on taskKeep chapter meetings and activities on task Appoint committees and serve as an ex-officio Appoint committees and serve as an ex-officio

membermember

SecretarySecretary

Prepare the minutes of meetings, chapter Prepare the minutes of meetings, chapter correspondence, and reportscorrespondence, and reports

Help develop meeting agendas with the Help develop meeting agendas with the presidentpresident

Record the roll at all chapter meetingsRecord the roll at all chapter meetingsWork with the treasurer in maintaining Work with the treasurer in maintaining

membership datamembership dataRead minutes and communications at Read minutes and communications at

chapter meetingschapter meetings

TreasurerTreasurer

Maintain efficient management and Maintain efficient management and documentation of chapter fundsdocumentation of chapter funds

Help collect club duesHelp collect club duesKeep financial records neat and accurateKeep financial records neat and accurateAssist in preparing the chapter budgetAssist in preparing the chapter budgetThe treasurer’s report is always filed with The treasurer’s report is always filed with

the secretarythe secretary

HistorianHistorian

Maintain a history of local club activities Maintain a history of local club activities throughout the year—they may want to throughout the year—they may want to save this in a notebook or make a slide save this in a notebook or make a slide showshow

ParliamentarianParliamentarian

Watches over the meeting and enforces Watches over the meeting and enforces the use of correct parliamentary procedurethe use of correct parliamentary procedure

Sergeant at ArmsSergeant at Arms

Helps to maintain orderHelps to maintain order

MotionsMotions

To introduce a motion: To introduce a motion: -no one else “has the floor”-no one else “has the floor”-stand and address the chair: “Mr/Madam -stand and address the chair: “Mr/Madam President” President” -remain standing until recognized by the chair-remain standing until recognized by the chair

“ “ I move that (to).....” and sit down.I move that (to).....” and sit down. Someone must second that motion by saying:Someone must second that motion by saying:

-”I second the motion” or “Second”-”I second the motion” or “Second” The chair states the motion: “It is moved and The chair states the motion: “It is moved and

seconded that....”seconded that....”

Motions, cont’dMotions, cont’d Members may debate the motion. Members may debate the motion.

-Debate is acceptable and helps the organization make -Debate is acceptable and helps the organization make the best decisionthe best decision-Debate must be approached fairly and consistently-Debate must be approached fairly and consistently

Members must obtain the floorMembers must obtain the floor All remarks are addressed to the chair not to other All remarks are addressed to the chair not to other

membersmembers Should only debate for 10 minutes unless it is decided to Should only debate for 10 minutes unless it is decided to

continue by the assembly. continue by the assembly. No member can speak twice on the same motionNo member can speak twice on the same motion

Motions, cont’d Motions, cont’d

The maker of the motion cannot speak The maker of the motion cannot speak against it, but you may vote against it. against it, but you may vote against it.

The presenter may be the first person to The presenter may be the first person to speak in the debatespeak in the debate

Voting on the MotionVoting on the Motion

The chair asks: “Are you ready for the question? The chair asks: “Are you ready for the question? ““

““The question is on the adoption of the motion The question is on the adoption of the motion that....As many as are in favor, say ‘Aye”. that....As many as are in favor, say ‘Aye”.

““Those opposed, say ‘no”Those opposed, say ‘no” Madam/Mr. Chairperson announces the result of Madam/Mr. Chairperson announces the result of

the vote”the vote” ““The ayes have it, the motion is adopted, The ayes have it, the motion is adopted,

and.....” or “The noes have it, and the motion is and.....” or “The noes have it, and the motion is lost”lost”

Model MeetingModel Meeting

Any actors?Any actors?

SourcesSources

National Association of Parliamentarians, National Association of Parliamentarians, http://parliamentarians.org/index.phphttp://parliamentarians.org/index.php

UNT-Health Science UNT-Health Science