Objectives
Learn the rules of a meeting and the order of operations.
Discuss vocabulary needed to know when participating in Parliamentary Procedure.
Opening Ceremony
Taps gavel 3 timesGroup risesPresident states: “FFA members,
why are we here?”Members reply: “To practice
brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess.”
Parliamentary Procedure
Definition Correct rules for conducting or running a successful
meeting
3 goals of Parliamentary Procedure Make meeting run smoothly Assure everyone gets to voice their opinion Maintain Order
History of Parliamentary Procedure
Better known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.”
Written by Henry M. Robert in 1876.First revised in 1915.Last revised in 1990.
VocabularyQuorum
1/2 of members in a club plus 1Minimum number of members that
must be present at a meeting for legal business to be transacted
Majority1/2 of members present at any
meeting plus 1minimum number of members that
must vote for a motion for it to pass
Other Important Information
Presiding Officer referred to as: Mr/Madam President Mr/Madam Chairperson
Everyone gets the chance to voice their opinionEveryone gets the chance to Vote
Must take yes and no votes
Only one topic at a time can be discussedWho ever makes a motion has the right to
discuss it first
Other considerations
The taps of the gavel (symbol of leadership, represents chair’s authority).1 tap: be seated, announce vote.2 taps: call to order3 taps: all riseSeries of taps: restore order
• Used to introduce ideas to the group• Must be stated in the form
– I Move that– I Move to
• Can not be in negative form• Only one main motion at a time• Require a second• Amendable
– Can Be Changed
• Debatable– Can be talked about
• Majority Vote– Can be voice
Main Motions
Main Motions Continued
Main Motions that are not Legal Break any Local, State or National Laws Any motion that brings up a motion that has already been failed Items that are outside the power of the group Negative motions Political or religious Support
The person who makes a motion can not talk against it
Main motions can be reconsidered Can not interrupt another speaker Proper Example: Mr President, I move that the
chapter participate in crops judging this year.
Steps to handling a Main Motion
Stand Ask to be recognized by President President recognizes you by name Motion is correctly stated Motion is seconded Motion is repeated by President Motion is discussed President restates motion Motion is voted on Results of vote announced by President
Postpone Indefinitely
PurposeTo kill a main motion
Requires a second Not Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can not interrupt another speaker Can be reconsidered only if passed Proper Example: Mr President, I move to
Postpone this motion indefinitely
Amendments
Purpose Used to modify a main motion
Must be germane Closely related to the original topic
Can be amended in 4 ways Inserting in middle Adding to end Striking Out Striking out and inserting
Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote
Amendments continuedCan not interrupt another speakerCan be reconsideredImproper amendments
any thing not germane frivolous or absurd leave an incoherent wording
Proper Example: Motion on floor: That the FFA Chapter buy a boat. Amendment: Mr President, I move to amend the motion by
inserting speed in front of boat. So the motion would read, I move that the FFA Chapter buy a speed boat.
Amendment to an Amendment
Purpose To modify an amendment to make it more specific
Requires a second Debatable Not amendable Majority vote Can not interrupt a speaker Proper Example:
Madam President, I move to amend the amendment by inserting Johnson in front of speed. So the final motion with if all amendments pass would read, I move that the FFA chapter buy a Johnson speed boat.
Refer to Committee Purpose
used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated
Requires a Second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote 2 ways to appoint a committee
Standing Committee one of the 15 listed in the Program of Activities
Special Committee Appointed by the president Number of members can be 3 or more
Refer to Committee Continued
Can interrupt another speakerPresident must specify when the
committee should report back to the chapter Usually next regular meeting
Committee can be give full power to actProper example:
Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to the Leadership Committee
Mr President, I move we refer this motion to a committee of three appointed by the chair
Postpone Definitely
Purpose allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to a different day, meeting,
or until after a certain event
Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can interrupt a speaker Proper example:
Madam President, I move to postpone this motion until the December Regular Meeting.
Limit or Extend Debate
Purpose To limit or lengthen the time allowed for discussion on a
motion when it is clear that there will be an excessive amount of discussion or when the amount of time for the meeting is limited.
Requires a secondDebatableAmendable
amount of time or number of speakers only
2/3 Majority VoteCan not interrupt another speaker
Limit / Extend Debate Continued
Maker of the motion must specify the amount of time the number of speakers that can debate the motion
Proper Example Madam President, I move that we limit debate on this motion to 3
discussions for the motion and 3 discussions against the motion. Madam President, I move to limit debate to a maximum of 5 minutes.
Previous Question
Purpose To force an immediate Vote on the motion
Requires a secondNot amendableNot Debatable2/3 VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example:
Madam President, I move the previous question Mr President, I call for the previous question
To lay on the tablePurpose
To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or until the next meeting
Requires a secondNot amendableNot debatableMajority VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example:
Mr. President, I move to lay this motion on the table
To take from the table
Purpose To take a motion that is on the table off of the table.
Requires a secondnot amendableNot debatableMajority voteCan not interrupt another speakerProper Example
I move to take the motion that reads to buy a boat from the table.
Reconsider Purpose
to reevaluate a decision that was made earlier
Requires a second Not amendable Debatable Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is handled
just as if it was never voted on Only can be made by a person who voted on the
winning side If passed the motion is handled immediately if:
only a main motion with amendments is on the floor.
Reconsider Continued Handled after the current business if:
discussion on refer to committee, or postponement has started.
Motions that can be reconsidered Main motions Amendments Refer to committee Postpone definitely Previous question Appeal the decision of the chair Only if failed
withdraw Only if passed
Postpone indefinitely
Proper Example Mr President, I move to reconsider the motion to buy a boat.
RecindPurpose
To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION
Requires a SecondDebatableAmendable2/3 majority voteCan not interrupt another speakerProper Example
Madam President, I move that we reconsider the vote to buy a boat.
Suspend the Rules
Purpose allows the chapter to break the rules of parliamentary procedure, or the
current constitution for a short period of time.
Requires a secondNot amendableNot debatable2/3 voteCan not interrupt another speaker Proper example:
Mr President, Because of the lack of time tonight, I move to suspend the rules and skip directly to new business.
Modify or WithdrawPurpose
This motion allows for the maker of a motion to change a motion or completely take it off the floor for discussion.
Not amendableNot debatableIf made before President first states the
motion it is automatically withdrawn with no second or vote.
If made after President first states the motion the following steps must be taken.
Modify or Withdraw cont’d 1) President must asks if anyone objects to the maker withdrawing the
motion if someone objects must be seconded, and passed with majority vote
On no one objects the motion is automatically withdrawn
Can not be made after discussion has begun
Proper form Mr President, I would like to withdraw my motion.
Divide a Motion
Purpose This motion allows a motion that has been made to be split into two
different motions
This can only be made on motions that have two main ideas that are not dependent on each other
Requires a second Not debatable Amendable Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker
Divide a Motion Con’t
Proper example Motion on the floor, I move to buy a boat and go to the zoo. Madam President, I move to divide this motion into tow motions. The
first stating the we buy a boat and the second that we go to the zoo.
Object to the Consideration Purpose
Used when a member thinks that the activity or action of the group is not appropriate.
Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable 2/3 vote Can interrupt another speaker Proper form
Mr President, I object to the consideration of this question. President should say “Objection to the consideration has
been called. All those who wish to consider the motion raise your right hand. All those who object to the consideration of this question same sign.
Division of the house
Purpose When called, this forces a immediate revote by hand
Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable No vote needed Can interrupt another speaker Proper form
Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire group to hear
Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house”
Point of Order Purpose
Used when a member thinks that the rules of the group or the rules of parliamentary procedure are being violated.
Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable President decides on verdict Can interrupt another speaker Proper example
Mr President, I rise to a point of order. President says, “State your point” After member states point, president says “your point is well taken” or
“Your point is not well taken”
Appeal Purpose
To reverse the decision of the chairman, after they have made an error.
Requires a second Not amendable
Debatable (this is the only motion where President can discuss)
Majority vote Can interrupt another speaker Most of the time you should support the decision of
your president. Proper Example
Mr President I appeal the decision of the chair. President should say “Appeal the decision of the chair has
been called, all those who wish to uphold the decision of the chair say I, all opposed same sign.”
Orders of the Day
Purpose This motion forces the group to return to the set agenda,
without finishing the current business.
Does not require a second Not Amendable Not Debatable 2/3 vote against to fail
Can only be made on motions that are not on the set agenda for that meeting.
Mr. President, I call for the orders of the day. President should say, Orders of the day has been called. All
those who wish to return to the orders of the day, raise your hand. All those opposed to returning to the orders of the day, same sign.
Question of Privilege Purpose
This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions, and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly.
Does not need a second Not amendable Not debatable No Vote, Presidents decision Can interrupt another speaker Proper Example
Madam President, I Rise to a question of privilege. President says, “State Your Question” Then the member says whatever they have to and the
president decides on whether it will be allowed or not.
Recess
Purpose This allows for a short break in the meeting
Needs a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can not interrupt another speaker Must specify the length of time in the motion Proper example
Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.
Adjourn
Purpose To end the Meeting
Needs a secondNot AmendableNot DebatableMajority VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example
Mr president, I move to adjourn.
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