Roberts Rule Presentation - Roberts Rules of Order

Document Sample
Roberts Rule Presentation - Roberts Rules of Order Powered By Docstoc
					Robert’s Rules of Order: so
  that we don’t get the “deer in
headlights” look of confusion and
 clusterfuckdom during chapter
          RONR stands for:
    Robert‟s Rules of Order Newly
      Some Brief & Unnecessary
   Named after a union General from Civil
   Robert civil governor of southern region
    during reconstruction
   Most southern meetings erupted in fights
   Robert came up with a set of rules to
    instill order
   Currently revised and updated frequently
    and “Robert‟s Rules are the basis for our
          Basis of Robert’s Rules
   Majority Rules, but minority is heard
   Derived from Jefferson‟s Rules
       Written for Congress during early American
       Set ground rules for how House of
        Representative debate
   Student Senate operates based on
    legislative tradition and RONR
    Proper Lingo…[IMPORTANT]
 To initiate something in meeting, you
  must “move” to take action
 Person making motion is called movant

 The big question:

Do I say, “I move to” or “I motion to?”
       Answer: I move to
   Move = verb vs. Motion = noun
      Four General Categories of
   Main Motion
   Subsidiary Motion
   Privileged Motion
   Incidental Motion
         Explanations of Motions
   Main Motion
       Purpose is to introduce items to the Chapter for
       Cannot be made when any other motion is on
        the floor
   Subsidiary Motion
       Purpose to change/amend how a main motion is
       Subsidiary motion is voted on before a main
    Explanations of Motions Cont.
   Privileged Motions
       Purpose is to bring up items that are urgent
        about special or important matters unrelated
        to pending business
   Incidental Motions
       Purpose is to provide a means of questioning
        procedure concerning other motions
       Must be considered before other motions
       Ex. Point of Order
       How do motions pass?
 Certain motions require majority (50% +1
  more person)
 Or super majority (2/3rds)
     For example, Suspending rules
Some Common
              Lay on the Table
   It allows the Chapter to stop debating one
    issues when something else of more importance
    has come up.
   It is out of order if there is no other pressing
    matter requiring attention
   It is not debatable, not amendable, and requires
    a majority vote.

                     (RONR Section 17, p 201)
          Postpone Indefinitely
   This is the motion that can be used during a
    Chapter meeting to kill an issue or an
    amendment to the by-laws forever.
   RONR states “… is a motion that the assembly
    decline to take a position on the main question.
    Its adoption kills the main motion and avoids a
    direct vote on the question.”
   It takes precedence over nothing [i.e. no other
    motion other than the main question is on the
    floor], it is debatable, not amendable, and
    requires a majority vote.
                   (RONR, Chpt. VI, Section 11, p.121)
       Amending Amendments
   A primary amendment applies directly to
    the main question.
   A secondary amendment is a change in a
    pending primary amendment, and it must
    be germane to that primary amendment.
   You cannot amend a secondary
    amendment/ [simple terms: you cannot
    amend an amendment.]

                (RONR, Chpt. V, Section 12, p. 125)
    Raise a Question of Privilege
   It is a motion that allows a request or
    main motion relating to the rights and
    privileges of the assembly as a whole or
    any individual member to be brought up
   There are 2 types.
       Those relating to the assembly (everyone) as
        a whole
       Questions of personal privilege

                    (RONR, Chpt. V, Section 19, p. 216)
    Raise a Question of Privilege
   Questions dealing with the assembly as a
    whole [everyone] may related to.
       Comfort of the individuals
       Lights, ventilation, heating, noise from
        spectators, solar flares, stampeding cattle,
        microphones, etc.
       Punishment of brothers
       Conduct of officers and visitors
       Not having to listen to Walker sing, etc.
    Raise a Question of Privilege
   Questions of personal privilege relate to:
       These motions should seldom arise in a
        Chapter meeting
       May relate to incorrect record of a brother‟s
        participation in a meeting
       May relate to charges surrounding the
        brother‟s character

    Raise a Question of Privilege
   This motion can be made at any time
    [except when there is a motion to recess,
    adjourn, or fix time to adjourn]
   This motion is not debatable, not
    amendable, and only requires the chair‟s
    ruling (no voting!!)
   The chair‟s ruling on this issue cannot be

             Point of Information
   This is a request directed to the
    President/Chair for information relevant to
    the business at hand
   It is not related to parliamentary law
   Examples [Brother states “Point of
    Information” and then…]
       “will we be adjourning before 10.0pm
       “Will Marts, Walker, Peng and a host of
        random females be waking everyone in the
        house up this Monday at 2.0am?”
                    (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Section 33, p. 282)
    Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
   This motion is a request to the chair for information
    about Chapter By-Laws or the rules [Robert‟s Rules].
   It is the Presidents responsibility to answer such
    questions [or find out the answer from Victor, Mulch, or
    Mark L] so that each member can make an appropriate
   You may make this motion without obtaining the floor
    and do not ask the chair hypothetical questions.
   Example (Member states “Point of Inquiry” and then….)
       “Is it in order at this time to move to vote?”
       “Is it in order to remand this resolution to the LJR committee?”

                         (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Section 33, p. 281)
                Point of Order
   When a brother thinks that the rules are being
    violated, they should make a point of order.
   The motion calls for the chair to make a ruling
    on the motion and enforce proper procedure.
   Motion must be made at the time the breach
   It is not debatable [the chair may allow the
    member to explain his point], not amendable,
    and ruled on by the chair unless………….

                   (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Sect. 23, p. 240)
    Appeal the Ruling of the Chair
   If a member believes the ruling of the
    chair/President to be incorrect, then should not
    hesitate to appeal the ruling.
   It is debatable, not amendable, and a majority
    or tie vote is needed to uphold the decision of
    the chair.
   You cannot appeal the chair‟s rulings on points
    of information or points of parliamentary inquiry
    [those are questions]

                   (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Sect. 24, p. 247)
               Removing the Chair

   If you believe that the chair is acting in a
    manor unbecoming of a leader or you
    don‟t believe that they are being
    effective…make this motion.
       “I move to remove the chair.”
            This motion MUST be entertained and takes a
             majority vote.
                Suspend the Rules
   If a brother wants to do something which is against the
    rules, then they must use this motion.
   You cannot suspend the Constitution, or any local, state,
    or federal law. [Meeting Rules are the most likely
    suspect to be attempted to be suspended].
   It is not debatable, not amendable, and usually requires
    a 2/3 vote.
   Examples [Member states “I move to suspend the rules”
       “Allow non-brothers to attend chapter”
       “Allow „Mike the Cat‟ to act as president for the duration of

                           (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Sect. 25, p. 252)
   This is not a John Grisham novel, so try to
    avoid using the word “objection” in the
   What can you object to???
       Walker singing
       Wheeler showing the “bulldog”
       Sands talking [kidding]
   Object to the consideration of a question
       This would be used to avoid consideration of
        a main motion [amendment or issue or other
        main motion] when it is considered
        undesirable for the item to come before the
       It must be made prior to any debate on the

                    (RONR, Chpt. VIII, Sect. 26, p. 258)
   Object to general consent
       This is a request by a member that a vote be
        taken on a certain issue vice taking by general
       The member making the motion does not
        necessarily have to vote in either fashion, but
        rather is requesting that a vote be cast.

                      (RONR, Chpt. I, Sect. 4, p 51)
   Rules allow an objection to the closure of
   This requires a 2/3 vote to close debate
   One pro and one con can be considered
    prior to the vote
   This is only an objection to closing debate.
    Typical uses would be when someone
    moves to vote when there is still debate
    on the floor.

                     (Senate Rule 7.07)
         How to recognize a motion
   A motion has been made to “Proceed with
    the orders of the day.”
   The chair will then say, “There is a motion
    on the floor to proceed with the orders of
    the day…all those in favor [vote]…all
    those opposed [vote]…any abstentions.”
       If a person abstains, then they must state
        their reason for doing so.
                 To conclude
   If there is a motion on the floor…people should
    be quite unless they have the floor during a
    formal meeting.
   If you are not sure how to act upon a motion
    [chair] or your not sure how to make a motion
    [chapter]…ask Victor, Lim, or Ferrante…people
    who know how to run a meeting…or Mulch [if
    present]…a former Senator well versed in
    Roberts Rules and the act of making motions.

Shared By: