What is parlimentary procedure?

1. What is parlimentary procedure? Parliamentary procedure is a systematic way of organizing meetings. Parliamentary procedure is governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. General Henry M. Robert

2. PARLIMENTARY LAW • Main Objectives • Focus on one item at a time, this helps prevent confusion. • Extend courtesy to everyone. You should be recognized before speaking. • Observing the rule of the majority keeps unpopular ideas from being adopted. • Ensure the rights of the minority, all sides can make motions, second motions, discuss and vote.

3. Presiding officer • Chapter FFA President • Must be fair and impartial • Must relinquish the chairman’s station and relinquish chairman’s duties to present or discuss a motion.

4. The gavel • Symbol of authority • The president uses the gavel to control aspects of the meeting. • The number of taps determines the meaning. • One tap means to sit down, announce vote or adjourn • Two taps calls the meeting to order. • Three taps symbols to rise during opening and closing ceremonies • Series of taps used to bring the group to order

5. Agenda • List of what will be discussed at a meeting • Should be prepared in advance

6. Motion • To present a new idea or item of business • Wording: “I move” NOT “I make a motion” • Types of motions • Privileged – not debatable • Incidental –most are not debatable • Subsidiary – can be debatable or not

7. Privileged motions • Privileged motion - is a motion in parliamentary procedure that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency. • Not debatable • For example : Call for the orders of the day, raise a question of privilege, recess, adjourn, fix the time which to adjourn

8. Incidental motions • a category of motions that relate in varying ways to the main motion and other parliamentary motions. • Most incidental motions are undebatable • Examples : Point of order, appeal, Suspend the rules, division of the question

9. Subsidiary motions • type of motion by which a deliberative assembly deals directly with a main motion prior to (or instead of) voting on the main motion itself. • Postpone indefinitly, amend, commit or refer, postpone to a certain time, limit or extend limits of debate, previous question, lay on the table • Can be debatable or not debatable.

10. Main Motion • Presents a new idea or item of business • Only one can be on the floor or before the group at the same time. • It is debatable, amendable, requires a second and majority vote

11. Steps to making a main motion • Address presiding officer • Receive recognition to speak • State motion - “I move to” or “I move that” • Another member seconds the motion • Motion is discussed • Vote on motion • Chair announces results of vote

12. Previous question • Used to stop debate and vote • Wording “I move to previous question” • Second required • Not debatable and not amendable • Can be reconsidered before vote • 2/3rd vote required

13. Voting • Majority – more than half the votes minority is less than half the votes • 2/3 the majority Four methods of voting • Voice vote • Visual vote (standing or raising hand) • Roll call • Ballot • General Consent

14. Amendment • Amend is to change a motion by striking out or adding words. • It is debatable, amendable, requires a second and a majority vote. Division of the House • To get a counted vote when voice vote is hard to determine • It is not debatable or amendable • Member seeking a division does not have to be recognized by the chair to speak. You say “Division”.

15. Refer to a committee Places the motion in a committee or small group • The motion is debatable, amendable, requires a second and a majority vote. • Motion should include the number on the committee, how they are appointed, their powers, duties and when to report back. • Powers may be to report, to report with recommendations, or to act on behalf of the chapter.

16. Tabling a motion • To postpone a motion to the next meeting, in order to move on to the next item of busines • Motion must be taken from the table at the next meeting to be discussed • Wording: “I move to lay this motion on the table” • Requires second and majority vote • Not debatable and not amendable

17. Other motions • Point of Order – used to correct a parliamentary mistake. • Is not debatable, not amendable, does not require a second or a vote. • Member says “I rise to a point of order” • Appeal – used to appeal the chair’s decision after a point of order has been made. • It is debatable, not amendable, requires a second and a majority vote • Changes a decision made by the chair • Wording : “ I appeal the decision of the chair”

18. Other motions continued • Suspend the rules – motion used to temporarily suspend the rules of an organization • Not debatable or amendable • Requires a second and 2/3 majority vote • Adjourn - close the meeting (simple majority vote) • Not debatable or amendable, requires a second and majority vote. • A motion to adjourn takes precedence over all other motions.