Roberts Rules of Order

Roberts Rules of Order

11Who was Robert?U.S. Army Major Henry Martyn Robert (18371923 )Rules are based loosely on the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives

2Roberts RulesRoberts Rules provide for fair and orderly meetings and promote the rights of: The majority to decide The minority to be heard Absent members to be protected

3How formal should you be?

The group should decide based on:The size of the groupThe purpose of the meetingMake the rules work for your organization

4Hierarchy of GoverningOrganizations are governed byApplicable state lawsOrganizations Constitution/AIBylaws5Bylaws and Roberts RulesBylaws are rules set by an organization todefine the structure of an organization. describe the rights and responsibilities of members. describe the group's decision-making process.

6Bylaws and Roberts RulesBylawsContains rules that cannot be suspended and cannot be changed at a single meetingCan be amended with previous notice and a two thirds vote.

7Basic RulesAll members are equal and have equal rightsTo attend meetingsTo make motionsTo debate

8Meetings-

a single official gathering of the members of the organization in one room, with a quorum present to transact business. The members do not leave the meeting except for a short recess, until the business has been completed or the chair declares the meeting adjourned. 9Roles of the officersPresiding OfficerCalls the meeting to orderAnnounces the business before the assemblyDetermines the presence of a quorum10Roles of OfficersPresiding OfficerRecognizes members entitled to the floorProcesses motionsRules on points of orderConducts meetings in a fair and impartial manner11Roles of OfficersSecretaryWorks with the president to prepare the agendaDistributes the agendaKeeps notes of what occurred at the meetingPrepares and distributes minutes

12Basic RulesA quorum must be present to do businessIf a quorum is not present the only business that can be conducted is To set the next meeting. To adjourn the meetingTo recess the meeting

13AgendaRoberts order of business:Reading and approval of minutes.Reports of officers and standing committees.Reports of ad hoc committeesUnfinished business New business

14Order of businessIf minutes have been sent to members, no need to read them.They can be approved by general consent15Order of businessReports from CommitteesIf reports are distributed ahead of time, the presiding officer can simply ask if there are any additions. If not, the meeting can move on.

16Order of businessBut -Any motions from a committee report should be taken up immediately.

17Order of businessUnfinished businessItems on the agenda of the previous meeting that were postponedAn item that was laid on the table at the current or previous meeting.

18MotionsA formal proposal by a member that the assembly take a certain action Business is brought before an assembly by the motion of a member Basic form is a main motion

19MotionsMember makes the motionUses the word "move" Another member seconds the motion

20MotionsPrior to the chair stating the question, the motion can be amended By same maker, seconder must agree By another member, second is not necessary if maker accepts21MotionsThe chair "states the question" Ensures clarity by re-stating the motion Only the chair can place business before the assembly

22MotionsOnce the question is stated, the motion is pending and open to debate At this point, the motion belongs to the assemblyAnd only the assembly can modify it

23MotionsMaker of motion has the right to speak first Chair assigns floor

24Debating MotionsOne question at a time and one speaker at a time. The first person to seek recognition of the presiding officer should speak first

25Debating MotionsComments should be directed to the chair. Avoid directing comments to other members. Avoid personal comments.Be courteous26Debating MotionsAnyone who has not spoken gets recognized before anyone who has.It is good practice to alternate sides.No member may speak more than 2 times on a motion. Speeches limited to 10 minutes!27Debating MotionsMain motions must receive full debate To close debateMove the previous questionMove to end debate at a certain timeorMove to limit the length of speeches28Limiting DebateMotions to limit debateRequire two thirds vote because they suspend the fundamental right of every member

29VotingVotingGeneral consent If there is no objection..By voice, show of hands, rising vote, ballot , roll call

30VotingIf there is even one objection to a vote by unanimous consent, there must be a formal vote.31VotingRoberts says a majority vote is a majority of voting members.32VotingA majority is more than half. If the vote is a tie, the vote fails.

33VotingChair announces result "Carried," or "adopted" "Lost," or "rejected"

34MotionsOnce a decision made, an identical motion must not be brought forward at the same meeting

35Types of MotionsMain MotionSubsidiary MotionsIncidental Motions

36MotionsMain motions Can be made only when no other motion is pending Only one main motion at a time

37Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary motions help deal with the main motionAmend itLimit or extend debate on itRefer itPostpone itKill it38Incidental MotionsPoint of OrderAre the rules being followed?Suspend the rulesDoes what youre doing violate your own rules?Division of the questionCan parts be voted on separately?39Mistakes to avoidLay on the table vs. postpone to a certain timeCall the questionFriendly Amendment

40Lay on the tableThe motion to lay on the table is used when you have sudden unexpected business to deal with.Needs a motion to bring back41Postpone to a certain timeUsed if more time is needed to make a decisionAutomatically comes up as an item of unfinished business at the next meeting42Call the questionSpeaker must be recognized by the chairNeeds a secondRequires a 2/3 vote43Friendly AmendmentWho owns the motion?Once the chair states the motion and debate begins, the assembly owns the motion.Only the assembly can amend the motion through majority vote44Point of OrderAny member may call a point of order when he believes someone is acting improperly Must happen when the violation occurs45Robert says ---a violation never challenged is never a violation.46Cant Remember the Rules?Ask yourself ---What is the fairest thing to do to protect the rights of all members?Roberts Rules promote fairness47Cant Remember the Rules?What is the most logical thing to do to solve the problem?Roberts Rules are very logical

48Cant Remember the Rules?What is the most efficient thing to do to accomplish the groups goals?Roberts rules promote efficiency

49SourcesKline, Charles. ROBERT, HENRY MARTYN (18371923). The handbook of Texas online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/RR/fro96.htmlRobert, H.M. (1981). Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.Sylvester, N. (2004) . The Complete Idiots Guide to Roberts Rules. New York, NY: Alpha.

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