1 Parliamentary Procedures Akinori Nishihara IEEE Region 10 Bylaws & Ops Manual Coordinator

2 IEEE Bylaws I-300 General Parliamentary Procedures. Robert's Rules of Order (latest revision) shall be used to conduct business at meetings of the IEEE Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Major Boards, Standing Committees and other organizational units of the IEEE unless other rules of procedure are specified in the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, the IEEE Certificate of Incorporation, the IEEE Constitution, these Bylaws, the IEEE Policies, resolutions of the IEEE Board of Directors, or the applicable governing documents of those organizational units provided such organizational documents are not in conflict with any of the foregoing.

3 Robert's Rules of Order Official page First edition in 1876, latest is version 10 in 2000 Public domain version (version 4 in 1915)

4 Regional Committee 5.1 Voting Members Region 10 Officers –Chair (Director) –Vice Chair (Director-Elect, Immediate Past Director) –Secretary –Treasurer Ex-Officio –Section Chairs (Council Chair if Sections elect) –SAC Chair –Standing Committee Chairs and Coordinators Appointees –by Director (Council Chairs, Ad Hoc Committee Chairs)

5 Order of Business Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of the Minutes Reports of Officers, Boards & Standing Committees Reports of Ad Hoc Committees Announcements Special Orders Unfinished Business New Business Adjournment

6 Obtaining the Floor Before a member may speak on a question or introduce a motion, the member must first obtain the floor by being recognized by the chair Generally, one must raise when no one else has the floor to request the floor In most assemblies, one cannot obtain prior claim to the floor

7 Classes of Motions Main Motions –Original Main Motions –Incidental Main Motions Subsidiary Motions Privileged Motions Secondary Motions Incidental Motions Motions that bring a question again before the assembly

8 The Main Motion The Main Motion brings new business before the deliberative assembly. There are two subclasses of main motions, the original main motion and the incidental main motion (not to be confused with incidental motions) The Main Motion is the lowest class of motion and can not be entertained when another motion is pending on the floor. The Main Motion introduces new business before the assembly

9 The Original Main Motion The Original Main Motion, or more frequently used main motion, introduces new business before the assembly The motion to Object to the Consideration of the Question is in order when an Original Main Motion remains pending on the floor

10 The Incidental Main Motion The Incidental Main Motion, or less frequently used main motion, is incidental or relates to business of the assembly The motion to Object to the Consideration of the Question is not in order when an Incidental Main Motion remains pending on the floor

11 The Subsidiary Motion Subsidiary Motions assist the assembly in treating or disposing of main motions. Subsidiary Motions are applied to another motion and can be applied to any main motion.

12 Subsidiary Motions 1. Postpone Indefinitely 2. Amend 3. Commit or Refer 4. Postpone Definitely (or to a certain time) 5. Limit or Extend Limits of Debate 6. Previous Question 7. Lay on the Table (to interrupt pending business due to some urgency) In their Order of Precedence

13 The Privileged Motion Privileged Motions do not relate to pending business Privileged Motions are matters of such urgency to permit an interruption of business. Privileged Motions are not debatable.

14 Privileged Motions 1. Call for the Orders of the Day 2. Raise a Question of Privilege 3. Recess 4. Adjourn 5. Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn (actually decide when the assembly wishes to convene next) In their Order of Precedence

15 The Incidental Motion Incidental Motions relate to pending business. These motions are incidental to the matter from which it arises. Incidental Motions are generally not debatable.

16 Incidental Motions 1. Point of Order 2. Appeal 3. Suspend the Rules 4. Objection to the Consideration of a Question 5. Division of a Question 6. Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim 7. Division of the Assembly 8. Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and the Polls 9. Motions Relating to Nominations 10. Request to be Excused from a Duty 11. Requests and Inquiries

17 Rules Governing Debate Where no other rule is established, no member is entitled the floor more than twice or for a duration greater than 10 minutes on the same question on the same day Until a Question has been brought before the assembly in the form of a motion, it may not be debated Remarks in debate are confined to the merits of the pending question Refrain from attacking a member’s motives Address all remarks through the chair Refrain from speaking adversely on a prior action not pending Refrain from speaking against one’s own motion (though you may vote against it) Refrain from disturbing the assembly

18 Decisions Region 10 Bylaws 5.3 The Regional Committee meeting shall generally be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Orders. But, decisions will normally be arrived at by consensus. In cases where a consensus is not achieved after normal channels of persuasion have been tried, decisions may be taken by voting. All Committee members are entitled to vote, each member present having one vote. The motion will be generally decided by majority vote unless specifically stated otherwise in the Regional Bylaws.

19 Voting Right of Abstention No member should vote in a matter of personal interest One may not explain their vote during voting One may change their vote up until the time the chair has announced the vote Voting Procedures are to be determined by the assembly The Chair may vote when the vote will change the outcome of the result or when voting by ballot