1. Robert’s Rules Primer
AUS Council- Jan

2. What is Robert’s Rules?
Rules and procedures that allow us to make decisions efficiently and with respect for everyone’s speaking rights
How we debate at AUS Council

3. Point of Order Object to procedure Object to personal affront
Interrupt the speaker and say “point of order” at any time

4. Point of Inquiry Question about the rules
Interrupt the speaker and say “Point of inquiry”

5. Point of information To request additional information
Confused about the facts being discussed
Interrupt the speaker at any time by saying “point of information”

6. Point of Privilege Raise concern about personal comfort
Includes things like room temperature, noise, not being able to see screen, etc
Interrupt speaker by saying “point of personal privilege”

7. Motions From the Floor
Should be submitted in advance, but can also be raised from floor
Can introduce a new motion by saying “I move that…” and following with the motion itself
NEEDS a seconder
Is debateable and amenable
Passes with a simple majority

8. Considering A Motion Any member can debate a motion
All debate must be related to the motion at hand
Debate ends when either no one wishes to speak or by a 2/3 vote of the assembly
We then vote on the question at hand

9. Amendments to a Motion
Can be made any time during consideration of a motion (after it has been introduced)
Need a seconder, it is debatable and the amendment itself can be amended
Simple majority vote
To amend something, you say “I move that this motion be amended by…”
This also applies to amending the agenda

10. Postpone Consideration of A Motion
Done if you want to discuss a motion another time
Need a seconder and this is debatable and amendable
Simple majority necessary
Rise during debate and say “I move we postpone this matter until…”

11. Tabling A Motion Suspends consideration of that motion
Takes the motion “off the table”
Needs a seconder, debatable, amendable
During debate, raise placard and say “I move that we table the motion”

12. Taking From Table
Can take a motion previously tabled from table and put back up for debate
Simple majority and needs a seconder
Not debatable or amendable

13. Improper Matters
Can object to consideration of a motion if it is improper; ie violates AUS Constitution or is undiplomatic
Interrupt speaker and say “I object to the question in consideration”
Needs a 2/3 majority
Not debatable or amendable

14. Verification of Vote/ Roll Call Vote
Can vote by everyone individually raising placard
Usually used for divisive questions where people want votes on record
Automatically adopted unless someone objects

15. Adjournment Say “I move to adjourn…” Majority needed to pass
Seconder needed
Not debatable or amendable

16. What do you do if you can’t see the screen?

17. Interrupt the speaker and say ”point of personal privilege, I can’t see the screen”

18. What do you do if you want to amend a motion to include a clause to give everyone at Council free cookies?

19. During debate, say “I move to amend the motion to include the following clause: every member of AUS council will be provided 3 free cookies at the beginning of council session” Then will need a seconder and debate will follow

20. What do you do if I mess up the rules?

21. ”Point of order, you goofed up”

22. What do you do if you want to table a motion?

23. During debate on the motion, say “I move that we table the motion”

24. What do you do if you have a question about the rules?

25. Interrupt the speaker and say “point of inquiry, I have a question about X”

26. True or False: you need a seconder to table a motion

27. True!

28. True or False: a motion to adjourn is debatable

29. False!