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 Division of the House
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.