1. Parliamentary Procedure
Wilcox Central High School

2. Objectives Learn the rules of a meeting and the order of operations.
Discuss vocabulary needed to know when participating in Parliamentary Procedure.

3. Opening Ceremony Taps gavel 3 times Group rises
President states: “FFA members, why are we here?”
Members reply: “To practice brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess.”

4. Parliamentary Procedure
Definition
Correct rules for conducting or running a successful meeting
3 goals of Parliamentary Procedure
Make meeting run smoothly
Assure everyone gets to voice their opinion
Maintain Order

5. History of Parliamentary Procedure
Better known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.”
Written by Henry M. Robert in 1876.
First revised in 1915.
Last revised in 1990.

6. Vocabulary Quorum 1/2 of members in a club plus 1
Minimum number of members that must be present at a meeting for legal business to be transacted
Majority
1/2 of members present at any meeting plus 1
minimum number of members that must vote for a motion for it to pass

7. Other Important Information
Presiding Officer referred to as:
Mr/Madam President
Mr/Madam Chairperson
Everyone gets the chance to voice their opinion
Everyone gets the chance to Vote
Must take yes and no votes
Only one topic at a time can be discussed
Who ever makes a motion has the right to discuss it first

8. Other considerations
The taps of the gavel (symbol of leadership, represents chair’s authority).
1 tap: be seated, announce vote.
2 taps: call to order
3 taps: all rise
Series of taps: restore order

9. Main Motions Used to introduce ideas to the group
Must be stated in the form
I Move that
I Move to
Can not be in negative form
Only one main motion at a time
Require a second
Amendable
Can Be Changed
Debatable
Can be talked about
Majority Vote
Can be voice

10. Main Motions Continued
Main Motions that are not Legal
Break any Local, State or National Laws
Any motion that brings up a motion that has already been failed
Items that are outside the power of the group
Negative motions
Political or religious Support
The person who makes a motion can not talk against it
Main motions can be reconsidered
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper Example: Mr President, I move that the chapter participate in crops judging this year.

11. Steps to handling a Main Motion
Stand
Ask to be recognized by President
President recognizes you by name
Motion is correctly stated
Motion is seconded
Motion is repeated by President
Motion is discussed
President restates motion
Motion is voted on
Results of vote announced by President

12. Postpone Indefinitely
Purpose
To kill a main motion
Requires a second
Not Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Can be reconsidered only if passed
Proper Example: Mr President, I move to Postpone this motion indefinitely

13. Amendments Purpose Must be germane Can be amended in 4 ways
Used to modify a main motion
Must be germane
Closely related to the original topic
Can be amended in 4 ways
Inserting in middle
Adding to end
Striking Out
Striking out and inserting
Requires a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote

14. Amendments continued Can not interrupt another speaker
Can be reconsidered
Improper amendments
any thing not germane
frivolous or absurd
leave an incoherent wording
Proper Example:
Motion on floor: That the FFA Chapter buy a boat.
Amendment: Mr President, I move to amend the motion by inserting speed in front of boat. So the motion would read, I move that the FFA Chapter buy a speed boat.

15. Amendment to an Amendment
Purpose
To modify an amendment to make it more specific
Requires a second
Debatable
Not amendable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt a speaker
Proper Example:
Madam President, I move to amend the amendment by inserting Johnson in front of speed. So the final motion with if all amendments pass would read, I move that the FFA chapter buy a Johnson speed boat.

16. Refer to Committee Purpose Requires a Second Amendable Debatable
used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated
Requires a Second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
2 ways to appoint a committee
Standing Committee
one of the 15 listed in the Program of Activities
Special Committee
Appointed by the president
Number of members can be 3 or more

17. Refer to Committee Continued
Can interrupt another speaker
President must specify when the committee should report back to the chapter
Usually next regular meeting
Committee can be give full power to act
Proper example:
Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to the Leadership Committee
Mr President, I move we refer this motion to a committee of three appointed by the chair

18. Postpone Definitely Purpose Requires a second Amendable Debatable
allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to a different day, meeting, or until after a certain event
Requires a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can interrupt a speaker
Proper example:
Madam President, I move to postpone this motion until the December Regular Meeting.

19. Limit or Extend Debate Purpose Requires a second Debatable Amendable
To limit or lengthen the time allowed for discussion on a motion when it is clear that there will be an excessive amount of discussion or when the amount of time for the meeting is limited.
Requires a second
Debatable
Amendable
amount of time or number of speakers only
2/3 Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker

20. Limit / Extend Debate Continued
Maker of the motion must specify
the amount of time
the number of speakers that can debate the motion
Proper Example
Madam President, I move that we limit debate on this motion to 3 discussions for the motion and 3 discussions against the motion.
Madam President, I move to limit debate to a maximum of 5 minutes.

21. Previous Question Purpose Requires a second Not amendable
To force an immediate Vote on the motion
Requires a second
Not amendable
Not Debatable
2/3 Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
Madam President, I move the previous question
Mr President, I call for the previous question

22. To lay on the table Purpose Requires a second Not amendable
To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or until the next meeting
Requires a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
Mr. President, I move to lay this motion on the table

23. To take from the table Purpose Requires a second not amendable
To take a motion that is on the table off of the table.
Requires a second
not amendable
Not debatable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper Example
I move to take the motion that reads to buy a boat from the table.

24. Reconsider Purpose Requires a second Not amendable Debatable
to reevaluate a decision that was made earlier
Requires a second
Not amendable
Debatable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is handled just as if it was never voted on
Only can be made by a person who voted on the winning side
If passed the motion is handled immediately if:
only a main motion with amendments is on the floor.

25. Reconsider Continued Handled after the current business if:
discussion on refer to committee, or postponement has started.
Motions that can be reconsidered
Main motions
Amendments
Refer to committee
Postpone definitely
Previous question
Appeal the decision of the chair
Only if failed
withdraw
Only if passed
Postpone indefinitely
Proper Example
Mr President, I move to reconsider the motion to buy a boat.

26. Recind Purpose Requires a Second Debatable Amendable 2/3 majority vote
To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION
Requires a Second
Debatable
Amendable
2/3 majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper Example
Madam President, I move that we reconsider the vote to buy a boat.

27. Suspend the Rules Purpose Requires a second Not amendable
allows the chapter to break the rules of parliamentary procedure, or the current constitution for a short period of time.
Requires a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
2/3 vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
Mr President, Because of the lack of time tonight, I move to suspend the rules and skip directly to new business.

28. Modify or Withdraw Purpose Not amendable Not debatable
This motion allows for the maker of a motion to change a motion or completely take it off the floor for discussion.
Not amendable
Not debatable
If made before President first states the motion it is automatically withdrawn with no second or vote.
If made after President first states the motion the following steps must be taken.

29. Modify or Withdraw cont’d
1) President must asks if anyone objects to the maker withdrawing the motion
if someone objects
must be seconded, and passed with majority vote
On no one objects
the motion is automatically withdrawn
Can not be made after discussion has begun
Proper form
Mr President, I would like to withdraw my motion.

30. Divide a Motion Purpose
This motion allows a motion that has been made to be split into two different motions
This can only be made on motions that have two main ideas that are not dependent on each other
Requires a second
Not debatable
Amendable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker

31. Divide a Motion Con’t Proper example
Motion on the floor, I move to buy a boat and go to the zoo.
Madam President, I move to divide this motion into tow motions. The first stating the we buy a boat and the second that we go to the zoo.

32. Object to the Consideration
Purpose
Used when a member thinks that the activity or action of the group is not appropriate.
Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
2/3 vote
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper form
Mr President, I object to the consideration of this question.
President should say “Objection to the consideration has been called. All those who wish to consider the motion raise your right hand. All those who object to the consideration of this question same sign.

33. Division of the house Purpose Does not require a second Not amendable
When called, this forces a immediate revote by hand
Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
No vote needed
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper form
Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire group to hear
Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house”

34. Point of Order Purpose Does not require a second Not amendable
Used when a member thinks that the rules of the group or the rules of parliamentary procedure are being violated.
Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
President decides on verdict
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper example
Mr President, I rise to a point of order.
President says, “State your point”
After member states point, president says “your point is well taken” or “Your point is not well taken”

35. Appeal Purpose Requires a second Not amendable
To reverse the decision of the chairman, after they have made an error.
Requires a second
Not amendable
Debatable (this is the only motion where President can discuss)
Majority vote
Can interrupt another speaker
Most of the time you should support the decision of your president.
Proper Example
Mr President I appeal the decision of the chair.
President should say “Appeal the decision of the chair has been called, all those who wish to uphold the decision of the chair say I, all opposed same sign.”

36. Orders of the Day Purpose Does not require a second Not Amendable
This motion forces the group to return to the set agenda, without finishing the current business.
Does not require a second
Not Amendable
Not Debatable
2/3 vote against to fail
Can only be made on motions that are not on the set agenda for that meeting.
Mr. President, I call for the orders of the day.
President should say, Orders of the day has been called. All those who wish to return to the orders of the day, raise your hand. All those opposed to returning to the orders of the day, same sign.

37. Question of Privilege Purpose Does not need a second Not amendable
This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions, and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly.
Does not need a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
No Vote, Presidents decision
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper Example
Madam President, I Rise to a question of privilege.
President says, “State Your Question”
Then the member says whatever they have to and the president decides on whether it will be allowed or not.

38. Recess Purpose Needs a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote
This allows for a short break in the meeting
Needs a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Must specify the length of time in the motion
Proper example
Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.

39. Adjourn Purpose Needs a second Not Amendable Not Debatable
To end the Meeting
Needs a second
Not Amendable
Not Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example
Mr president, I move to adjourn.

40. Fix time to Reassemble Purpose Needs a Second Amendable Debatable
To arrange time for next meeting
Needs a Second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can interrupt a speaker
Proper example
Mr. President, I move to adjourn until 7 pm on December 12th.