1. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTMASTERS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

2. PARLIAMENTARY WORKSHOP National Association of Postmasters 8 Herbert Street Alexandria VA 22305 703-683-9027

3. BASIC PRINCIPLES SOMEONE MUST MAINTAIN ORDER MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO BRING UP IDEAS MEMBERS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE MAJORITY RULES PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY

4. BASIC PRINCIPLES CONT. TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK AND VOTE TAKES UP BUSINESS ONE ITEM AT A TIME PROMOTES COURTESY, JUSTICE AND IMPARTIALITY

5. PROMOTING COURTESY MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICERS REFER TO OTHER MEMBERS & OFFICERS IN THE THIRD PERSON OFFICERS ARE REFERRED BY TITLE ALL REMARKS ARE MADE THROUGH THE CHAIR ONLY MAJOR INFRACTIONS ARE CORRECTED

6. CONDUCTING A MEETING WITHOUT ROBERT’S RULES? NO ORDER NO RULES NO BUSINESS

7. WHO USES ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER? U.S. CONGRESS STATE LEGISLATURES SCHOOL BOARDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS UNIONS PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

8. CHANGE! WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS! CHANGE MUST BE FROM THE TOP DOWN! WE ARE ALL CUSTOMERS!

9. STANDING RULES OF THE CONVENTION/CHAPTER CONDUCT DEBATE RULES OF ORDER 2/3 VOTE TO APPROVE

10. ORDER OF BUSINESS THE AGENDA – ITEMS THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE MEETING THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MUST BE ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS MAY ESTABLISH ITS OWN STANDARD ORDER OF BUSINESS PURSUANT TO ITS BY LAWS

11. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA READING & APPROVAL OF MINUTES OFFICERS’ REPORTS COMMITTEE REPORTS SPECIAL ORDERS UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT

12. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SPEAKERS RENDERS DECISIONS KEEPS ORDER APPOINTS COMMITTEE CHAIRS

13. THE POWER OF ONE! CALL FOR DIVISION POINT OF ORDER ORDER OF THE DAY SPEAK PERSONAL PRIVILEGE CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT

14. REPORT OF OFFICERS PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT - A REPORT IS NOT REQUIRED AT EACH MEETING USUALLY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT SHOULD BE MADE FROM THE FLOOR

15. THE TREASURER’S REPORT BEGINNING BALANCE TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS ENDING BALANCE ALWAYS FILED WITH THE SECRETARY NEVER APPROVED OR ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY

16. COMMITTEE REPORT SUBMITTED IN WRITING SUBMITTED ORALLY ONLY IF IT IS BRIEF RECOMMENDATIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED AT THE END OF THE REPORT EACH RECOMMENDATION MUST BE CONSIDERED AS A SEPARATE MOTION COMMITTEE OF MORE THAN ONE DOES NOT REQUIRE A SECOND

17. OTHER ITEMS PARLIAMENTARIAN TELLERS’ REPORT THE FIRST THREE CONVENTION REPORTS: –CREDENTIALS –STANDING RULES –THE PROGRAM (AGENDA) DILATORY PRACTICES UNANIMOUS CONSENT AUDIT REPORT

18. MAKING A MOTION TO MAKE A MOTION, THE MAKER SHOULD SAY: “I MOVE THAT…” OR “I MOVE TO…” NEVER SAY “I MAKE A MOTION TO…” ONCE A MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED….THE CHAIR RESTATES THE MOTION AND PLACES IT BEFORE THE BODY FOR CONSIDERATION

19. MAKING A MOTION CONT. ONCE A MOTION IS RESTATED BY THE CHAIR, THE MOTION BELONGS TO THE ASSEMBLY “SO MOVE” IS NOT A MOTION!

20. AMENDING A MOTION MODIFYING A PENDING MOTION AMENDMENT MUST BE GERMANE REQUIRES A SECOND IS DEBATABLE MAJORITY TO ADOPT CAN BE RECONSIDERED TO INSERT OR TO ADD WORDS TO STRIKEOUT WORDS

21. SPECIFIC TYPES OF MOTIONS NOMINATIONS LAY ON THE TABLE APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR DIVISION OF THE HOUSE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE PREVIOUS QUESTION/CLOSE DEBATE

22. RANKING MOTIONS PRIVILEGED MOTIONS FIX THE TIME TO WHICH TO ADJOURN ADJOURN RECESS RAISE A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE CALL FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY

23. RANKING MOTIONS CONT. SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS LAY ON THE TABLE PREVIOUS QUESTION (CLOSE DEBATE) LIMIT OR EXTEND LIMITS OF DEBATE POSTPONE TO A CERTAIN TIME COMMIT OR REFER AMEND POSTPONE INDEFINITELY MAIN MOTION

24. INCIDENTAL MOTIONS POINT OF ORDER – BREACH OF THE RULES PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY – REQUEST THE CHAIR’S OPINION ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE POINT OF INFORMATION – AN INQUIRY AS TO THE FACTS AFFECTING THE BUSINESS DIVISION OF THE ASSEMBLY – REQUIRE A STANDING VOTE BUT NOT A COUNTED VOTE WHICH ONLY THE CHAIR OR THE ASSEMBLY CAN DO

25. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO TAKE CARE OF NONCONTROVERSIAL ISSUES OR MOTIONS FOR WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTION. EXAMPLE: “WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.” IF A MEMBER CALLS OUT “I OBJECT,” THEN THE PRESIDENT PUTS THE MOTION TO A FORMAL VOTE.

26. RECONSIDER THE VOTE NEED A SECOND VOTED ON THE WINNING SIDE DEBATE MAJORITY VOTE TO ADOPT MUST BE MADE ON THE SAME DAY OR THE NEXT SUCCEEDING DAY WITHIN THE SESSION

27. MOTION TO RESCIND OR AMEND SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED NO TIME LIMIT PREVIOUS NOTICE/MAJORITY VOTE TO ADOPT WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE/TWO- THIRD VOTE OR MAJORITY OF THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP (WHICHEVER OF THESE IS THE SMALLER NUMBER AT THE TIME)