ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
The”Chair” in the following will be the same as the”District Administrative Lead” for the purposes of the DAT.
Introduction of Business
In an assembly having being organized in a meeting format, business is brought forth by either a motion of a member, or by the presentation of a communication to the assembly.
What Precedes Debate
Before any subject is open to debate, a motion must first be made by a member who has obtained the floor, then, it must be seconded, and thirdly it must be stated by the chair (the presiding officer). The chair must then either rule it out of order or state the question so that the assembly may know what is before it for consideration and action.
Obtaining the Floor
To obtain the floor to speak a motion, one must rise to the floor and be acknowledged by the chair and have the chair assign you the floor.
Motions and Resolutions
A motion is a proposal that the assembly takes certain action, or that it express itself as holding certain views. Motions, require for their adoption only a majority vote — that is, a majority of the votes cast, require a two-thirds vote. It is made by a member obtaining the floor and saying, “I move that”/”I propose that”, and then stating the action he/she proposes to have taken.
Seconding Motions
As a general rule, every motion should be seconded. This is to prevent time being consumed in considering a question that only one person favors. The better way when a motion is not at once seconded, is for the chair to ask, “Is the motion seconded?” A motion is seconded by a member saying “I second the motion,” or “I second it,” which he/she does without obtaining the floor, and in small assemblies without rising.
Stating the Question
When a motion has been made and seconded, it is the duty of the chair, unless he/she rules it out of order, immediately to state the exact question that is before the assembly for its consideration and action.
Debate
After the chair has stated a question, it is before the assembly for consideration and action. When speakers address their remarks to the chair, they are to be courteous in their language and deportment, and avoid all personalities, never allude to the chair or other members by name, where possible to avoid it, nor to the motives of members.
Secondary Motions
To assist in the proper disposal of the question various subsidiary motions are used, such as to amend, to commit, etc., and for the time being the subsidiary motion replaces the resolution, or motion, and becomes the immediately pending question. These are called secondary motions.
Putting the Question and Announcing the Vote
The chair announces the vote on the question, first calling for the affirmative and then for the negative vote. The vote should always be taken first by the voice (viva voce) or by show of hands (the latter method being often used in small assemblies). When a division is demanded a rising vote is taken.
Proper Motions to Use to Accomplish Certain Objects
To Modify or Amend:
When a resolution or motion is not worded properly, or requires any modification to meet the approval of the group the proper motion to make is to amend by “inserting,”, “adding,”, “striking out”, “striking out and inserting”, or “substituting” one or more paragraphs for those in the resolution.
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