Parliamentary Procedure: Introduction

Lesson One

General History of Parliamentary Procedure

• Parliamentary Procedure arose from the early days of English Parliamentary Law.

• Formalized by an individual named General Henry M. Roberts a 19th century US Army engineer.

Basic Principles of Parliamentary Procedure

1. The right of the majority to rule

2. The right of the minority to be heard

3. The equal right of each individual to be heard and represented

• While parliamentary procedure cannot guarantee that every member of an organization is pleased with the outcome of a decision, it aims to ensure that every member is satisfied by the manner in which the decision was made, and that the organization makes decisions efficiently but with consideration for every member’s opinion

Meaning of Simple Majority

• This means 51% or more – the rule of simple majority

• Since the primary objective is to determine what the majority wants to carry out that want, a simple majority must be used.

At each meeting, have:

Bylaws (the specific rules that govern an organization, written by the members)

parliamentary authority (reference guide for how to conduct a meeting)

At each meeting, have:

list of all standing and special committees* and their members

order of business (agenda)

*Standing committee – a committee that works all year long (example: financial, membership)

*special committees - a committee that works for a specific time on a special project (example: Christmas party)

AGENDA

Order of business

Standard Order of Business

Minutes

Reports of officers, boards and standing committees

Special committee reports

Special orders

Unfinished business

New business

Usual Agenda Includes:

1. Call to order (Chair)2. Taking roll

(Secretary)3. Reading minutes of

previous meeting4. Treasurer’s report5. Report of officers6. Standing committee

reports

Usual Agenda Includes (cont):

7. Special committee reports

8. Unfinished business

9. New business

10. Program (Optional)

11. Adjournment

*Note: Agenda is decided in advance of the meeting by the Chair.

CONVENE MEETING

Convene is to cause to come together

Establish a Quorum

A Quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present to conduct business. Each club sets their own quorum.

Attendance Sign-In Have Secretary take Roll as members

arrive Roll call

Call to Order

On time

One rap of gavel

“The meeting will come

to order.”

Opening Ceremonies(optional)

Invocation Pledge of Allegiance

to the Flag of the United States of America

Inspiration Welcome and

Introductions

Officers

• President, Chair, Chairman, Presiding Officer

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Historian

• Parliamentarian

• Sergeant at Arms

President, Chair, or Chairman

• Decides the agenda• Opens the meetings at the correct time• Presides over the meetings

Vice President• Presides over the meeting when the

president steps down to debate

Secretary

• Recording officer of the assembly. The record of the meeting is call minutes. The minutes are approved by the chairman.

Treasurer• Disburses money on the authority of the president

Parliamentarian

• Advisor to the president on procedural matters

Sergeant at Arms• Helps the presiding officer to maintain

order and unity at meetings

Rules of a Club• Constitution – basic rules guiding a club

• Name of the club

• Purpose

• Requirements of membership

• Officers and how to elect

• Time and place of meetings

• Ways of changing anything by amendment