In the next 200 years, there was not really a modification in the rules and procedures of the Parliament until Sir Thomas Mead, in the 16th century, wrote some parts of rules and procedures of the HouseofCommons
As the Brits were discovering new lands, Columbus reached the soils of America and soon established colonies in the new world America along with the Parliamentary Procedures
AManualofParliamentary PracticefortheUseoftheSenateoftheUnited States -
the firstAmericanbook on
parliamentary
practice
and
procedure written by Thomas
Jefferson in
1801. Jefferson
observed how the Senate did not
codify a set of rules. He saw that
power could be easily abused and
developed a set of parliamentary
procedures based on the English works
regarding the British Parliament.
Cushing’s Manual - a set of rules for voluntaryorganizations.
Robert’s Rules of Order - in 1863, HenryMartinRobert
was tasked to preside over a
meeting. During the meeting, he
learned that there was little
information about parliamentary
practice. He realized the need for
a
standard
in Parliamentary
procedure and wrote Robert's
RuleofOrder. The book was
based on the rule of Congress but is general
enough for any society to adopt it while
allowing the society to adopt for itself any
special rules of order that they may need.
Basic rules of parliamentary procedures
THE RIGHTS OF THE ORGANIZATION SUPERSEDE
THE
RIGHTS
OF
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
ALL FULL MEMBERS ARE EQUAL AND THEIR RIGHTS ARE EQUAL
A QUORUM MUST BE PRESENT TO DO BUSINESS
THE MAJORITY RULES
SILENCE IS CONSENT
TWO-THIRDS VOTE RULE
ONE QUESTION AT A TIME AND ONE SPEAKER AT A TIME
DEBATABLE MOTIONS MUST RECEIVE FULL DEBATE
ONCE THE QUESTION IS DECIDED, IT IS NOT IN ORDER TO BRING UP THE SAME
MOTION OR ONE ESSENTIALLY LIKE IT
AT THE SAME MEETING
PERSONAL REMARKS IN DEBATE ARE ALWAYS OUT OF ORDER
THE RIGHTS OFTHEORGANIZATION
SUPERSEDE
THE
RIGHTS
OF
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS - the organization
has the right to create its own rules that must
be observe by its own members so joining
an organization means you abide by the
customs and rules of the organization.
Should the conflict arise about the rights of
the members and rights of the organization,
the rights of the organization should always
prevail.
ALL FULL MEMBERSAREEQUALANDTHEIRRIGHTSAREEQUAL - A member
is equivalent to onevote. Each member has
the right to attend meetings, right to make a
motion, right to speak in debates, right to
nominate, the right to vote and call office
AQUORUMMUSTBEPRESENTTODOBUSINESS - A quorum is a number of
members who are present to legally conduct
business. The number is usually stated by
law. In committee or in a small board room,
it is the majority of its members, the simple
majority is 50%+1. The purpose of
a
quorum is to prevent an unrepresentative
group from taking action in the name of the
organization. The requirement of a quorum
is
a
protection
against
totally
unrepresentative action in the name of the
body and an unduly small number of
persons.
THE MAJORITY RULES - This rule is basic to the democraticprocess, the minority has
the right to be heard but once a decision is
reached by the majority of its members
present in voting, the minority must respect
and abide by that decision.
SILENCE IS CONSENT - Not voting a “no” is considered “yes.” There are members who
do not vote to agree to go along with the
decision of the majority by their silence and
will be considered to be agreeing to that
decision.
TWO-THIRDSVOTERULE - 2/3 vote is necessary whenever you are giving or takingaway the rights of the members or whenever
you are changing something that has already been decided. It is also called the “will ofthe supermajority."
ONE QUESTION AT A TIMEANDONESPEAKERATATIME - No motion is in
order which does not directly relate to the
question under consideration. Once a
member has been recognized by the chair, he
is granted the floor and others may not
interrupt him. Although there is a caveat
regarding this depending on the rules of the
organization.
DEBATABLEMOTIONSMUSTRECEIVEFULL DEBATE - The presiding officer may
not put a debatable motion to vote as long as
the members still wish to debate on it.
Debate can only be suspended by a 2/3 vote
of the members present.
ONCETHEQUESTIONISDECIDED, ITISNOTINORDERTOBRINGUPTHESAMEMOTIONORONEESSENTIALLYLIKEITATTHESAME MEETING - Such motions
should be ruled out by the chair or the
presiding officer as out of order. It also has a
caveat on it, however, there’s a special class
motion that can be brought up.
PERSONAL REMARKS IN DEBATE ARE ALWAYS OUT OF ORDER - The presiding
officer must rule personal remarks as out of
order.
We can protect the minority by giving them a chance to participate and speak out their
opinions regarding particular matters for their
position to be considered. However, they
should respect what the majority came up with
once the decision has been made.
Motion – a formal proposal by a member in a meeting for the assembly to take certain action.
The proposed action may be substantive in
nature or it may express a certain view or direct
that particular investigation that has been
conducted and the findings that have been
reported to the assembly for possible further
action and the like
Obtainingthefloor - one cannot make a motion without obtaining the floor. Before one can
make a motion, he must first be recognized by
the presiding officer for them to be granted the
exclusive right to be heard. While the member
still has the floor, no other member can be heard
unless they are recognized by the presiding
officer.
The mover shall then express his
motion, and the chair shall consider his motion.
Three (3) basic steps in considering the motions brought before the assembly:
1. Members debate on the motion unless no
other members claim the floor for that
purpose.
2. The chair would question the vote.
3. The chair would announce the result of the
vote whether the motion is carried or
rejected.
Main Motion - sets a pattern from which all other motions are derived. The motion is the
main motion while no other motion is pending.
Original main motion – a motion to introduce a new topic or business or
consideration that requires action from
an assembly or from a board
Incidental main motion
To accept or adopt a report a subject not referred to the committee
Adjourn at or to a future time
Motion to adjourn - to adjourn when the effect is to dissolve the assembly with no permission of its reconvening
To appoint the time and place for the next meeting - if introduced with business pending
To amend constitution, bylaws, rules, or resolution that was already adopted
SubsidiaryMotion – it is a type of motion in which a board deals directly with a main
motion prior or instead of voting on the main
motion itself. Every subsidiary motion ranks
higher than the main motion and lower than the
privileged motions. Subsidiary motions can be
applied on the pending subsidiary motions made
on the main motion depending on their ranks
The subsidiary motion must have all five of the
following characteristics:
Applied with other motions while it is
pending to aid in the treating or
disposing of it.
2. Can be applied to any main motion.
3. Fit into an order of precedence
4. Out of order if another member has the
floor.
5. In order during the entire time that a
motion to which they can be applied is
pending, unless the debate has been
limited or extended, or call for the
previous question has been made.
Examples of Subsidiary Motion
Motion to lay on the table
Motion to previous question
Motion to limit or extend the debate
Motion to postpone to a certain time
Motion to refer to a committee
Motion to lay on the table – it lays a pending question to the side temporarily
when something urgent has arisen