TABLE OF CONTENTS

Study Resources
Order of Business (p. 26, 353 RONR)
Dealing With Motions
Quorums
What Vote is Required?
Methods of Voting
When Does the Chair Vote?
Order of Precedence
Classes of Motions
Main Motions (p. 62, 100 RONR)
Subsidiary Motions (p.62, 126 RONR)
Privileged Motions (p. 66 RONR)
Incidental Motions (p. 69, 247 RONR)
Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly (p. 74 RONR)
Deliberative Assemblies and Their Rules (p. 1, 10 RONR)
Study Resources

● http://300questions.org/ - These questions are the ones you would answer to join the
national association of parliamentarians if you were into that. Some of these are
extremely similar to chapter team questions.
● http://pzen.northwest.net/index.php?main_page=index - This website is really ugly and
old BUT it has a ton of resources by the guy who wrote Dunbar’s Manual (He also has
written national chapter team tests before. Check out his stuff. Some of the FFA sample
tests are like the same questions as I’ve seen on chapter team.)

Order of Business (p. 26, 353 RONR)

Business in a deliberative assembly is generally conducted according to a standard order of

business.

Call to Order - After establishing a quorum, the president takes the chair (goes to his position),
waits for quiet, and says “The meeting will please come to order.” This is followed by opening
ceremonies.

1. Reading and Approval of Minutes - Unless they have been distributed to members in
advance, the secretary reads the minutes of the previous meeting. When she is finished,
the chair asks if there are any corrections. If so, they are usually handled by unanimous
consent, but if there is objection, they are done with a motion to amend. If there are no
corrections, the minutes are usually approved by unanimous consent, although approval
can also be done through a formal motion to approve the minutes.
2. Reports of Officers, Boards, and Standing Committees - standing committees are
permanent committees
a. (This format, filling in numbers: The balance on _____ was $150.

0 There were receipts of $150 from candy sales and $500 from donations. There were

disbursements of $600 for the Fall Conference and $100 for the Management Series.

The balance as of July _____ is $100.

 3. Reports of Special Committees - special committees are temporary committees
established for a specific purpose
4. Special Orders - Business that was set as a special order for the meeting. If the bylaws
specify that something must be done at a specific meeting, such as elections, those
things are usually set as special orders. Things can also be set as special orders when
they are postponed.
5. Unfinished Business and General Orders
a. Unfinished Business is usually motions that were discussed at a previous
meeting but not decided on before adjournment
b. General Orders are usually motions that were postponed but not set as special
orders
6. New Business

Dealing With Motions

Quorums

In order for business to be transacted, a quorum must be established. A quorum is the

minimum number of members that must be present to conduct business. In the absence of a
quorum, very few actions may be taken. Basically, the options are to either take actions to
obtain a quorum or to adjourn. If actions are taken informally without a quorum, they must later
be ratified by the organization, but the organization is not obligated to do so. For this reason, no
business should be conducted without the presence of a quorum. If the bylaws do not specify
otherwise, a quorum is one half of the entire membership (generally speaking).

How Motions Are Handled

1. A member obtains the floor and makes the motion orally ("I move to/that...") or submits it
in writing
2. Someone seconds the motion
a. If there is no second, the motion does not continue to be considered
3. The chair states the question by saying "It is moved and seconded to/that ..."
4. If the motion is debatable, it is debated. Secondary motions may be made during debate
and dealt with according to the order of precedence.
 a. Normally, debate is limited to ten minutes per speaker and each person may
speak twice. People who have not spoken yet are recognized before those who
have spoken already.
b. The maker of the motion has the option to speak first but does not have to
c. The chair makes an effort to alternate between speakers in favor of the motion
and speakers against the motion
d. Debate must be germane, or relevant to the motion
e. Debate may not include personal attacks and names should not be used
5. After confirming that there is no further debate by saying "Are you ready for the
question?" or "Is there any further debate?", the chair puts the question by restating the
motion and giving instructions on the vote "The question is on the motion … Those in
favor, say aye. (aye) Those against, say no. (no)
6. The chair announces the results of the vote. "The ayes/nos have it and the motion is
adopted/lost." If the vote was counted, the specific numbers in favor and against are
given.

What Vote is Required?

A majority vote is required to adopt most motions. A majority is defined as more than half of the
votes cast, excluding abstentions.

Example Question: 10 members are present at a meeting. 7 of them cast votes. How
many votes are required to pass the motion with a majority vote? What if only 6
members vote?

Answer: 4 votes in the affirmative are required in both instances. A majority is more than
half of the votes cast. Abstentions do not count.

A two-thirds vote is required to adopt motions that take away the rights of members. For
instance, the previous question requires a two-thirds vote because it takes away the right to
debate. It is defined as at least ⅔ of votes cast.

Example Question: 100 members are present at a meeting. All of them vote on the
motion to limit debate. How many votes are required to pass the motion? What if only 90
members vote?

Answer: 67 votes are required if all the members vote. 60 votes are required if 90
members vote.

Methods of Voting

No matter how conclusive a vote appears, the chair always calls for the negative vote after the
affirmative.
 ● Voice vote (viva voce) - normal method of voting, members say aye or no and the chair
judges which there were more of
● Rising vote - used to verify inconclusive votes and on votes requiring ⅔ vote, members
rise but are not counted
● Show of hands - alternative to rising vote for very small assemblies if no member objects
● Unanimous consent - if a motion is uncontroversial, even if it requires a ⅔ vote, it can be
passed via unanimous consent. The chair asks if there is any objection and if there is
none, the motion is passed. A single objection demands a vote. Adjournment and the
approval of minutes are commonly done with unanimous consent.

When Does the Chair Vote?

Although the chair is technically allowed to vote whenever he wants to, in most cases he will not
(unless his name is Steven Stokes). Voting goes against the image of impartiality that the chair
is supposed to maintain. The chair usually only votes in cases where his vote will affect the
outcome. For example, if the vote is tied and the chair is in favor of the motion, the chair will
likely vote in favor of the motion. If the vote is tied and the chair is against the motion, the chair
most likely will still abstain. Why? A 50/50 vote is not enough for a motion to pass. If the chair
simply abstains when the vote is tied, the motion will be lost. If a motion is about to pass by a
single vote, the chair may vote no, which causes the vote to be tied and the motion to fail.

The same principle applies if a motion requiring a 2/3 vote is one vote short of passing. The
chair may vote in the affirmative to pass the motion but may abstain and allow the motion to fail
if he is against it.

Note: If the vote is taken by ballot, the president can vote without violating his appearance of
impartiality.

Order of Precedence

Order of precedence refers to the order in which business is considered. A motion is in order
(meaning it can be made) only if it lies ABOVE the pending motion (the motion currently being
considered. For example, if the motion to amend is pending, a motion to limit debate IS in order
but a motion to postpone indefinitely IS NOT in order.

Fix the time to which to adjourn (set the time at which the meeting will
adjourn)

Adjourn (end the meeting)

Recess (take a break)

 Raise a question of privilege (register a complaint)

Call for the orders of the day (insist that the agenda be followed)

Lay on the table (temporarily set aside the main motion - should only be done
in matters of urgency)

Previous question (call for an end to debate and the making of secondary
motions)

Limit or extend the limits of debate (change the rules regarding debate - for
example, allow more or less time per speaker on a motion)

Postpone to a certain time

Refer to a committee (send a motion to a committee for further discussion)

Amend (make changes to the main motion)

Postpone indefinitely (kill motion, end debate without taking a vote)

Main Motion

Classes of Motions

Main Motions (p. 62, 100 RONR)

Main motions bring business before the assembly. A main motion can only be made when no
other motion is pending.
● Main motions take precedence over nothing. It cannot be moved when any other
question is pending.
● Main motions cannot be applied to another motion, but all subsidiary motions can be
applied to main motions.
● Main motions are out of order when another has the floor.
● Main motions must be seconded.
● Main motions are debatable and amendable.
● Main motions almost always require a majority vote.
● Main motions can be reconsidered

When a main motion is offered in writing, it is typically in the form of a resolution.

Subsidiary Motions (p.62, 126 RONR)
Note: The subsidiary motions are listed UNDER the dark black line on the table, not including
the main motion

Subsidiary motions assist the assembly in dealing with another motion. Subsidiary motions are
distinguished by 5 characteristics:
1. They are applied to another motion to help deal with it
2. They can be applied to any main motion
3. They fit into an order of precedence
4. They are out of order when another member has the floor
5. They are in order during the entire time that a motion to which they can be applied is
pending (unless previous question or limit debate is in effect)

Some subsidiary motions can be applied to other subsidiary motions:

● AMEND: All subsidiary motions except postpone indefinitely, previous question, and lay
on the table can be amended. When amending a subsidiary motion, amend takes
precedence over the motion to which it is applied.
● LIMIT / EXTEND LIMITS OF DEBATE: Debate can be limited on any motion that is
debatable, so limit/extend the limits of debate can apply to any subsidiary motion ranking
below it.
● PREVIOUS QUESTION: Debate can be ended on any debatable motion, so previous
question can be applied to any subsidiary motion ranking below it.

Privileged Motions (p. 66 RONR)

Note: all of the privileged motions are listed ABOVE the dark black line on the table.

Privileged motions do not relate to the pending business but rather are matters of overriding
importance. All privileged motions rank ahead of motions of all other classes.

Incidental Motions (p. 69, 247 RONR)

Incidental motions arise from the business at hand and typically deal with matters that must be
dealt with immediately before business can proceed. Although similar to subsidiary motions,
they do not have all 5 characteristics of subsidiary motions.

Incidental Motions do not fall into the order of precedence. They are in order only when they are
legitimately incidental to the business at hand.

Incidental Motions:
 ● Point of order (point out a breach of rules)
● Appeal (disagree with the decision of the chair)
● Suspend the rules (request that a rule be temporarily waived)
● Object to the consideration of the question (before the question is stated, disagrees with
discussing or voting on the motion)
● Division of a question (split a motion into two motions)
● Consider by paragraph or seriatim (used to vote on each paragraph or section of a
resolution individually)
● Division of the assembly (disagree with stated result of a vote, force a standing vote -
note that the single member can force a standing vote but NOT a counted vote)
● Motions related to methods of voting and the polls (motions that the vote be taken by
ballot, by roll call, by counted vote, or that the polls be closed/reopened in a ballot vote)
● Motions related to nominations (motions that specify a method for choosing nominations
in an election, motions to close/reopen nominations)
● Request to be excused from a duty (asking to be let out of a duty prescribed by the
bylaws or by virtue of a position held)
● Requests and inquiries
○ Parliamentary Inquiry (request chair's opinion on parliamentary procedure as it
relates to business at hand)
○ Request for Information (inquiry about facts relating to business at hand -
question is directed through the chair to a member)
○ Request for Permission to Withdraw or Modify a Motion (after the question has
been stated)
○ Request to Read Papers
○ Request for Any Other Privilege

Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly (p. 74 RONR)

There are several motions that allow an assembly to reconsider something that has already
been discussed or adopted. They are almost always made when no other business is pending

● Take from the Table (resume consideration of a main motion that was previously laid on
the table)
 ● Rescind / Repeal / Annul (cancel a motion or resolution previously adopted that still has
effect)
● Amend Something Previously Adopted (modify wording or text of something previously
adopted)
● Discharge a Committee (take a matter out of a committee's hands before the committee
has given its final report)
● Reconsider (allows a member who voted on the prevailing side to propose that a
question be brought again before the assembly despite having already been dealt with)
○ Reconsider is unique in that it can be taken up at any time, having precedence
over all other motions, but it can only be considered at the level of precedence of
the motion being reconsidered

Deliberative Assemblies and Their Rules (p. 1, 10 RONR)

Deliberative assemblies are the types of groups that Robert’s Rules was designed to govern.
Generally speaking, deliberative assemblies are groups that meet to make decisions. Members
of a deliberative assembly all have the equal right to vote and participate in decision making,
and dissenting from the majority never constitutes removal from a deliberative assembly. (For a
full list of characteristics, see page 1 of RONR). These types of groups are governed by a
number of rules, listed below in order of importance.

1. Laws - Mainly applicable to incorporated groups, if laws govern the conduct of an

organization, those laws supersede any other type of rule.
2. Corporate charter - The corporate charter is a legal document that lays out the name
and object of an organization. It supersedes all other rules adopted by the organization.
(Only incorporated organizations have a charter)
3. Bylaws / Constitution - With the exception of the corporate charter, the bylaws are the
highest body of rules in an organization and are for that reason difficult to change (2/3
vote with previous notice or majority of the entire membership). The bylaws define the
primary characteristics of an organization. Bylaws contain the following articles (you can
remember them as NO MOME, C Pa pronounced “No mommy, see pa” and no I did not
make that up)
a. Name of organization
b. Object of organization
c. Members (who is eligible to be a member, not specific names)
d. Officers (officer roles, again no specific names)
e. Meetings
f. Executive Board (if applicable)
g. Committees
h. Parliamentary Authority
RONR recommends having only bylaws, but some organizations also have a
constitution. For those that do, the constitution is usually higher ranked than bylaws,
rarely changed, and thus deals mainly with the first five articles.
4. Rules of Order - The parliamentary procedure as designated in the bylaws, usually
RONR.
a. Special Rules of Order - An assembly may adopt special rules of order which
supercede those contained in the parliamentary authority. This is done through
the adoption of a resolution by 2/3 vote with previous notice or by a vote of 1/2 of
the entire membership.
5. Standing Rules - Rules relating to the administration of the organization and can be
changed more easily with a simple majority. (Ex. setting the normal meeting time)
6. Custom - Custom is not binding but rather if something has always been done a certain
way in an organization, it may continue unless it conflicts with the parliamentary authority
and a point of order is made.