The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and
regional officers.
May 2001
Issue
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Continued from "Surviving
Meeting Pitfalls with Parliamentary Procedure"
The Do's and Don'ts of Parliamentary Procedure
Knowing the following Do's and Don'ts of parliamentary procedure will help keep you on top of your meetings.
Calling the meeting
to order:
DO:
- Have the presiding officer or chair call the meeting to order, usually with the aid of a gavel tap.
DON'T:
- Say "Hey everybody, let's get started."
Making a motion:
Main motions introduce items to the membership for consideration. They
cannot be made when another motion is on the floor.
DO:
- Obtain the floor by standing and addressing the chair. Wait to be recognized by the chair.
- Properly state the motion. "I move that we revise the chapter bylaws."
- Wait for someone to second the motion and the chair to state your motion before proceeding.
DON'T:
- Begin speaking if you do not have the floor.
- Improperly state the motion. "We gotta do something about our bylaws!"
- Begin discussion if no one seconded the motion or the chair has yet to state your motion.
Debating/Discussing:
DO:
- Obtain the floor and state your view of the issue in a civilized, non-offensive manner.
DON'T:
- Verbally attack (or physically, for that matter!) others' views or opinions. "I completely disagree with our advisor's ridiculous idea that we…."
Voting:
Discussion on a motion may end when:
- No one says anything.
- A member says, "I call for the question." This means that the member wants the motion brought to a vote.
- The president decides that there has been adequate discussion.
Some methods of voting include:
- Voice vote (aye/nay)
- A show of hands
- Standing
- Roll call
- Secret ballot
A Majority Is Needed to Pass a Motion:
DO:
- Have the presiding officer make it known what method of voting will be used. "All in favor say aye" or "All in favor, stand."
- Count both sides of the vote, even if the vote seems to be unanimous.
- Properly announce the result of the vote. "The motion passes." or "The motion fails."
DON'T:
- Be ambiguous about the method of voting that will be used.
- Ignore one side of the vote, even if the vote seems to be unanimous.
- Improperly announce the vote. "Wahoo! It passes!"
Adjourning:
The motion to adjourn must be made when no one else has the floor. It
must then await a second motion. A majority vote is required to pass this
and is not debatable.
DO:
- Obtain the floor.
- Say "I move that we adjourn."
- Wait for a second to the motion. The motion must be voted on.
DON'T:
- Interrupt the meeting and say "Let's get out of here!" or "Will this ever end?"
<-- Read about "Surviving Meeting Pitfalls with Parliamentary Procedure"
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