Robert’s Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules of Order is a manual of parliamentary procedure that governs most organizations with boards of directors. In 1876, Henry Martyn Robert adapted the rules and practices of Congress to the needs of non-legislative bodies. This manual is still in use today.

Benefits of parliamentary procedure include the following:

• Justice and courtesy for all
• Maintenance of order
• Consideration of one item at a time
• All sides get heard
• Opportunity for each member to provide input
• Majority rule
• Protection of the rights of all members including the minority

We use Robert’s Rules help us to conduct orderly meetings that accomplish goals fairly. If you’re not familiar with Robert’s Rules, you may find it helpful to keep this overview up during meetings.

Types of motions:

• Main motion: Introduce a new item
• Subsidiary motion: Change or affect how to handle a main motion (vote on this before main motion)
• Privileged motion: Urgent or important matter unrelated to pending business
• Incidental motion: Questions procedure of other motions (must consider before the other motion)
• Motion to table: Kills a motion
• Motion to postpone: Delays a vote (can reopen debate on the main motion)

Every motion has 6 steps:

1. Motion: A member rises or raises a hand to signal the chairperson.
2. Second: Another member seconds the motion.
3. Restate motion: The chairperson restates the motion.
4. Debate: The members debate the motion.
5. Vote: The chairperson restates the motion, and then first asks for affirmative votes, and then negative votes.
6. Announce the vote: The chairperson announces the result of the vote and any instructions.

TIP! If the board is in obvious agreement, the chairperson may save time by stating, “If there is no objection, we will adopt the motion to…” Then wait for any objections. Then say, “Hearing no objections, (state the motion) is adopted.” And then state any instructions.

If a member objects, first ask for debate, then vote and then announce the vote.

Requesting points of something:

Certain situations need attention during the meeting, but they don’t require a motion, second, debate or voting. It’s permissible to state a point during a meeting where the chairperson needs to handle a situation right away. Board members can declare a Point of Order, Point of Information, Point of Inquiry or Point of Personal Privilege.

• Point of Order: Draws attention to a breach of rules, improper procedure, breaching of established practices, etc.
• Point of Inquiry: A member may use point of inquiry to ask for clarification either about process or about the content of a motion, in order to make better voting decisions.
• Point of Information: If you have information for the body (in the form of a non-debatable statement) so that the other members can make fully informed votes, raise your hand to be put on the speakers list.
• Point of Personal Privilege: A member may use point of personal privilege to address the physical comfort of the setting such as temperature or noise. Members may also use it to address the accuracy of published reports or the accuracy of a member’s conduct.

Action	What to say	Can interrupt speaker?	Need a second?	Can be debated?	Can be amended?	Votes needed
Introduce main motion	“I move to …”	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
Amend a motion (add or strike words or both)	“I move to amend the motion by …”	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
Move item to committee	“I move that we refer the matter to committee.”	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
Postpone item	“I move to postpone the matter until …”	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
End debate	“I move the previous question.”	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
Enforce the rules or point out incorrect procedure	“Point of order.”	Yes	No	No	No	Chair decides
Recess the meeting	“I move that we recess until …”	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
Adjourn the meeting	“I move to adjourn the meeting.”	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
	“Point of information.”
Request information	“Point of information.”	Yes	No	No	No	No vote
Overrule the chair’s ruling	“I move to overrule the chair’s ruling.”	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
Extend the allotted time	“I move to extend the time by [X] minutes.”	No	Yes	No	Yes	2/3
Table a motion	“I move to table …”	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
Verify voice vote with count	“I call for a division.”	No	No	No	No	No vote
Object to considering some undiplomatic or improper matter	“I object to consideration of this matter …”	Yes	No	No	No	2/3
Take up a previously tabled item	“I move to take from the table …”	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
Consider something out of its scheduled order	“I move to suspend the rules and consider …”	No	Yes	No	No	2/3
Reconsider something already disposed of *	“I move to reconsider our action to …”	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
Close the meeting for executive session	“I move to go into executive session.”	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
Personal preference: noise, room temperature, distractions	“Point of privilege”	Yes	No	No	No	No vote

* A member may make a motion to reconsider something that was already disposed; however, the reconsidered motion may not be subsequently reconsidered. A motion to reconsider must be made during the same meeting and can extend to a meeting that lasts for more than one day.

Tips and reminders for chairpersons:

Robert’s Rules of Order was developed to ensure that meetings are fair, efficient, democratic and orderly. A skilled chairperson allows all members to voice their opinions in an orderly manner so that everyone in the meeting can hear and be heard. The following tips and reminders will help chairpersons to run a successful and productive meeting without being run over or running over others.

• Follow the agenda to keep the group moving toward its goals.
• Let the group do its own work; don’t micromanage.
• Control the flow of the meeting by recognizing members who ask to speak.
• Let all members speak once before allowing anyone to speak a second time.
• When discussions get off-track, gently guide the group back to the agenda.
• Model courtesy and respect, and insist that others do the same.
• Help to develop the board’s skills in parliamentary procedure by properly using motions and points of order.
• Give each speaker your undivided attention.
• Keep an emotional pulse on the discussions.
• Allow a consensus to have the final authority of the group.

The full version of Robert’s Rules can be found online here.