by Daniel Rosen
Copyright © 2006 by Daniel Rosen
[In his celebrated work published in 1876, Mr. Henry M. Robert expressly admitted that individual cases may greatly alter the norms that are set down in standardized codes of parliamentary practice. He welcomed the necessity of adapting practices to local values and customs. For example, Robert saw that Americans needed a manual that made explicit our departures from British practice. In the same spirit, Vox Populi Management Systems has adapted the principles elaborated by Robert’s Rules of Order for the Internet, making those principles of fairness in collective self-governance apply to the specific gravity of virtual space, which as everyone knows is very light. In virtual space the grave issues of precedence with respect to motions, speakers and questions is either altered, or made substantially irrelevant. Robert's Rules of Order for the Internet incorporates the principals elaborated in the original, and carries over the language of the original with as few alterations, excisions, and additions as seemed proper or necessary.]
Parliamentary Law refers originally to the customs and rules of conducting business in the English Parliament; and thence to the customs and rules of other legislative assemblies.
Changes have been and are being constantly made in the written rules which deliberative assemblies and legislative bodies have found best to adopt. As each assembly adopts its own rules, it results that they do not always agree in their practice. As a consequence of this, the exact method of conducting business in any particular legislative body is to be obtained only from the Legislative Manual of that body.
The vast number of societies, political, literary, scientific, benevolent and religious must have some system of conducting business, and some rules to govern their proceedings, and are necessarily subject to the common parliamentary law where it does not conflict with their own special rules.
Now that the Internet has been established as a means of communication and deliberation for all kinds of assemblies, it has become necessary to further modify the rules of order, taking into consideration the specific advantages that the Internet does, but traditional deliberative forms do not, provide. Paramount among these are the removal of constraints with respect to the physical gathering together of members in one physical location, and of the temporal limitations which in traditional assemblies must necessarily be reflected in restrictions on discussion and debate. To this end, the following revision of Robert’s Rules of Order has been composed specifically for assemblies that use the Internet for meeting, deliberation, and mandating actions of, or on behalf of, the members.
This Manual has been made sufficiently complete to answer for the rules of an assembly, until they see fit to adopt special rules conflicting with and superseding any of its rules of detail. Any society adopting this Manual, should make its rules govern them in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws and Rules of Order of the society. Their own rules should include all of the cases where it is desirable to vary from the rules in the Manual.
The Manual is divided into two distinct parts, each complete in itself. [The table at the end contains a large amount of information in a tabular form, for easy reference in the midst of the business of a meeting.]
Part I contains a set of Rules of Order systematically arranged, as shown in the Table of Contents. Each one of the forty-five sections is complete in itself, so that no one unfamiliar with the work can be misled in examining any particular subject. Cross references are freely used to save repeating from other sections, and by this means the reader, without using the index, is referred to everything in the Rules of Order that has any bearing upon the subject he is investigating. The references are by sections. The motions are arranged under the usual classes, in their order of rank, but in the index under the word motion will be found an alphabetical list of all the motions generally used. In reference to each motion there is stated:
Of what motions it takes precedence (that is, on the Internet, what motions will be scheduled for later closing dates for voting).
To what motions it yields (that is, on the Internet, what motions should be scheduled for earlier closing dates for voting).
Whether it can be amended or not.
In case the motion can have no subsidiary motion applied to it, the fact is stated [see Adjourn, § 11, for an example: the meaning is, that the particular motion to adjourn, for example, cannot be laid on the table, postponed, committed or amended].
The effect of the motion if adopted.
The form of stating the question when peculiar, and whatever other information is necessary to enable one to understand the question.
Part II. While the second part covers the entire ground of the first part, it does so in a much simpler manner, being intended for those who have no acquaintance with the usages of deliberative assemblies. It also explains the method of organizing an assembly or society, and conducting a meeting. The motions are treated on an entirely different plan, being classified according to the objects for which they are used, and those of each class compared together so that the reader may obtain the best motion for the accomplishment of any given object. It omits the complications of parliamentary law, and has but few references to the rules in this Manual. In order to make it complete in itself, it was necessary to repeat a few pages from the first part.
In addition to the terms defined above (taking precedence of, yielding to and applying to), there are other terms that are liable to be misunderstood, to which attention should he called.
Meeting and Session.--In this Manual the term "meeting" is used to denote an assembling together of the members of a deliberative assembly for any length of time, during which there is no separation of the members by adjournment. An adjournment to meet again at some other time, even the same day, terminates the meeting, but not the session, which latter includes all the adjourned meetings. The next meeting, in this case, would be an "adjourned meeting" of the same session.
A "meeting" of an assembly is terminated by a temporary adjournment; a "session" of an assembly ends with an adjournment without day, and may consist of many meetings [see Session, § 42].
Previous Question--This term and its use is not required in deliberations conducted on the Internet. As used in traditional versions of Robert’s Rules, it is equivalent to a motion to "Stop debate, and proceed to voting on all the questions before the assembly," with certain exceptions. In general, discussion and debate need never be restricted in deliberations that are conducted on the Internet.
Shall the Question be Considered? This question, which is brought before an assembly if any member "objects to its consideration," is intended to prevent the question from coming before the assembly for its action. If decided by a two-thirds vote in the negative, the question is removed from before the assembly immediately [see § 15].
Whenever the word "assembly," which is used throughout these rules, occurs in forms of motions (as in Appeals, § 14), it is better to replace it by the special term used to designate the particular assembly; as for instance, "Society," or "Convention," or "Board."
All general
business (including motions [§ 6], amendments and instructions
to committees, reports, comments in discussion and debate) will be
published at the society's website and made available for
consideration and decision by the members. Motions will not be
required to publish the reports of committees and officers[§
30], or other communications and
transactions in the ordinary routine of business. However, the
formality of a motion is required in the event that any member
wishes to change these routine executive functions.
Only registered
members may make motions. Motions are made and published by members
in the discussion and debate pages of society's website. The
Administrator shall maintain and publish at the society's website a
list of all motions, each motion linked to the discussion and debate
page where it is proposed by a member, or, if seconded, to its own
page. No arbitrary limits or constraints, apart from the rules of
decorum, and the exception explained in the next paragraph, shall be
imposed on the discussions and debates of registered members. At the
discretion of the Administrator, only the beginning of any given
comment may be published, but a link to the remainder of the comment
on another page must also be provided.
Motions must be
seconded by a registered member before being scheduled for a vote
(see exceptions below). Seconds, like motions, are made and
published by members in the discussion and debate pages of the
society's website. When a motion has been seconded, the
Administrator will immediately schedule it for a vote and decision
by the members. And, when seconded, the Administrator gives the
motion its own page, where discussion and debate is restricted to
the question of the motion, and where options are provided for
voting. All of its subsidiary motions, such as amendments, will also
be listed on the motion's page.
Exceptions: A question of
order, or an objection to the consideration of a motion[§§
13, 14, 15], does not have to be
seconded; and many questions of administrative routine do not
require motions. Whenever possible, the Administrator will announce
departures from routine in administrative matters; and that
departure shall be approved with the proviso that no objection is
made in a motion that has been seconded.
The member who
offers the motion, until it has been seconded, can divide or modify
his motion, or even withdraw it entirely. Suggestions of division or
alteration may be made before the motion is seconded, but it may be
divided or modified only with the consent of the member who brings
the motion. After a motion has been seconded, there can be no
division of the question, nor can it be withdrawn or modified,
except by an amendment which must be moved and seconded. When the
question is divided, each separate question must be a proper one for
the assembly to act upon, even if none of the others were adopted.
Thus, a motion to "commit with instructions," is
indivisible, because if divided, and the motion to commit should
fail, then the other motion to instruct the committee would be
improper, as there would be no committee to instruct. The motion to
"strike out certain words and insert others," is
indivisible, as it is strictly one proposition.
After a motion has been seconded, the mover cannot withdraw or modify it, except by moving an amendment.
A Principal or
Main Question or Motion, is a motion to bring before the assembly,
for its consideration, any particular subject. It takes precedence
of nothing, and yields to all Privileged, Incidental and Subsidiary
Questions [§§ 7, 8, 9]. With respect to Principal and
other motions or Privileged, Incidental and Subsidiary Questions,
all issues of precedence pertain to the scheduling by the
Administrator of closing dates and times for vote and decision. All
motions are discussed and debated without restriction or rules of
precedence on the motion's page, and through bulletin boards, on
chat lines, email lists, or by any other means.
Principal
Questions may be approved by a majority of voting members.
Subsidiary or
Secondary Questions or Motions relate to a Principal Motion, and
enable the assembly to dispose of it in the most appropriate manner.
These motions take precedence of the Principal Question (being
scheduled for earlier closing dates for voting), and must be decided
before the Principal Question can be decided and acted upon. They
yield to Privileged and Incidental Questions [§§ 8, 9],
and are as follows (being arranged in their order of precedence
among themselves):
Lie on the Table See § 19.
Postpone
to a Certain Day § 21.
Commit
§ 22.
Amend §
23.
Postpone Indefinitely §
24.
Any of these motions (except
Amend) can be made (and scheduled for an earlier vote) when one of a
lower order is pending, but none can supersede one of a higher
order. They cannot be applied to one another except in the cases of
motions to Postpone to a certain day, and to Commit, which motions
can be amended.
These motions may be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote already cast on its
Principal Question. When a Principal Question is successfully
amended, members who have already voted on the principal question
shall be notified of the change, and invited to change their vote if
they so desire. The principal question shall not require another
second, and the closing date for voting shall remain the same unless
specifically changed in the amendment, or at the discretion of the
Administrator.
All other Subsidiary or Secondary Motions,
except the motion for Leave to Withdraw a Motion, may be approved
only by a majority or by two-thirds of the members [§ 8].
Incidental
Questions are such as arise out of other questions, and,
consequently, take precedence of, and are to be decided before, the
questions which give rise to them. They yield to Privileged
Questions [§ 9], and cannot be amended. They are as
follows:
Appeal (or Questions of Order) See §
14.
Objection to the Consideration
of a Question § 15.
Leave to
Withdraw a Motion § 17.
Suspension
of the Rules § 18.
The
motion of Leave to Withdraw a motion may be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote already cast on the
Principal Motion.
The motions of Objection to the
Consideration of a Question and Appeal may be approved only by a
majority of the members.
A motion for Suspension of the Rules
may be approved only a two-thirds majority of the members.
Privileged
Questions are such as, on account of their importance, take
precedence over all other questions whatever. They are as follows
(being arranged in their order of precedence among themselves):
To
Fix the Time to which the assembly shall Adjourn See §
10.
Adjourn § 11.
Questions
relating to the Rights and Privileges
of the Membership or any of its Members § 12.
Privileged
Questions may be approved only by a majority vote of the members.
[For a list of all the ordinary motions, arranged in their order of precedence, see § 64. All the Privileged and Subsidiary ones in this Article are so arranged.] [§§ 10-27.]
To Fix the Time To
Adjourn. This motion takes precedence over all other motions, and is
in order even after the assembly has voted to adjourn, provided the
Administrator has not announced the result of the vote. This motion
can be amended by altering the time.
The Form of this motion
is, "When this assembly adjourns, it adjourns to meet at such a
time and date."
The motion To Fix the Time To Adjourn
may be approved only by a majority vote of the members.
To Adjourn. This
motion (when unqualified) takes precedence of all others, except to
"fix the time to which to adjourn," to which it yields.
It cannot be amended, or have any other subsidiary motion [§ 7]
applied to it. If qualified in any way it loses its privileged
character, and stands as any other principal motion.
The motion to adjourn can be repeated if there has been any
intervening business [§ 26]. When
a committee is through with any business referred to it, and
prepared to report, instead of adjourning, a motion should be made
"to rise," which motion, in committee, has the same
privileges as to adjourn in the assembly [§ 32].
The
effect upon Unfinished Business of an adjournment is as follows
[Any ordinary society that meets as seldom as once each year, is apt
to be composed of different membership at its successive meetings,
and only trouble would result from allowing unfinished business to
hold over to the next yearly meeting.][see Session, § 42]:
(a)
When it does not close the session, all pending motions are, if
necessary, rescheduled for voting in the same order of precedence at
the next meeting, unless the action concerned in the motion be
impossible to carry out after the date and time that meeting is
convened. They are treated the same as if there had been no
adjournment; an adjourned meeting being legally the continuation of
the meeting of which it is an adjournment.
(b) When it closes
a session in an assembly which has more than one regular session
each year, then all pending motions are, if necessary, rescheduled
in the same order at the next succeeding session, previous to new
business, and treated the same as if there had been no adjournment
[see § 44, for its place in the
order of business]. Provided, that, in a body elected for a
definite time (as a board of directors elected for one year),
unfinished business falls to the ground with the expiration of the
term for which the board or any portion of them were elected.
(c)
When the adjournment closes a session in an assembly which does not
meet more frequently than once a year, or when the assembly is an
elective body, and this session ends the term of a portion of the
members, the adjournment shall put an end to all business unfinished
at the close of the session. The business can be introduced at the
next session, the same as if it had never been before the
assembly.
After the approval of the motion to adjourn, no
motion shall be scheduled for a vote at a time and date after the
time and date specified in the motion to adjourn.
The motions
To Adjourn or To Adjourn to a Particular Time and Date may be
approved only by a majority vote of the members.
Questions of Privilege. Questions relating to the rights and privileges of the membership, or any of its members, take precedence of all other questions, except the two preceding, to which they yield. These motions can be approved only by a majority of the members.
Appeal [Questions
of Order]. A Question of Order takes precedence of the question
giving rise to it, and must be decided by the Administrator without
delay. If a member objects to the decision, the Form of the motion
is, "I appeal from the decision of the Administrator." The
motion must also reference the specific decision being appealed. If
the Appeal is seconded, the following motion is scheduled for the
earliest possible vote (pending notification to members): "Shall
the decision of the Administrator stand as the judgment of members?"
Once again, the motion must reference the specific decision being
appealed. This Appeal yields to Privileged Questions [§ 9]. It
cannot be amended. The motion to Lie on the Table [§ 19] can
be applied to an Appeal, and when adopted they affect nothing but
the Appeal. The vote on an Appeal may also be reconsidered [§
27].
It is the duty of the Administrator to enforce the rules
and orders of the assembly without delay. The Administrator can ask
the advice of members when he has to decide questions of order; or
the Administrator, when unable to decide the question, may at once
submit it to the assembly. It is also the right of every member, who
notices a breach of a rule to insist upon its enforcement. In such
cases a motion shall be made in the following form: "I have a
point of order as follows:" followed by the point of order.
This motion does not require a second. The Administrator decides the
point, but this decision is subject to appeal. The effect of laying
an appeal on the table, is to sustain, at least for the time, the
decision of the Administrator, and does not carry to the table the
question which gave rise to the question of order.
A motion
of Appeal may be approved only by a majority of the members.
Objection to the
Consideration of a motion. An objection can be made to any
principal motion [§ 6], It is similar to a question of order [§
14,] in that it does not require a second; and the Administrator
puts this question if he deems it necessary, upon his own
responsibility. It can not have any subsidiary motion [§ 7]
applied to it. When a motion is made and any member objects to its
consideration, the following motion is scheduled for the earliest
possible vote (pending notification to members), "Shall the
question be considered?" If decided in the negative by a
two-thirds vote of the members [§ 39], the whole matter is
dismissed [§ 42]; otherwise the motion is treated as if this
objection had never been made.
The Object of this motion is
not to cut off discussion, but to enable the assembly to avoid
altogether any question which it may deem irrelevant, unprofitable
or unduly contentious.
A motion of Objection to the
Consideration of a motion may be decided only by two-thirds of the
members.
Withdrawal of a
motion. [For order of precedence, see § 8.] A question can be
withdrawn by the mover only before it is seconded. When a motion is
withdrawn, the effect is the same as if it had never been made.
Suspension of the
Rules or Amend the Rules. [For the order of precedence, see §
8.] These motions cannot be amended, nor can any subsidiary [§
7] motion be applied to them, nor a vote on them be reconsidered [§
27], nor a motion to suspend or amend the rules for the same purpose
be renewed at the same session, though it may be renewed after an
adjournment, [§ 26] unless allowed at the discretion of the
Administrator. The rules shall not be suspended except for a
definite purpose. The Form of this motion is, to "suspend the
rules which interfere with,"etc., specifying the object of the
suspension.
A motion for Suspension of the Rules may be
approved only by a two-thirds majority of the members, and only
after sufficient previous notice has been given to the members of
the motion and the closing time and date for its vote.
To Lie on the
Table and To Take from the Table. This motion takes precedence of
all other Subsidiary Questions [§ 7], and yields to any
Privileged [§ 9] or Incidental [§ 8] Question. It cannot
be amended or have any other subsidiary motion [§ 7] applied to
it. It removes the subject from consideration till the assembly
vote to take it from the table. The Form of this motion is, "I
move that the question lie on the table.”
The object
of this motion is to postpone the subject in such a way, that at any
time it can be taken up, which could not be accomplished by a motion
to postpone, either definitely or indefinitely. It is also
frequently used to suppress a question [§ 59],
which it does, provided a majority vote can never be obtained to
take it from the table [§ 42].
The
effect of this motion is in general to place on the table everything
that adheres to the subject; so that if an amendment be ordered to
lie on the table, the subject which it is proposed to amend, goes
there with it. The following cases are exceptional: (a) An appeal
[§ 14] being laid on the table,
has the effect of sustaining, at least for the time, the decision of
the Administrator, and does not carry the original subject to the
table. (b) So when a motion to reconsider [§ 27]
a question is laid on the table, the original question is left where
it was before the reconsideration was moved.
When it is
desired to take the question up again, a motion is made, "to
now consider such and such a question;" the motion To Take from
the Table cannot have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
The
motion to Lie on the Table may be approved only by a majority that
exceeds the majority vote already cast on the original motion. The
motion To Take from the Table may be approved only by a majority
that exceeds the majority vote on the motion To Lie on the Table.
To Postpone to a
Certain Day. This motion takes precedence of a motion to Commit, or
Amend, or Indefinitely Postpone, and yields to any Privileged [§
9] or Incidental [§ 8] question, and to the motion to Lie on
the Table. It can be amended by altering the time.
The
Effect of this motion is to postpone the entire subject to the time
specified, until which time it cannot be taken up except by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote on the motion To Postpone [§
13]. When that time arrives it is entitled to be taken up in
precedence of every thing except Privileged questions. If it is
desired to hold an adjourned meeting to consider a special subject,
the time to which the assembly shall adjourn [§ 10] should be
first fixed before making the motion to postpone the subject to that
day.
The motion To
Postpone to a Certain Day may be approved only by a majority that
exceeds the majority vote already cast on the original motion.
To Commit [or
Recommit as it is called when the subject has been previously
committed]. This motion takes precedence of the motions to Amend or
Indefinitely Postpone, and yields to any Privileged [§ 9] or
Incidental [§ 8] Question, and also to the motion to Lie on the
Table or to Postpone to a Certain Day.
It can be amended by altering the committee, or giving it
instructions.
The form of this motion is "to refer the
subject to a committee." When different committees are
proposed they should he voted in the following order: (1) committee
of the whole [§ 32], (2) a
standing committee, and (3) a special (or select) committee. The
number of a committee, and its method of appointment must be
stipulated in the motion.
In ordinary assemblies, by
judicious appointment of committees, debates upon delicate and
troublesome questions can be mostly confined to the committees,
which will contain the representative members of all parties. [See
Reports of Committees, § 29.]
Where
a committee is one for action (a committee of arrangements for
holding a public meeting, for example), it should generally be
small, and no one placed upon it who is not favorable to the
proposed action; and if any such should be appointed he should ask
to be excused. But when the committee is for deliberation or
investigation, it is of the utmost importance that all parties be
represented on it, so that in committee the fullest discussion may
take place.
The motions To Commit or To Recommit may be
approved only by a majority that exceeds the majority vote already
cast on the original motion.
To Amend. This
motion takes precedence of nothing but the question which it
proposed to amend, and yields to any Privileged [§ 9],
Incidental [§ 8] or Subsidiary [§ 7] Question, except to
Indefinitely Postpone. It can be amended itself, but this
"amendment of an amendment" cannot be amended. An
Amendment may be inconsistent with one already adopted, or may
directly conflict with the spirit of the original motion, but it
must have a direct bearing upon the subject of that motion. To
illustrate: a motion for a vote of thanks could be amended by
substituting for "thanks" the word "censure;" or
one condemning certain customs could be amended by adding other
customs.
An Amendment may be in any of the following forms:
(a) to "add or insert" certain words or paragraphs; (b) to
"strike out" certain words or paragraphs; (c) "to
strike certain words and insert others," which motion is
indivisible, and if lost does not preclude another motion to strike
out the same words and insert different ones; (d) to "substitute"
another motion on the same subject for the one pending; (e) to
"divide the question" into two or more questions, as the
mover specifies, so as to get a separate vote on any particular
point or points [see § 4].
If a paragraph is inserted it
should be perfected by its friends previous to voting on it, as when
once inserted it cannot be struck out or amended except by adding to
it. The same is true in regard to words to be inserted in a
resolution, as when once inserted they cannot be struck out, except
by a motion to strike out the paragraph, or such a portion of it as
shall make the question an entirely different one from that of
inserting the particular words. The principle involved is that when
the assembly has voted that certain words shall form a part of a
resolution, it is not in order to make another motion which involves
exactly the same question as the one they have decided. The only
way to bring it up again is to move a Reconsideration [§ 27] of
the vote by which the words were inserted.
In publishing the
question on an Amendment the Administrator
should include (1) the passage to be amended; (2) the words
to be struck out, if any; (3) the words to be inserted, if any; and
(4) the whole passage as it will stand if the amendment is adopted.
[For amending reports of committees, and propositions containing
several paragraphs, see § 44.]
The numbers prefixed to
paragraphs are only marginal indications, and should be corrected,
if necessary, by the Administrator, without any motion to
amend.
The following motions cannot be amended:
To
Adjourn (when unqualified) ............................ See §
11.
All Incidental Questions .................................
'' § 8.
To Lie on the Table
...................................... '' § 19.
An
Amendment of an Amendment ............................. '' §
23.
To Postpone Indefinitely
................................. '' § 24.
Reconsider
............................................... '' § 27.
The
motion to Amend a Principal Question may be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote already cast on the original
motion.
An Amendment to Rules of Order, By-Laws or a
Constitution shall require previous notice to the full membership
and a two-thirds vote of the members for its adoption [see §
45].
To Postpone
Indefinitely. This motion takes precedence of nothing except the
Principal Question [§ 6], and yields to any Privileged [§
9], Incidental [§ 8] or Subsidiary [§ 7] motion, except to
Amend. It cannot be amended. Its effect is to entirely remove the
question from before the assembly for that session
[§ 42].
The motion
To Postpone Indefinitely may be approved only by a majority that
exceeds the majority vote already cast on the original motion.
Motions of
Nomination do not require a second, and are handled in a summary
manner, so that members vote on a full list of all names put in
nomination. The Administrator shall publish a closing time and date
for making nominations, compile the resulting list, and publish it
for discussion and voting on a separate page at the society's
website. The names receiving the greatest number of votes are
approved.
Renewal of a
motion. When any Principal Question [§ 6] or Amendment has
been once acted upon by the assembly, it cannot be taken up again at
the same session except by a motion to Reconsider [§24] The
motion to Adjourn can be renewed if there has been progress in
debate, or any business transacted. As a general rule the
introduction of any motion that alters the state of affairs makes it
admissible to renew any Privileged or Incidental motion (excepting
Suspension of the Rules as provided in § 18),
or Subsidiary motion (excepting an amendment), as in such a case the
real question before the assembly is a different one.
To
illustrate: a motion that a question lie on the table having failed,
suppose afterwards it be moved to refer the matter to a committee,
it is now in order to move again that the subject lie on the table;
but such a motion would not be in order, if it were not made till
after the failure of the motion to commit, as the question then
resumes its previous condition.
When a subject has been
referred to a committee which reports at the same session, the
matter stands before the assembly as if it had been introduced for
the first time. A motion which has been withdrawn has not been
acted upon, and therefore can be renewed.
Reconsider. It is
in order at any time during the session
in which a motion has been acted upon to move to "Reconsider
the vote." It must be made by a member who voted with the
prevailing side; for instance, in case a motion fails to pass, a
reconsideration must be moved by one who voted against the
motion.
A motion to reconsider the vote on a Subsidiary [§
7] motion takes precedence of the main question. It yields to
Privileged [§ 9] questions (except for the Orders of the Day),
and Incidental [§ 8] questions.
This motion can be
applied to every question, except to Adjourn and to Suspend the
Rules. [It is not the practice to reconsider an affirmative vote on
the motion to lie on the table, as the same result can be more
easily reached by the motion to take from the table. For a similar
reason, an affirmative vote on the motion to take from the table
cannot be reconsidered.] It can be laid on the table [§ 19],
and in such cases the last motion cannot be reconsidered; it is
quite common and allowable to combine these two motions (though they
must be voted on separately); in this case, the reconsideration like
any other question, can be taken from the table, but possesses no
privilege. The motion to reconsider being laid on the table does not
carry with it the pending measure. If an amendment to a motion has
been either adopted or rejected, and then a vote taken on the motion
as amended, it is not in order to reconsider the vote on the
amendment until after the vote on the original motion has been
reconsidered. If anything which the assembly cannot reverse has
been done as the result of a vote, then that vote cannot be
reconsidered.
The effect of making this motion is to suspend
all action that the original motion would have required until the
reconsideration is acted upon.
The reconsideration of an
Incidental [§ 8] or Subsidiary [§ 7] motion shall have the
same precedence as the motion it reconsiders.
A motion To
Reconsider may be approved only by a majority that exceeds the
majority of votes cast on the motion that is being reconsidered.
Committees. It is
usual in deliberative assemblies, to have all preliminary work in
the preparation of matter for their action, done by means of
committees. These may be either "standing committees"
(which are appointed for the session [§ 42],
or for some definite time, as one year); or "select
committees," appointed for a special purpose; or a "committee
of the whole" [§ 32],
consisting of the entire assembly..
[For method of appointing
committees of the whole, see § 32;
other committees, see commit, § 22.]
The first person named on a committee is Chair, and should act as
such, without the committee should see fit to elect another Chair,
which they are competent to do. The Administrator should furnish
him, or some other member of the committee, with notice of the
appointment of the committee, giving the names of the members, the
matter referred to them, and such instructions as the assembly have
decided upon. The Administrator shall provide password protected
pages on the Internet, open solely to the members of the committee,
and publish or have published there, the entire resolutions referred
to them. The Chair should then invite amendments to be offered; only
taking votes on amendments, as the committee cannot vote on the
adoption of matter referred to them by the assembly. The
Administrator shall publish pages and provide voting options at the
direction of the Chair.
If the committee originate the
resolutions, they vote, in the same way, on amendments of the draft
of the resolutions, (which draft has been previously prepared by one
of their members or a sub-committee); but having completed the
amendments, they vote on the adoption of the entire report. When
there is a preamble, it is considered last. If the report
originates with the committee, all amendments are to be incorporated
in the report; but, if the resolutions were referred, the committee
cannot alter the text, but must submit the original paper intact,
with their amendments (which may be in the form of a substitute, §
23) written on a separate sheet.
A
committee is a miniature assembly. A majority of members of the
committee shall constitute a quorum for voting, and whatever is not
agreed to by the majority of the quorum cannot form a part of its
report. The minority may be permitted to submit their views in
writing also, either together, or each member separately, but their
reports can only be acted upon, by voting to substitute one of them
for the report of the committee. The rules of the assembly, as far
as possible, shall apply in committee; but a reconsideration [§
27] of a vote shall be allowed only by
a vote that exceeds the majority that originally passed the
amendment or report.
A committee (except a committee of the
whole, § 32] may appoint a
sub-committee. When through with the business assigned them, a
motion is made for the committee to "adjourn”, and that
the Chair (or some member who is more familiar with the subject)
make its report to the assembly. The committee ceases to exist as
soon as the assembly receives the report [§ 30].
The
committee reports to the assembly, and the Administrator shall
publish such reports on the society's website, including reports of
the minority. The committee has no power to punish its members for
disorderly conduct, its resource being to report the facts to the
assembly. No allusion can be made in the assembly to what has
occurred in committee, except it be by a report of the committee, or
by general consent. It is the duty of a committee to conduct its
business, if the Chair be absent or decline to do so. When a
committee adjourns, it is not necessary (though usually advisable)
that members should be notified of the adjourned meeting.
Forms of Reports
of Committees. The form of a report is usually similar to the
following:
A standing committee reports thus: "The
committee on [insert name of committee] respectfully report,"
letting the report follow. A select or special committee reports as
follows: "The committee to which was referred [state the
matter referred] having considered the same respectfully report,"
etc.
When a minority report is submitted, it should be in
this form (the majority reporting as above): "The undersigned,
a minority of a committee to which was referred," etc. The
majority report is the report of the committee, and should never be
made out as the report of the majority.
All reports conclude
with, "All of which is respectfully submitted." They are
sometimes signed only by the Chair of the committee, but if the
matter is of much importance, it is better that the report be signed
by every member who concurs. The report is not usually dated, or
addressed, but can he headed, as for example, "Report of the
Finance Committee on Purchasing a Web Server."
Reception of
Reports. When the time arrives for the assembly to receive the
report, the Chair of the committee (or member appointed to make the
report) forwards it to the Administrator for publishing at the
society's website. The report then lies on the table till the
assembly sees fit to consider it. Either the Chair or any other
member may move that it be “accepted” (which is
equivalent to adopting it, see § 31)
after the report is published by the Administrator. [If the
committee however have made but a partial report, or report
progress, then it is in order to move that the committee be
discharged from the further consideration of the subject.]
Should
any one object to publishing the report, a formal motion becomes
necessary. If the report consists of a paper with amendments, the
Chair of the committee provides the amendments with the coherence in
the paper, explaining the alterations and reasons of the committee
for the amendments, till he has gone through the whole.
When
the report has been received, the committee is thereby dissolved,
and can act no more without it is revived by a vote to recommit. If
the report is recommitted, all the parts of the report that have not
been agreed to by the assembly, are ignored by the committee as if
the report had never been made.
Adoption of
Reports. When the assembly is to consider a report, a motion should
be made to "adopt," "accept," or "agree to"
the report, all of which, when carried, have the same effect,
namely, to make the doings of the committee become the acts of the
assembly, the same as if done by the assembly without the
intervention of a committee. If the report concludes with
resolutions or certain propositions, the motion should be to "agree
to" the resolutions, or to "adopt" the propositions.
After the above motion is made, the matter stands before the
assembly exactly the same as if there had been no committee, and the
subject had been introduced by the member who made the report. [See
§ 34 for his privileges in debate,
and § 44 for the method of
treating a report containing several propositions, when being
considered by the assembly.]
Committee of the
Whole. When an assembly has to consider a subject which it does not
wish to refer to a committee, and yet where the subject matter is
not well digested and put into proper form for its definite action,
or, when for any other reason, it is desirable for the assembly to
consider a subject with all the freedom of an ordinary committee, it
is the practice to refer the matter to the "Committee of the
Whole."
If it is desired to consider the question at
once, the motion is made, "That the assembly do now resolve
itself into a committee of the whole to take under consideration,"
etc., specifying the subject. This is really a motion to "commit"
[see § 22 for its order of
precedence, etc.] The committee is under the rules of the assembly,
excepting as stated hereafter in this section.
The only
motions in order are to amend and adopt, and that the committee
"rise and report," as it cannot adjourn.
The
committee cannot refer the subject to another committee. Like other
committees [§ 28], it cannot alter
the text of any resolution referred to it; but if the resolution
originated in the committee, then all the amendments are
incorporated in it.
When it is through with the consideration
of the subject referred to it, or if it wishes to adjourn, or to
have the assembly limit debate, a motion is made that "the
committee rise and report," etc., specifying the result of its
proceedings. This motion "to rise" is equivalent to the
motion to adjourn, in the assembly, and is always in order. As soon
as this motion is adopted, the Administrator informs the members
that "the committee have gone through the business referred to
them,” and publish the report.
The quorum of the
committee of the whole is the same as that of the assembly [§
43]. If the committee finds itself without a quorum, it can only
rise and report the fact to the assembly, which in such a case would
have to adjourn.
Debate. [In
connection with this section read §§ 1-5.] The
Administrator shall provide pages for unlimited and unrestricted
discussion and debate on subjects pertaining to the interests of the
society. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be published
by the Administrator on its own page, where space is provided below
the motion for debate and discussion, as well as options for voting,
by the members. Discussion and debate on this page is restricted to
the question of the motion. By parliamentary courtesy, the member
upon whose motion a subject is brought before the assembly is
entitled to publish the first comment, which shall always appear
directly below the motion. [In case of a report of a committee, it
is the member who presents the report] There shall be no limits on
the number of times a member may post a comment. At the discretion
of the Administrator, only the beginning of any given comment may be
published, but a link to the remainder of the comment on another
page must also be provided.
An amendment is treated as a new
question and is published on its own page. A link to its amendments
will be provided directly below the motion. The closing date and
time for voting will be posted at the top of each motion and
amendment.
Decorum in Discussion and Debate [see § 2]. In discussion and debate a member must avoid vulgarities and indecent personal attacks on other members. In discussion and debate appended to a motion, on the motion's page, a member must confine himself to the question. The officers of the assembly should always be referred to by their official titles. It is not allowable to arraign the motives of a member, but the nature or consequences of a measure may be condemned in strong terms. It is not the person, but the measure, that is the subject of debate. When a comment or a portion of a comment is judged improper and not published by the Administrator, the member must accept the decision of the Administrator, or appeal to the members by way of a separate motion.
Voting. Voting
shall be secure and permit only one vote per member on any specific
question. Although voting may be subject to a closing date and time
for any specific question (a motion or amendment), voting shall
otherwise be allowed without restriction at all hours and every day.
The closing date and time for voting on every specific question
shall be set by, and at the discretion, of the Administrator.
Immediately after the motion or amendment has been seconded, the
Administrator shall place voting options on a page devoted
specifically to that motion. Any objection to the Administrator's
choice of closing date and time may be appealed to the members by an
amendment to the question. The Administrator shall provide
sufficient time for debate and discussion prior to the closing date
of any vote. No amendment shall be scheduled for a vote with a
closing date so close to the closing date for a vote on the main
question that it amends as to make it difficult or impossible for
members who have already voted on the principal question to change
their vote; and an amendment shall be approved only by a majority
that exceeds the majority vote that has already been cast on the
principal question. Amendments may, however, be accepted after a
question is approved, subject to the rule that no question after
approval shall be amended by a majority vote that is less than the
majority vote that approved the principal question.
When a
question is successfully amended, the main question shall be
published in its revised form. Members who have already voted on the
principal question shall be notified of the change, and invited to
change their vote if they so desire. The principal question shall
not require another second, and the closing date for voting shall
remain the same unless specifically changed in the amendment, or at
the discretion of the Administrator.
Where a question is put
to a vote specifically for the purpose of directing a representative
of the assembly to vote accordingly in another assembly or
organization, and when the date of that subsequent vote is not
precisely determined, there shall be no closing date and time for
voting by the members. The representative shall consult the votes of
the members at the last practical moment, and vote in the other body
accordingly.
All questions shall be decided by the members
by yes or no vote. The voting box shall be appended to the bottom of
the motion or amendment. All voting shall be confidential, except in
cases where members are voting as representatives of the membership
at large, as in committees, or when the membership is itself made up
of representatives from another organization. In such cases, it
shall be up to the members who appoint their representatives whether
the votes shall be confidential or public. However, members in all
cases are free to declare how they have voted or will vote in
comments appended to the motion, or on the discussion pages.
After
the closing date, the Administrator shall publish the decision of
the members, including the total number of votes cast, the total
number of yes votes, and the total number of no votes. To enable
members to verify their votes, the Administrator shall publish a
confidential report available only to the member requesting
verification. In cases where members are voting as representatives
of the membership at large, as in committees, or when the membership
is itself made up of representatives from another organization, or
when the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules of Order specifically
stipulate,
the Administrator shall also publish a separate page
listing the names of all those who have voted, in separate columns
for yes and no votes. Any errors will be corrected by the
Administrator immediately upon request of the member. Prior to the
closing date, members may change their vote by request to the
Administrator. The Administrator shall change the member's vote only
on condition that sufficient time remains before the closing
date.
With the exception of the motions listed in the next
paragraph, motions pass upon a majority yes vote of all members who
vote, and motions fail upon a majority no vote of all members who
vote. Amendments to motions still pending may be approved only by a
majority vote that exceeds the majority vote already cast on the
principal motion. Amendments to previously approved questions pass
only by a majority that exceeds the majority that approved
them.
The Administrator is entitled to vote as any other
member, except on questions of appeal to the members of the
Administrator's decisions, provided the Administrator is a
registered member with full privileges. When there is a tie vote the
motion fails.
Motions Requiring
More than a Majority Vote of Voting Members. With the exception of
the motions referred to in this paragraph, and where no rule to the
contrary is adopted, a majority vote of the members who vote is
sufficient for the adoption of any motion. The following motions
shall require a majority or two-thirds vote of all members for their
adoption [see the related paragraph for which rule applies]:
An
Objection to the Consideration of a Question
.............................. § 15.
To
Suspend or Amend the Rules (requires previous notice also) ..... §
18.
Administrator [In
connection with this section read § 44,
and also §40, 41.]. The presiding
officer, when no special title has been assigned him, is ordinarily
called the Administrator (or the Moderator); frequently the
constitution of the assembly prescribes for him a title, such as
President.
The Administrator's duties are generally as
follows:
To be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the
society's web site; to publish member motions, amendments, committee
reports, and comments for debate and discussion in a timely fashion;
to schedule votes, and to publish the result of the votes;
To
restrain the members, when engaged in debate, within the rules of
order; to enforce on all occasions the observance of order and
decorum [§ 36] among the members,
deciding all questions of order (subject to an appeal to the members
by any two members, § 14);
To
authenticate, by his signature, when necessary, all the acts, orders
and proceedings of the assembly, and in general to represent and
stand for the assembly, declaring its will, and in all things
obeying its commands.
In referring to himself or herself, the
Administrator should always use the official title thus: "The
Administrator decides so and so."
The Administrator is
entitled to vote (except on appeals of the Administrator's
decisions) when the Administrator is also a member with full
privileges.
The Administrator can, if it is necessary,
appoint an Administrator pro tem. The members can elect another
Administrator. But the regular Administrator cannot authorize
another member to act in his or her place on an extended or
permanent basis.
The Administrator may at all times take part
in discussion and debate. But this should rarely be done, and
nothing can justify it in a case where much feeling is shown, and
there is a liability to difficulty in preserving order. If the
Administrator has even the appearance of being a partisan, the
Administrator loses much of his or her ability to control those who
are on the opposite side of the question. One who expects to take an
active part in discussion and debate should never accept the
position of Administrator. The Administrator may state matters of
fact within his or her knowledge, and inform the assembly on points
of order. On appeals from the Administrator's decision on questions
of order, the Administrator may address the members in discussion
and debate.
The Administrator should not only be familiar
with parliamentary usage, and set the example of strict conformity
to it, but should be a person of executive ability, capable of
controlling the members; and it should never be forgotten, that, to
control others, it is necessary to control one's self. An excited
Administrator can scarcely fail to cause trouble in an
organization.
An Administrator will often find himself
perplexed with the difficulties attending his position, and in such
cases he will do well to heed the advice of a distinguished writer
on parliamentary law, and recollect that the great purpose of all
rules and forms, is to serve the will of the members, rather than to
restrain it; to facilitate, and not to obstruct, the expression of
their deliberate will.
The Administrator shall publish the
reports of the Board and its officers, or otherwise make known its
actions to the members.
The Administrator shall publish the
reports of committees, the date of their reception, and what further
action was taken upon them.
The Administrator shall preserve
the published proceedings of the members in regular electronic
backups that shall be made available to any member on request. The
Administrator may remove outdated comments from the published
debates and discussion of the members, but such comments must be
included and maintained in backups stored by the Administrator. All
approved motions and amendments shall be published indefinitely.
Clerk or Secretary [and the Minutes]. No Clerk or Secretary shall be required. The published proceedings of the members shall comprise the Minutes , and shall be kept by the Administrator in regular electronic backups that shall be made available to any member on request.
A Session of an
assembly is a meeting [See definitions in Introduction for the
distinction between "meeting" and "session."]
which, though it may last for days, or indefinitely, is virtually
one meeting, as a session of a Convention; or even months, as a
session of Congress; it terminates by an "adjournment without
day." The intermediate adjournments from day to day, or the
recesses taken during the day, do not destroy the continuity of the
meeting - they in reality constitute one session. In the case of a
permanent society, having regular meetings every week, month, or
year, for example, each meeting constitutes a separate session of
the society, which session however can be prolonged by adjourning to
another day.
If a principal motion [§ 6] is indefinitely
postponed or rejected , it can be introduced again by a motion, but
only if that motion is approved by a majority that exceeds the
majority that postponed or rejected the original motion.
No
one session of the assembly can interfere with the rights of the
assembly at any future session without it is expressly so provided
in their Constitution, Bylaws, or Rules of Order, all of which are
so guarded (by requiring notice of amendments, and at least a
two-thirds vote for their adoption) that they are not subject to
sudden changes, but may be considered as expressing the deliberate
views of the whole society, rather than the opinions or wishes of
any particular meeting. [Any one session can adopt a rule or
resolution of a permanent nature, and it continues in force until at
some future session it is rescinded. But these Standing Rules, as
they are termed, do not interfere with future sessions, because at
any moment a majority can suspend or rescind them, or adopt new
ones.] Thus, if the presiding officer were ill, it would not be
competent for one session of the assembly to elect a chair to hold
office longer than that session, as it cannot control or dictate to
the next session of the assembly. By going through the prescribed
routine of an election to fill the vacancy, giving whatever notice
is required, it could then legally elect a chairman to hold office
while the vacancy lasted. So it is improper for an assembly to
postpone anything to a day beyond the next succeeding session, and
thus attempt to prevent the next session from considering the
question. On the other hand, it is not permitted to move a
reconsideration [§ 27] of a vote
taken at a previous session [though the motion to reconsider can be
called up, provided it was made at the last meeting of the previous
session.] Committees can be appointed to report at a future
session.
Note On Session- Any society is competent to decide
what shall constitute one of its sessions, but, where there is no
rule on the subject, the common parliamentary law would make each of
its regular or special meetings a separate session, as they are
regarded in this Manual.
If members of any society take
advantage of the freedom allowed by considering each regular meeting
a separate session, and repeatedly renew obnoxious or unprofitable
motions, the society can adopt a rule prohibiting the second
introduction of any principal question [§ 6] within, say, three
or six months after its rejection, or indefinite postponement, or
after the society has refused to consider it. But generally it is
better to suppress the motion by refusing to consider it [§
15].
The deliberations
of the society in session (or of a committee of the whole)
shall not be subject to the restriction of a quorum unless
specifically provided for in the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules of
Order.
In a committee appointed by a motion of the members,
a quorum (consisting of a majority of its members, unless otherwise
stipulated) shall be required to vote on any question or to conduct
any business delegated to it. Boards of Trustees, Managers,
Directors, etc., are on the same footing as committees, in regard to
a quorum. Their power is delegated to them as a body. If no quorum
is specified, then a majority of the members appointed to the
committee constitutes a quorum.
Boards of
Managers, Trustees, etc., come under the head of standing
committees.
In reports of a committee, no vote should be
taken on the adoption of the several paragraphs,--one vote being
taken finally on the adoption of the whole paper. Amendments to the
report shall be voted on before the adoption of the report. It is in
order, after the paragraphs of the report have been amended, to go
back and amend any of them still further. The Administrator shall
publish the report in its entirety before the members of the
committee vote its adoption, and sufficient time shall be provided
for amendments to be offered and submitted to a vote.
Amendments of Rules of Order. These rules can be amended only by a two-thirds vote of all of the members, and only after sufficient previous notice has been given to the members of the amendment and the closing time and date for its vote. If the By-Laws should contain rules that it may be desirable to occasionally suspend, then they should state how they can be suspended, just as is done in these Rules of Order, § 18.
An Occasional or
Mass Meeting. (a) Organization. When a meeting is held which is not
one of an organized society (according to its constitution or
by-laws) shortly after the time appointed for the meeting, a member
competent to serve as temporary Administrator of the assembly
declares: "The meeting will please come to order; I move that
Mr. A. act as Administrator of this meeting." Some one else
seconds the motion. The member who made the motion then puts the
question to a vote in the following way: he provides options for
voting and sets a closing time for the vote, allowing sufficient
time for discussion if desired by the members. After the members
vote, if the majority vote in the affirmative, he publishes the
result and Mr. A. assumes the duties of Administrator If the motion
is lost, he announces that fact, and calls for the nomination of
some one else for Administrator, and proceeds with the new
nomination as in the first case. Sometimes he may nominate an
Administrator and no vote is taken, the assembly signifying their
approval by acclamation. Or, the member who calls the meeting to
order, instead of making the motion himself, may act as temporary
Administrator, and say: "The meeting will please come to
order: will some one nominate an Administrator?" He puts the
question to vote on the nomination as described above.
The
new Administrator assumes the duties described in § 40.
(b)
Adoption of Resolutions. The Administrator asks, "What is the
further pleasure of the meeting?" If the meeting is merely a
public assembly called together to consider some special subject, it
is customary at this stage of the proceedings for some one to offer
a series of resolutions previously prepared, or else to move the
appointment of a committee to prepare resolutions upon the subject.
In the first case the member and says, "I move the adoption of
the following resolutions," which are immediately published by
the Administrator.
Some one else says, "I second the
motion." The Administrator puts the resolutions to a vote as
described above, allowing sufficient time for discussion and debate
as desired by the members, and publishes the results.
(c)
Committee to draft Resolutions. If it is preferred to appoint a
committee to draft resolutions, a member may move that a committee
be appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the
meeting on the subject for which the meeting was called. This
motion being seconded, the Administrator puts the motion to a vote
as described above, again allowing sufficient time for discussion
and debate as desired by the members, and publishes the result. If
it is carried, he asks, "Of how many shall the committee
consist?" If only one number is suggested, he announces that
the committee will consist of that number; if several numbers are
suggested, he states the different ones and then takes a vote on
each, beginning with the largest, until one number is selected.
The
Administrator then inquires, "How shall the committee be
appointed?" This is usually decided without the formality of a
vote. The committee may be appointed by the Administrator --in
which case the Administrator names the committee and no vote is
taken; or the committee may be nominated by the Administrator, or
the members of the assembly (no member naming more than one, except
by unanimous consent), and then the assembly vote on their
appointment. When the Administrator nominates, after stating the
names he puts one question on the entire committee to a vote as
described above. If nominations are made by members of the assembly,
and more names mentioned than the number of the committee, a
separate vote should be taken on each name.
When the
committee are appointed they should at once meet and agree upon a
report, which should be published as described in § 53.
During their absence other business may be attended to, or the time
may be occupied with discussion and debate. Upon their return the
Administrator Chair of the committee (who is the one first named on
the committee, and who quite commonly, though not necessarily, is
the one who made the motion to appoint the committee), submits a
report to be published by the Administrator, and the committee is
dissolved without any action of the assembly. A member then moves
the "adoption" or "acceptance" of the report, or
that "the resolutions be agreed to," which motions have
the same effect if carried, namely, to make the resolutions the
resolutions of the assembly just as if the committee had had nothing
to do with them.
When one of these motions is made, the
Administrator puts it to a vote in the way described above, once
again allowing sufficient time for discussion and debate if desired
by the members. The motion may be modified, or its consideration
postponed, as explained in §§ 55-63.
When
through with the business for which the assembly were convened, or
when from any other cause it is desirable to close the meeting, some
one moves "to adjourn;" if the motion is carried and no
other time for meeting has been appointed, the motion is carried,
and the assembly stands adjourned without day." [Another
method by which the meeting may be conducted is shown in §
48.]
(d) Additional Officers.
If more officers are required than an Administrator, they can be
appointed before introducing the resolutions, in the manner
described above; or the assembly can first form a temporary
organization in the manner already described, only adding "pro
tem." to the title of the officers, thus: "Administrator
pro tem." In this latter case, as soon as the Administrator
pro tem. is elected, a committee is appointed to nominate the
permanent officers, as in the case of a convention [§ 47].
Frequently the presiding officer is called the President, and
sometimes there is a large number of Vice Presidents appointed for
mere complimentary purposes. The Vice Presidents in large formal
meetings, serve, according to the first on the list that is present,
as the Administrator in his absence.
Meeting of a
Convention or Assembly of Delegates. If the members of the assembly
have been elected or appointed as members, it becomes necessary to
know who are properly members of the assembly and entitled to vote.
In this case a temporary organization is made by the election of an
Administrator and secretary "pro tem."
It is then
in order for a member to move as follows: "I move that a
committee of three on the credentials of members be appointed by the
Administrator , and that the committee report as soon as
practicable;" In either case the Administrator proceeds as
already described in the cases of committees on resolutions[§
46, (c)].
On the motion to
accept the report of the committee, none can vote except those
reported by the committee as having proper credentials. The
committee, beside reporting a list of members with proper
credentials, may report doubtful or contested cases, with
recommendations, which the assembly may adopt, or reject, or
postpone, etc. Only members whose right to their seats is
undisputed, can vote.
The Administrator, after the question
of credentials is disposed of, at least for the time, announces that
"The next business in order is the election of permanent
officers of the assembly." Some one then moves the appointment
of a committee to nominate the officers, in a form similar to this:
"I move that a committee of three be appointed by the
Administrator to nominate the permanent officers of this
convention." This motion is treated as already explained.
When the committee make their report, some one moves "That the
report of the committee be accepted and that the officers nominated
be declared the officers of this convention." Where there is
any competition for the offices, it is better that they be elected
by ballot. In this case, when the nominating committee report, a
motion can be made as follows: "I move that the convention now
proceed to ballot for its permanent officers;" or "I move
that we now proceed to the election, by ballot, of the permanent
officers of this convention." [See Rules of Order, § 38,
for balloting, and other methods of voting. The constitutions of
permanent societies usually provide that the officers shall be
elected by ballot. This motion being carried, the Administrator
declares the officers elected, and instantly yields to the new
Administrator, and the temporary officers are at the same time
replaced. The convention is now organized for work.
A Permanent
Society. (a) First Meeting. When it is desired to form a permanent
society, those interested in it should see that only the proper
persons are invited to participate, at a certain time. It is not
usual in mass meetings, or meetings called to organize a society, to
commence until fifteen or thirty minutes after the appointed time,
when some one competent to act as temporary Administrator declares,
"The meeting will please come to order; I move that Mr. A. act
as Administrator of this meeting;" some one "seconds the
motion," after which the one who made the motion puts it to
vote (or, as it is called, "puts the question"), as
already described, under an "occasional meeting" [§
46, (a)]; and, as in that case, when
the Administrator is elected, he announces as the first business in
order the election of other officers, if such be desired by the
members.
After the officers are elected, the Administrator
calls on some member who is most interested in getting up the
society, to state the object of the meeting. This member proceeds
to state the object of the meeting, after which the Administrator
may call on other members to give their opinions upon the subject,
and sometimes a particular person is called out by members who wish
to know his opinion. The Administrator should observe the wishes of
the assembly, and avoid unnecessary restrictions on discussion and
debate.
When a sufficient time has been spent in this
informal way, some one should offer a resolution, so that definite
action can be taken. Those interested in getting up the meeting, if
it is to be a large one, should have previously agreed upon what is
to be done, and be prepared at the proper time to offer a suitable
resolution, which may be in a form similar to this: "Resolved,
That it is the sense of this meeting that a society for [state the
object of the society] should now be formed." This resolution,
when seconded, and published by the chairman, would be open to
discussion and debate and be treated as already described [§
46, (b)]. This preliminary motion
could have been offered at the commencement of the meeting, and if
the meeting is a very large one, this would probably be better than
to have the informal discussion.
After this preliminary
motion has been voted on, or even without waiting for such motion,
one like this can be offered: "I move that a committee of five
be appointed by the Administrator, to draft a Constitution and
By-Laws for a society for [here state the object], and that they
report at an adjourned meeting of this assembly." Or, a
specific time may be stipulated for their report, without
adjournment. This motion can be amended [§ 56]
by striking out and adding words, etc. When this committee is
appointed, the Administrator may inquire, "Is there any other
business to be attended to?" or, "What is the further
pleasure of the meeting?" When all business is finished, a
motion can be made to adjourn to meet at a certain time, which, when
seconded, and published by the Administrator, is open to discussion
and debate, and amendment. It is usually better to fix the time of
the next meeting [see § 63] at an
earlier stage of the meeting, and then, when it is desired to close
the meeting, move simply "to adjourn." When this motion is
carried, the chairman says, "This meeting stands adjourned to
meet at," etc., specifying the time of the next meeting.
(b)
Second Meeting. [Ordinary meetings of a society are conducted like
this second meeting, as prescribed by the rules of the society [§
72]. For example, the Administrator
would first publish reports from the standing and select committees,
putting these reports to a vote of the members in the standard way
described above. A committee,or some member of it, may announce that
they have no report to make.] The officers of the previous meeting,
if present, serve until the permanent officers are elected. When
the hour arrives for the meeting, the Administrator declares, "The
meeting will please come to order." The Administrator publishes
the report of the committee on the Constitution and By-Laws,"
and inquires, "What shall be done with the report?" Some
one moves its adoption, or still better, moves "the adoption of
the Constitution reported by the committee," and when seconded,
the Administrator puts it to a vote, providing sufficient time for
discussion and debate, and amendments if desired by the members. The
Administrator then publishes the result of the vote, requesting
those wishing to become members to sign it (and pay the initiation
fee, if required by the Constitution), providing sufficient time for
the members to do so. The constitution being signed, no one is
permitted to vote excepting those who have signed it.
The
Administrator then declares, "The next business in order is the
adoption of By-Laws." Some one moves the adoption of the
By-Laws reported by the committee, and they are treated just like
the Constitution. The Administrator then asks, "What is the
further pleasure of the meeting?" or states that the next
business in order is the election of the permanent officers of the
society. In either case some one moves the appointment of a
committee to nominate the permanent officers of the society, which
motion is treated as already described in § 47.
As each officer is elected he replaces the temporary one, and when
they are all elected the organization is completed.
If the
society is one that expects to own real estate, it should be
incorporated according to the laws of the state in which it is
situated, and for this purpose, some one on the committee on the
Constitution should consult a lawyer before this second meeting, so
that the laws may be conformed to. In this case the trustees are
usually instructed to take the proper measures to have the society
incorporated.
Constitutions,
By-Laws, Rules of Order and Standing Rules. In forming a
Constitution and By-Laws, it is always best to procure copies of
those adopted by several similar societies, and for the committee,
after comparing them, to select one as the basis of their own,
amending each article just as their own report is amended by the
Society. When they have completed amending the Constitution, it is
adopted by the committee. The By-Laws are treated in the same way,
and then, having finished the work assigned them, some one moves,
"That the committee rise, and that the chairman (or some other
member) report the Constitution and By-Laws to the assembly."
If this is adopted, the Constitution and By-Laws are written out,
and a brief report made of this form: "Your committee,
appointed to draft a Constitution and By-Laws, would respectfully
submit the following, with the recommendation that they be adopted
as the Constitution and By-Laws of this society;" which is
signed by all the members of the committee that concur in it.
Sometimes the report is only signed by the chairman of the
committee.
In the organization just given, it is assumed that
both a Constitution and By-Laws are adopted. This is not always
done; some societies adopt only a Constitution, and others only
By-Laws. Where both are adopted, the constitution usually contains
only the following:
(1) Name and object of the society.
(2)
Qualification of members.
(3) Officers, their election and
duties.
(4) Meetings of the society (only including what is
essential, leaving details to the By-Laws).
(5) How to amend the
Constitution.
These can be arranged in five articles, each
article being subdivided into sections. The Constitution containing
nothing but what is fundamental, it should be made very difficult to
amend; usually previous notice of the amendment is required, and
also a two-thirds or three-fourths vote for its adoption [§
73]. It is better not to require a
larger vote than two-thirds, and, where the meetings are frequent,
an amendment should not be allowed to be made except at a quarterly
or annual meeting, after having been proposed at the previous
quarterly meeting.
The By-Laws contain all the other standing
rules of the society, of such importance that they should be placed
out of the power of any one meeting to modify; or they may omit the
rules relating to the conduct of business in the meetings, which
would then constitute the Rules of Order of the society. Every
society, in its By-Laws or Rules of Order, should adopt a rule like
this: "The rules contained in Robert's Rules for the
Internet-(or other relevant work on parliamentary practice for the
Internet) shall govern the society in all cases to which they are
applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Rules of
Order (or By-Laws) adopted by the society." Without such a
rule, any one so disposed, could cause great trouble in a
meeting.
In addition to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules
of Order, in nearly every society resolutions of a permanent nature
are occasionally adopted, which are binding on the society until
they are rescinded or modified. These are called Standing Rules,
and can be adopted by a majority vote at any meeting. After they
have been adopted, they cannot be modified at the same session
except by a reconsideration [§ 60].
At any future session they can be suspended, modified or rescinded
by a majority vote. The Standing Rules, then, comprise those rules
of a society which have been adopted like ordinary resolutions,
without the previous notice, etc., required for By-Laws, and
consequently, future sessions of the society are at liberty to
terminate them whenever they please. No Standing Rule (or other
resolution) can be adopted which conflicts with the Constitution,
By-Laws or Rules of Order. [In practice these various classes of
rules are frequently very much mixed. The Standing Rules of some
societies are really By-Laws, as the society cannot suspend them,
nor can they be amended until previous notice is given. This
produces confusion without any corresponding benefit. Standing Rules
should contain only such rules as are subject to the will of the
majority of any meeting, and which it may be expedient to change at
any time, without the delay incident to giving previous notice.
Rules of Order should contain only the rules relating to the orderly
transaction of the business in the meetings of the society. The
By-Laws should contain all the other rules of the society which are
of too great importance to be changed without giving notice to the
society of such change; provided that the most important of these
can be placed in a Constitution instead of in the By-Laws. These
latter three should provide for their amendment. The Rules of Order
should provide for their suspension. The By-Laws sometimes provide
for the suspension of certain articles. None of these three can be
suspended without it is expressly provided for.
Administrator. It
is the duty of the Administrator to call meetings to order, and to
preside over meetings; to publish the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules
of Order and Standing Rules of the society; to announce and publish
the business before the assembly; to publish the reports of
officers, financial reports, information pages, the members’
motions and comments in debate and discussion, and all votes taken
by members; to maintain the website; and to regulate and maintain
the membership roles in proper order. [All of the above items are to
be published on the society's website.] The Administrator shall
preserve order and decorum in debate and discussion, and decide all
questions of order with regard to scheduling of votes on properly
seconded motions (subject to appeal to the membership). The
Administrator should be careful to abstain from the appearance of
partisanship. The Administrator shall maintain regular backups of
the site, but may remove outdated comments from the website when
appropriate. The Administrator shall retain all approved motions on
the society's website indefinitely. The Administrator may vote on
all questions, except those questions that appeal the
Administrator's decisions.
All other
officers, such as Treasurer, shall be appointed and shall carry out
their duties in accordance with the Constitution or By-Laws of the
society.
The duties of the Treasurer vary in different
societies. In the majority of cases the Treasurer acts as a banker,
merely holding the funds deposited with him, and paying them out on
the order of the society signed by the Administrator, or some other
officer, according to the Constitution of the society.. The
Treasurer's annual report, which is always required, in this case
consists of merely a statement of the amount on hand at the
commencement of the year, the amount received during the year
(stating from what source received), the total amount paid out by
order of the society, and the balance on hand. When this report is
presented it is referred to an "auditing committee,"
consisting of one or two persons, who examine the treasurer's books
and vouchers, and certify on his report that they "have
examined his accounts and vouchers and find them correct, and the
balance on hand is," etc., stating the amount on hand. The
auditing committee's report being accepted is equivalent to a
resolution of the society to the same effect, namely, that the
treasurer's report is correct.
In the case here supposed, the
real financial statement is made either by the board of trustees, or
by the Administrator or some other officer, according to the
Constitution of the society. The principles involved are, that every
officer who receives money is to account for it in a report to the
society, and that whatever officer is responsible for the
disbursements, shall report them to the society, so classified as to
enable the society to readily see the amounts expended for various
purposes.
It should always be remembered that the financial
report is made for the information of members. The details of dates
and separate payments for the same object, are a hindrance to its
being understood, and are useless, as it is the duty of the auditing
committee to examine into the details and see if the report is
correct.
Every disbursing officer should be careful to get a
receipt whenever he makes a payment; these receipts should be
preserved in regular order, as they are the vouchers for the
payments, which must be examined by the auditing committee.
Disbursing officers cannot be too careful in keeping their accounts,
and they should insist upon having their accounts audited every time
they make a report, as by this means any error is quickly detected
and may be corrected. When the society has accepted the auditing
committee's report that the financial report is correct, the
disbursing officer is relieved from the responsibility of the past,
and if his vouchers were lost afterwards, it would cause no trouble.
The best form for these financial reports depends upon the kind of
society, and is best determined by examining those made in similar
societies.
The following form can be varied to suit most
cases: (when the statement of receipts and expenses is very long,
it is often desirable to specify the amounts received from one or
two particular sources, which can be done immediately after stating
the total receipts; the same course can be taken in regard to the
expenditures):
Treasurer's Report.
The undersigned,
Treasurer of the Society, begs leave to submit the following annual
report:
The balance on hand at the commencement of the year
was --- dollars and --- cents. There was received from all sources
during the year, --- dollars and --- cents; during the same time the
expenses amounted to --- dollars and --- cents, leaving a balance on
hand of --- dollars and --- cents. The annexed statement of
receipts and expenditures will show in detail the sources from which
the receipts were obtained, and the objects to which the
expenditures have been applied. All of which is respectfully
submitted. [Signed by the Treasurer.
The "Statement of
receipts and expenditures" can be made, by simply giving a list
of receipts, followed by a list of expenses, and finishing up with
the balance on hand. The auditing committee's certificate to the
correctness of the account should be written on the statement. Often
the statement is made out in the form of an account, as follows: “We
do hereby certify that we have examined the accounts and vouchers of
the treasurer, and find them correct; and that the balance in his
hands is twenty-four dollars and sixty-three cents. [Signed by the
members of the Audit Committee.]
Committees. In
small assemblies, especially in those where but little business is
done, there is not much need of committees. But in large
assemblies, or in those doing a great deal of business, committees
are of the utmost importance. When a committee is properly selected,
in nine cases out of ten its action decides that of the membership.
A committee for action should be small and consist only of those
heartily in favor of the proposed action. A committee for
deliberation or investigation, on the contrary, should be larger and
represent all parties, so that its opinion will carry with it as
great weight as possible. The usefulness of the committee will be
greatly impaired, if any important faction of the assembly be
unrepresented on the committee. The appointment of a committee is
fully explained in §46 (c).
The
first member named on a committee is their Chair, and it is the
Chair's duty to organize the deliberations and actions of the
committee, and preside at their meetings. If he is absent, or from
any cause fails or declines to call a meeting, it is the duty of the
committee to assemble on the call of any two of their members. The
committee are a miniature assembly, only being able to act when a
quorum is present. If a paper or report is referred to them they
must not alter it, but publish their amendments separately. If they
originate the paper or report, all amendments must be incorporated
in it. When they originate the paper, usually one member has
previously prepared a draft, which is published on the committee's
pages at the society's website. No vote is taken on the adoption of
the separate paragraphs, but after the whole paper is published, it
is open to amendment, generally, by striking out any paragraph or
inserting new ones, or by substituting an entirely new paper for it.
When it has been amended to suit the committee, they should adopt
it as their report, and direct the Chair or some other member to
report it to the members of the society. It is then published on
the society's website, usually commencing in a style similar to
this: "The committee to which was referred [state the matter
referred], submit the following report;" or, "Your
committee appointed to [specify the object], would respectfully
report," etc. It usually closes thus: "All of which is
respectfully submitted," followed by the names of all the
members concurring in the report, or sometimes by only that of the
Chair.
If the minority submit a report, it commences thus:
"The undersigned, a minority of the committee appointed,"
etc., continuing as the regular report of the committee. The
minority is allowed to publish their report on the society's
website, but it cannot be acted upon except by a motion to
substitute it for the report of the committee. When the committee's
report(s) is published, they are discharged without any motion. A
motion to refer the paper back to the same committee (or to
re-commit), if adopted, revives the committee.
Any member wishing
to bring business before the members, should publish on the
discussion pages a comment in the form of a motion, what he would
like to have the assembly adopt, thus:
Resolved, That the
thanks of the members be tendered to the citizens of this community
for their hearty welcome and generous hospitality.
Some one
else seconds the motion, also as a comment on the discussion pages.
The Administrator then publishes the motion on the motions pages of
the society's website, in the following form: "It has been
moved and seconded that the following resolution be adopted,
"followed by the text of the motion. The closing date and time
for voting on the motion is posted above the motion, along with a
voting box with options for yes and no votes. A comment box for
debate and discussion by members is provided below the motion, and
the members' comments are published on the same page below the
motion. If the page becomes excessively long, a link to additional
comments may be provided at the bottom of the page. At the
Administrator's discretion, only an excerpt from the beginning of
the comment may be posted on the motion's page, but it must include
a link to the remainder of the comment. The member who proposes the
motion shall be granted priority for the first comment below the
motion. After the close of voting, the Administrator posts the
decision of the members above the motion, and, if approved,
publishes the motion on a list of approved motions.
Motions Classified
According to their Object. Instead of immediately adopting or
rejecting a resolution as originally submitted, it may be desirable
to dispose of it in some other way, and for this purpose various
motions have come into use, which can be made while a resolution is
being considered, and for the time being, supersede it. The
following list comprises most of these motions, arranged in eight
classes, according to the object for which each motion is
used.
Motions Classified.
(1) To Amend or Modify
....................................... [§ 56]
(a) Amend.
(b) Commit.
(2) To Defer action
.......................................... [§ 57]
(a) Postpone to a certain time.
(b) Lie on the Table.
(3) To
Suppress the question ................................. [§ 59]
(a) Objection to its Consideration.
(b) Postpone
Indefinitely.
(c) Lie on the Table.
(4) To Consider a
question the second time ................... [§ 60]
(a)
Reconsider.
(5) Order and Rules
.......................................... [§ 61]
(a)
Suspension of the Rules.
(b) Questions of Order.
(c)
Appeal.
(6) Miscellaneous
............................................ [§ 62]
(a)
Publishing of Papers.
(b) Withdrawal of a motion.
(c)
Questions of Privilege.
(7) To close a meeting
....................................... [§ 63]
(a) Fix
the time to which to Adjourn.
(b) Adjourn.
To Amend or
Commit. (a) Amend. If it is desired to modify the question in any
way, a motion is made to "amend," either by "adding"
words, or by "striking out" words; or by "striking
out certain words and inserting others;" or by "substituting"
a different motion on the same subject for the one before the
assembly; or by "dividing the question" into two or more
questions, as the mover specifies, so as to get a separate vote on
any particular point or points. Sometimes the enemies of a measure
seek to amend it in such a way as to divide its friends, and thus
defeat it.
When the amendment has been moved and seconded,
the Administrator publishes the amendment on the motions pages, and
sets a closing date for voting on the amendment before the closing
date of the original motion, providing sufficient time whenever
possible for members to vote or change their vote on the original
motion if the amendment is approved. The amendment is also published
on its own page, clearly showing the original form of the motion and
its amended form. If only one or a few sentences of paragraphs of
the original motion are amended, the whole of the original motion
need not be published with the amendment. A list of amendments to
the original, or successfully amended, motion are published on the
motion's page, directly after the original motion, along with a link
to the pending amendments. On the amendment's page, so that every
one may know exactly what is before them, the Administrator first
publishes the paragraph which it is proposed to amend; then the
words to be struck out, if there are any; next, the words to be
inserted, if any; and finally, the paragraph as it will stand if the
amendment is adopted. A comment box is provided below the amendment
for debate and discussion. Comments on the amendment's page should
be restricted to the merits of the amendment. The closing date for
voting on the amendment is posted above the amendment, and a voting
box with options for yes and no votes. The amendment can be amended,
but an "amendment of an amendment" cannot be amended.
None of the motions mentioned in § 66,
except to fix the time to which to adjourn, can be amended,
nor can the motion to postpone indefinitely.
An amendment
shall be approved only by a majority that exceeds the majority vote
that has already been cast on the original question. Amendments may,
however, be accepted after a question is approved, subject to the
rule that no question after approval shall be amended by a majority
vote that is less than the majority vote that passed the principal
question.
When an amendment
is approved, the original motion is changed as specified in the
amendment. Members who have already cast a vote on the original
motion are notified of the change by the Administrator and invited
to change their vote if they so desire.
None of the following
motions mentioned can be amended:
To postpone indefinitely.
[§ 51]
To Adjourn [§ 11],
(or in committee, to rise, which is used instead of to
adjourn).
Questions relating to the priority of business. [§
14]
An Appeal [§ 14],
when simply relating to indecorum or transgressions of the rules of
debate, or to the priority of business.
Objection to the
Consideration of a Question [§ 15].
Questions
relating to Publishing of Papers [§ 16],
or Withdrawing a Motion [§ 17], or
Suspending the Rules [§ 18, or
granting leave to continue to one who has been guilty of indecorum
in debate [§ 36].
To Lie on the
Table or to Take from the Table [§ 19].
To
Reconsider [§ 26] a question which
is itself not subject to amendment.
(b) Commit. If the
original question is not well digested, or needs substantial
amendment upon further study, it is usual to move "to refer it
to a committee." This motion can be made while an amendment is
pending., and can be amended by specifying the number of the
committee, or how they shall be appointed, or when they shall
report, or by giving them any other instructions. [See § 53
on committees, and §46 (c) on
their appointment.] If approved, notice of, and a link to, a motion
to commit is posted directly above the original motion, and the
closing date and voting box for the original motion are removed.
Votes already cast on the original motion are erased. The
Administrator shall set a closing date not more than one week after
the motion to commit is seconded.
A motion to Commit can be
approved only by a majority that exceeds the majority of votes
already cast on the original motion, or an amendment to the original
motion, whichever is greater. If an amendment to the original motion
has been approved, a motion to Commit shall be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote that has already been cast
on the original question.
To Defer Action.
(a) Postpone to a certain time. If it is desired to defer action
upon a question, the proper motion to make, is to "postpone it
to that time." This motion can be amended by altering the
time. The time specified must not be beyond that session [§ 70]
of the assembly, except it be the next session, in which case it
comes up with the unfinished business at the next session. This
motion can be made when a motion to amend, or to commit, or to
postpone indefinitely, is pending. If approved, the closing date and
voting box for the original motion removed. Votes already cast on
the original motion are erased.
(b) Lie on the table.
Instead of postponing a question to a certain time, it may be
desired to lay it aside temporarily until some other question is
disposed of, retaining the privilege of resuming its consideration
at any time. [This motion is commonly used to defeat a measure,
though it does not prevent a majority from considering it at any
other time. Some societies prohibit a question from being taken
from the table, except by a two-thirds vote. This rule deprives the
society of the advantages of the motion to "lie on the table."
because it would not be safe to lay a question aside temporarily, if
one-third of the assembly were opposed to the measure, as that
one-third could prevent its ever being taken from the table.] The
only way to accomplish this, is to move that the question "lie
on the table." This motion may not be amended, and if carried,
the whole matter is laid aside until the assembly vote to "take
it from the table" (which latter motion possesses no
privilege). Sometimes this motion is used to suppress a measure, as
shown in § 59 (c).
If this
motion is approved, the original motion may not be taken from the
table, except by majority that exceeds that majority who voted for
the original motion to lie on the table. Notice of, and a link to, a
motion to lie on the table is posted directly above the original
motion, and the closing date and voting box for the original motion
are removed. Votes already cast on the original motion are
erased.
A motion to Defer Action can be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority of votes already cast on the
original motion, or an amendment to the original motion, whichever
is greater. If an amendment to the original motion has been
approved, a motion to Defer Action shall be approved only by a
majority that exceeds the majority vote that has already been cast
on the original question.
To Suppress the
Question. (a) Objection to the consideration of a question.
Sometimes a resolution is introduced that the assembly do not wish
to consider at all, because it is profitless, or irrelevant to the
objects of the assembly, or for other reasons. The proper course to
pursue in such case, is for some one to "object to the
consideration of the question." This objection not requiring a
second, the Administrator immediately puts the question, "Will
the assembly consider this question?", to a vote, after giving
notice to the members and allowing sufficient time the vote. If
decided in the negative by a two-thirds vote of the members, the
question is immediately dismissed, and cannot be again introduced
during that session. This objection must be made when the question
is first introduced, before it has been debated.
(b) Postpone
indefinitely. After the question has been debated, the proper motion
to use in order to suppress the question for the session, is to
postpone indefinitely. On account of these two facts, in assemblies
with short sessions it is not very useful, as the same result can
usually be more easily attained by the next motion. If seconded, the
Administrator immediately puts the question to a vote, after giving
notice to the members and allowing sufficient time for deliberation
before the closing date of the vote. Approval of this motion
requires a vote in the affirmative by a majority of the members. It
can be made after an amendment has been acted upon, and the main
question, as amended, is before the assembly. In assemblies with
short sessions it is not very useful, as the same result can usually
be more easily attained by the next motion.
(c) Lie on the
Table. If there is no possibility during the remainder of the
session of obtaining a sufficient majority vote for taking up the
question, then the quickest way of suppressing it is to move "that
the question lie on the table;" which enables the majority to
instantly lay the question on the table, from which it cannot be
taken without their consent. However, A motion to Lie on the Table
can be approved only by a majority that exceeds the majority of
votes already cast on the original motion, or an amendment to the
original motion, whichever is greater. If an amendment to the
original motion has been approved, a motion to Lie on the Table
shall be approved only by a majority that exceeds the majority vote
that has already been cast on the original question.
From its
high rank [§ 64], this motion is
very commonly used to suppress a question, but, as shown in §
57 (b), its effect is merely to lay the
question aside till the assembly choose to consider it, and it only
suppresses the question so long as there is a sufficient majority
opposed to its consideration.
To Consider a
question a second time. Reconsider. When a question has been once
adopted, rejected or suppressed, it cannot be again considered
during that session [§ 70], except
by by a motion to "reconsider the vote" on that question.
This motion requires a majority vote larger than the vote that
approved or defeated the motion that is to be reconsidered. When a
question is reconsidered, it is in its amended form if its
amendments were previously approved.
In general no motion
(except to adjourn) that has been once acted upon, can again be
considered during the same session, except by a motion to
reconsider. [The motion to adjourn can be renewed if there has been
progress in business or debate, and it cannot be reconsidered.] But
this rule does not prevent the renewal of any of the motions
mentioned in § 64, provided the
question before the assembly has in any way changed; for in this
case, while the motions are nominally the same, they are in fact
different. [Thus to move to postpone a resolution is a different
question from moving to postpone it after it has been amended. A
motion to suspend the rules for a certain purpose cannot be renewed
at the same meeting, but can be at an adjourned meeting.
Order and Rules. (a) Suspension of the Rules. This motion must be framed as follows: "to suspend the rules that interfere with," etc., stating the object of the suspension. If this motion is carried by two-thirds of the members, then the particular thing for which the rules were suspended can be done.
(b) Questions of
Order. It is the duty of the Administrator to enforce the rules and
preserve order, and when any member notices a breach of order, he
can call for the enforcement of the rules. The Administrator,
having heard the point of order, decides the question, directing the
offending member(s) to abstain from any conduct that was decided to
be out of order.
(c) Appeal. While on all questions of
order, and of interpretation of the rules and of priority of
business, it is the duty of the Administrator to first decide the
question, it is the privilege of any member to "appeal from the
decision." If the appeal is seconded, the Administrator
publishes the decision, and that it has been appealed from, and then
publishes the question, thus: "Shall the decision of the
Administrator stand as the judgment of the members?" The
Administrator can then publish the reasons for the decision, after
which it is open to discussion and debate. The closing date for
voting on this question shall be as soon as possible, while ensuring
that members have sufficient time to deliberate and vote.
Miscellaneous.
(a) Publishing of papers and (b) Withdrawal of a motion. If a
member wishes to publish a paper on the society's website elsewhere
than the discussion and debate pages, or in a comment to a motion –
for example, on the site's informational pages – or if a
member wishes to withdraw a motion after it has been seconded, it is
necessary to make a motion to grant the permission. The motion to
withdraw a motion can be approved by only by a majority that exceeds
the majority of votes already cast on the original motion, or an
amendment to the original motion, whichever is greater.
(c)
Questions of Privilege. Should any development affect the rights of
the members or any one of the members, any member may submit “a
question of privilege," and state the matter, which the
Administrator decides to be, or not to be, a matter of privilege:
(From the Administrator's decision of course an appeal can be
taken). If the question is one of privilege, it shall be decided by
the Administrator as soon as possible. After being seconded, an
appeal of the Administrator's decision must be decided as soon as
possible, while ensuring that members have sufficient time to
deliberate and vote. However, on a motion of appeal by a member, its
consideration can be postponed to another time, or it can be laid on
the table, or referred to a committee to examine and report upon
it.
To Adjourn. (a)
Fix the time to which to adjourn. If it is desired to adjourn the
meeting, it is best some time before its adjournment to move, "That
when this assembly adjourns, it adjourns until such a time,"
specifying the time. This motion can be amended by altering the
time. This motion can be made even while the members are voting on
the motion to adjourn.
(b) Adjourn. When it is desired to
adjourn the meeting, then a member should move "to adjourn."
The motion being seconded, it may be approved only by a two-thirds
vote of the members. If the website is to be adjourned indefinitely,
the motion says "adjourned without day," or "sine
die." If previously it had been decided to adjourn to a
particular time, then it states that the assembly stands adjourned
to that time. This motion can be amended. [For the effect of an
adjournment upon unfinished business see §69.]
Order of
Precedence of motions. With respect to the scheduling of closing
dates for votes, the ordinary motions rank as follows, and any of
them (except to amend) shall be given priority while one of a lower
order is pending, but none can supersede one of a higher order:
To
Fix the Time to which to Adjourn.
To Adjourn (when
unqualified).
Appeal of a Question of Order
To Lie on the
Table.
To Postpone to a Certain Time.
To Commit.
To
Amend.
To Postpone Indefinitely.
To Reconsider
Rules of Discussion and Debate. All comments on a motion must be confined to the question posed by the motion, avoiding all personalities and reflections upon any one's motives. There shall be no limitations of the number of times a member may publish substantive comments to any given motion. Comments may be republished, however, only upon request and/or at the discretion of the Administrator.
Forms of Stating
and Putting Questions. Whenever a motion has been made and
seconded, it is the duty of the Administrator, if the motion is in
order, to publish the question so that the members may know what
question is before them. The seconding of a motion is required to
prevent a question being introduced when only one member is in favor
of it, and consequently but little attention is paid to it in mere
routine motions, or when it is evident that many are in favor of the
motion; in such cases the Administrator assumes that the motion is
seconded.
Often in routine work the Administrator puts the
question without waiting for even a motion, as few persons like to
make such formal motions, and much time would be wasted by waiting
for them: (but the Administrator can only do this as long as no one
objects.) The following motions, however, do not have to be
seconded: (a) a call to order, or the raising of any question of
order; and (b) an objection to the
consideration of a question.
One of the commonest
forms of stating a question is to say that, "It is moved and
seconded that," and then give the motion. When an amendment
has been approved the Administrator should immediately publish the
original question in its amended form. Some of the common forms of
stating and putting questions are shown in §§ 46-48.
The forms of putting the following questions, are, however,
peculiar:
If a motion is made to strike out certain words,
the question is put in this form: "Shall these words stand as
a part of the resolution?" so that on a tie vote they are
struck out.
If an Appeal is made from the decision of the
Administrator, the question is put thus: "Shall the decision
of the Administrator stand as the judgment of the member?”
When, upon the introduction of a question, some one objects
to its consideration, the Administrator immediately puts the
question thus: "Will the assembly consider it?" or,
"Shall the question be considered?"
Motions requiring
a two-thirds vote.* [See Two-thirds Vote, page 159,
and § 39 of Rules of Order.]
All
motions that have the effect to make a variation from the
established rules and customs, should require a two-thirds vote of
the members for their adoption. The following motions would come
under this rule:
To amend or suspend the rules.
An
objection to the consideration of a question.
Unfinished
Business. When an assembly adjourns, the unfinished business comes
up at the adjourned meeting, or the next regular meeting, with
pending votes in the same order, but with closing times and dates
adjusted if necessary at the discretion of the Administrator.
Session. Each regular meeting of a society constitutes a separate session. Any meeting which is not an adjournment of another meeting, commences a new session; the session terminates as soon as the assembly "adjourns without day." [In ordinary practice, a meeting is closed by moving simply "to adjourn;" the society meet again at the time provided either by their rules or by a resolution of the society. If they do not meet till the time for the next regular meeting, as provided in the By-Laws, then the adjournment closed the session, and was in effect an adjournment without day. If, howe