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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0808.003 2008-2010 p Sts County Coundl Office of the County Clerk Presentation Requested by Communication 808 Presentation Requested by Communication 808 I. Fundamental Principles of Parliamentary Law and Procedure II. Making Motions and Seconds III. Anatomy of a Parliamentary Breakdown "The assembly meets to transact business, not to have members exploit their knowledge of parliamentary procedure." - Gen. Henry Martin Robert Submitted by Ken Goodenow (May 5, 2010) Cot. Mr). a-0 g 3 Ref. To PTcerunUJ 1 Ref. Data MAY 0 5 20m The rules of parliamentary law are based on a regard for the rights of: • the majority; • the minority; • of individual members; • of absentees; and • all these together -RONR (10t Ed.) p. XLVII • "Ultimately, iris the majority taking part in the assembly who decide the general w➢l, but only following upon the opportunity for a deliberative process of full and free discussion. Only two thirds or more of those present and voting may deny a minority or any member the tight of such discussion. In this connecdon, there is an uncles assumption ofa right that exists even though it may not always be prudent or helpful for it to be exercised: Each indiridual or subgroup has the right to make the maximum effort to have his, her, of its position declared the will of the assembly to the extent that can be tolerated in the interests ofthe entire body." • RONR (10Th Ed.) p_ XLVII • The council can act.as a body only as a majority • • Every member must have an equal opportunity to participate • Rules must be consistently applied 2 II. Making Motions /Seconds " A motion is a formal proposal by a • member, in a meeting, that the assembly take certain action." - RORN (W'^ Ed.) p3 p. 26 How a Motion Is Brought Before the Assembly 1) A member makes the motion. 2) Another member seconds the motion. 3) The chair states the question on the motion. • "Neither the malting nor the seconding ofa motion places it before the assembly; only the chair can do that, by the third step (stating the question). When the chair has stated the question, the motion is pending, that is, `on the floor. It is then open to debate (if it is a main motion or one of several other debatable parliamentary .motions." - RONR (10' §1 p.3I 3 "If a motion is offered in a wording that is not clear or that requires smoothing before it can be recorded in the minutes, it is the duty of the chair to see that the motion is put into suitable form...The chair should not admit a motion that the secretary would have to paraphrase for the record." • RONR (10^ Ed.) §4 p.38 "After a motion has been made, another member who wishes it to be considered says, "I second the motion," or "I second it," or even "Second!" - without obtaining the floor, and in small assemblies without rising." • RONR (10th Ed.) §4 p.34 When Speaking Without Being Recognized is in Order • Requesting for maker to modify a motion • Requesting for maker to withdraw a motion • Making a motion which takes precedence over the motion just made 4 "Modifications of a motion that are suggested before the question on a motion has been stated should usually be limited to changes that are likely to be generally acceptable to the members present — or, in other words, changes that probably would not occasion debate if proposed as amendments while the motion was pending." RONR (10Th Ed.) §4 p.39 • Order of Precedence • 1. • Main motions 2. Subsidiary motions } • - 3. Privileged motions }Secondary Motions 4. Incidental motions } 5. Motions that bring a question back before the assembly III. Anatomy of a Parliamentary . . Breakdown "The rules of parliamentary procedure are based on common sense and logic." -Dods P. Lmmerman, Robert's Rules in Plain English, Harper Perennial 1997, P. 5 . 5