FAQ: Parliamentary Procedure by Karen Goodwin
The answers to these FAQs are intended for discussion purposes and to provide the reader with useful ideas and general guidance on the topics and issues covered. This article does not constitute legal advice and information provided may require consultation with applicable professionals to appropriately apply to specific circumstances.
What is the purpose of using parliamentary procedure? Parliamentary procedure was developed to protect the rights of everyone involved in a meeting. By using a structured approach to a meeting, all parties have an opportunity to be heard in an orderly fashion.
Is it required to use parliamentary procedure? Is there a state or federal law that requires boards to use these procedures? Parliamentary procedure is not required by state or federal law, but it is typically adopted by municipalities as their method of conducting business. State statutes do provide authority for cities to adopt rules to govern their proceedings.
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What are the most commonly used motions? The most common motions are a main motion that introduces business for consideration, motion to postpone, point of order, motion to table, motion to amend, and of course, motion to adjourn.
What are a few examples of misused motions that boards make? One very common misused or misunderstood motion is the motion to table. Typically, an item is tabled within the same meeting so that the board can revisit this item later in the meeting. It is called “laying it on the table” and a motion then is required to “remove it from the table” to bring it back for discussion. This motion sometimes gets confused with postponing or continuing an item that is typically used for pushing an item to another scheduled meeting.
Do you have any good references, books, websites or guides you would recommend? Parliamentarians.org is a good resource for books, FAQs and guides.
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