NAP Connections
NAP Body of Knowledge: Your Template to Parliamentary Knowledge and Performance By Cynthia R. Mayo, PRP, and Margie R. Booker, PRP
To “provide parliamentary leadership to the world,” prompts leaders of associations, units, and the club to develop and implement training and developmental programs, using the NAP Body of Knowledge. It is a key document developed in the early 21st century that spells out what a parliamentarian should know, using domains to specify essential competencies. It is the key template for associations, units, and the club to design and implement engaging and interactive lessons to confirm that parliamentarians know and can demonstrate correct parliamentary procedure “to the world.” Each of the eight domains provides the competencies parliamentarians must know and can demonstrate where needed. In addition to training, members are advised to use the NAP Body of Knowledge in their preparation for credentialing as a Registered Parliamentarian (RP) or a Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP). The new process to become a Registered Parliamentarian was developed based on the NAP Body of Knowledge. One might ask: What are the domains and how can associations, units, and the club prepare and implement engaging training and developmental programs to ensure that the mission of “educating leaders throughout the world in effective meeting management” is met? (2020 NAP Membership Manual, p. 2). 36
National Parliamentarian • Spring 2021
Eight domains set standards that members, leaders, and consultants should know and be able to meet. Subjects addressed in each domain are as follows: • Domain 1. Meetings, the Conduct of Meetings, Motions, and Meetings-Related Procedures • Domain 2. Motions, Minutes and Other Records, Governing Documents • Domain 3. Rules, Nominations, and Elections Serving as Parliamentarian in Meetings and Conventions • Domain 4. Committees, Teaching • Domain 5. Officers and Boards, Business and Ethics • Domain 6. Bylaws and Other Governing Documents, Governance • Domain 7. Consulting Skills • Domain 8. Nominations, Elections, and Voting Associations, units, and the club are encouraged to use the NAP Body of Knowledge to plan, design, and conduct engaging training and development programs that prepare new members for the membership test, and prepare members to become Registered Parliamentarians (RP) and Professional Registered Parliamentarians (PRP). What comprises a viable training and development plan that associations,
