A Book Review

Donald A. Fishman

Jim Slaughter, Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track: The Brief and Easy Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for the Modern Meeting, DK Publishing, 2022. 192 pp.

There is a lucrative market among today’s readers for tools that help simplify complex subject matter . A primer may be defined broadly as a textbook designed to serve this purpose . The best primers contain language characteristically simple, clear, and easy-to-follow . Jim Slaughter’s entry into the fast-track primer market is entitled Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track: The Brief & Easy Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for the Modern Meeting .

Slaughter identifies the purpose of the book in clear and straightforward terms: The book is “designed to get you up and running for your next meeting as quickly as possible. In other words, it puts you on the fast track to mastering the basics of parliamentary procedure.”

Slaughter begins the book with an insightful discussion of the levels of formality for meetings . He informs his readers that much of Robert’s

Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) was designed for large membership meetings and conventions, but that school boards, city council meetings, religious groups, and homeowner associations can benefit from proper parliamentary procedure . Moreover, he discusses which procedures are “best suited for large assemblies and when relaxed procedures may be appropriate for a committee or smaller board . ”

Slaughter offers several comments on flexible levels of formality in meetings.

He advocates the overarching principle that the larger the group, the more formal the procedures; smaller groups may use more relaxed procedures . In groups with a large number of members, fairness dictates that the rules be rigorously enforced, and procedures strictly followed . Slaughter writes, “The level of formality can vary depending on the size, nature, and purpose of the group . ” In addition,

Slaughter offers the reader the Goldilocks Rule 1: “The meeting procedure should be ‘tailored’ for the particular assembly based on its size and the work to be accomplished . ” Elsewhere, Slaughter asserts that “meeting procedures should be like clothes—they should be made to fit the organization they serve . ” This book is logically organized . Its first two chapters deal with fundamental concepts necessary to use parliamentary procedure . From the start, Slaughter informs his readers that although other parliamentary authorities exist, such as Sturgis’ The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure or Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedures, Robert’s Rules of Order is the “800-pound gorilla of the parliamentary world . ” He points out that RONR is the most popular and easiest authority to locate . Motions, he states, take up only one-third of RONR (12th ed .) while the remainder is devoted to the nuts and bolts of meeting management, such as suggestions for presiding officers, how to take minutes, and strategies for dealing with disruptive members . Chapter Two has several very helpful comments related to the need that a parliamentarian knows the pertinent state laws, corporate articles, the organization’s bylaws, and special rules of order . Slaughter stresses that “a violation of higher-level governing authority may be disastrous and have consequences long after a meeting . ”

Chapters Three, Four, Five, and Six explore how business is brought before the assembly and what motions are used to advance or defeat a proposal . Slaughter’s treatment of these items offers clarity on the use of a main motion, subsidiary motions, privileged motions, the order of precedence of motions, and the amendment process . Slaughter highlights the most frequently used motions . He also offers the reader advice on when to make an incidental motion, object to the consideration of a question, and advance motions that revisit an issue decided earlier .

Chapter Seven focuses upon voting . This chapter examines a broad range of options with helpful information on the use of proxies, voting by mail, absentee voting, and the increasingly popular use of rank-choice voting . Slaughter also has a strong section on the improper use of straw votes to test opinions on an issue . Chapter Eight discusses officers and nominations . Chapter Nine discusses the types of meetings— regular, special, and executive sessions .

Chapter Ten examines electronic meetings and electronic voting . Here, Slaughter covers information missing from many earlier primers . Slaughter observes that during the pandemic, many states authorized emergency orders that allowed organizations to meet online and vote electronically with no meeting at all . Slaughter notes that evidence of how the world is changing can be seen in that RONR (11th ed .) devoted three pages to electronic meetings while RONR (12th ed .) contains significantly more information, including “15 pages of sample rules for electronic meetings . ” Of course, RONR tends to focus on in-person meetings, but Slaughter provides a forward-looking discussion of electronic meetings based on the limited materials in RONR as well as some guidance and tips on running a virtual meeting . In fact, Slaughter provides a helpful list of suggestions for handling electronic meetings, e .g ., how to limit debate, and possible problems with certain kinds of motions . This chapter may offer newcomers some provocative thoughts . Chapter Eleven and Twelve deal with administrative issues, e .g ., formulating the order of business, creating reports, writing minutes, using committee minutes, and what should not be contained in the minutes . There also is a useful “minutes template” to guide newcomers . Above all, this is one of the best discussions available for writing and approving an organization’s minutes and provides a good refresher for veteran parliamentarians .

The final chapter is devoted to solving problems, and how proper parliamentary procedure can “prevent many issues from ever becoming problems . ” Topics covered include the problem member, the problem chair (the out-of-control presiding officer) and developing a good meeting plan to anticipate problems before they emerge . Here Slaughter draws upon his years of experience as a parliamentarian, offers examples of disruptive members, and provides strategies to make meetings more effective .

Overall, this is useful and instructive work. Its clear language, telling examples, and adroit strategies make it a primer worth recommending to both novice and veteran parliamentarians.

The book covers the basic elements of parliamentary procedure, or what has often been referred to as the “Core Procedure . ” Slaughter employs a conversational voice, provides clear summaries of key concepts, and offers astute recommendations for some vexing issues . It is likely that this book will become one of the most prominent introductory works on parliamentary practice and a helpful guide for conducting meetings over the next decade .