Test Yourself
What’s Wrong? By Josh Martin, PRP
Can you spot the parliamentary blunders in the following stories? Blunder #1 In a March assembly, a controversial motion was on the floor to change the membership fee structure. After a heated debate, a member moved to lay the motion on the table, and the motion was promptly seconded. There was no other matter apparently requiring immediate attention. The chair immediately called for a vote. The motion to table was carried with a majority vote. The chair then moved on to the next item on the agenda. Where was the blunder? Blunder #2 During an April assembly, a motion was made to change the regular meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. After a brief debate, a member proposed an amendment to change the time to 6:30 p.m. instead, and the motion maker agreed to this suggestion. The chair declared that this amendment was a ‘friendly amendment’ and accepted it without a vote, stating that since it was friendly, it didn’t require the assembly’s approval. The amended motion (for a 6:30 p.m. meeting time) was then put to a vote and passed. Where was the blunder? Blunder #3 At the annual meeting, the general membership lacked a quorum and was unable to conduct its elections. The organization’s bylaws provide that officers serve “until their successors are elected.” The chair declared the meeting adjourned and announced that the current board members would serve until the next annual meeting. Where was the blunder? Answers are on page 28. Josh Martin, PRP, is currently NP Assistant Editor. He joined NAP in 2009 and received the RP and PRP credentials in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Josh is also the current Treasurer and a past President and Vice President of the Minnesota State Association of Parliamentarians. He is a former member of the NAP Bylaws Committee and served as Technical Editor for the third and fourth editions of Robert’s Rules of Order for Dummies by Alan Jennings, PRP. 20
National Parliamentarian • Winter 2024
