These 20 Points Will Help You Get Started The President Provides Direction

Only one person may speak at any given time. When a motion is on the floor, an order of speaking is prescribed by Robert's Rules, allowing the mover of a motion to speak first, so that the group understands the basic premise of the motion. The mover is also the last to speak, so that the group has an opportunity to consider rebuttals to any arguments opposing the motion.

All members have equal rights. Each speaker must be recognized by the moderator prior to speaking. Each speaker should make clear his or her intent by stating, "I wish to speak for/against the motion" prior to stating arguments.

Each item presented for consideration is entitled to a full and free debate. Each person speaks once, until everyone else has had an opportunity to speak.

The rights of the minority must be protected, but the will of the majority must prevail. Persons who don't share the point of view of the majority have a right to have their ideas presented for consideration, but ultimately the majority will determine what the council will or will not do. Use parliamentary procedure as a tool, not a bludgeon.

These 20 Points Will Help Get You Started

1. The President calls the meeting to order. “This meeting will come to order.” The principal function of a president or chair is to preside; if they wish to speak on a particular proposal, pro or con, they should relinquish their chair and take their place among the membership and let the vice president preside.

2. Quorum: The necessary quorum for an SPJST lodge meeting in order to vote on items of business is the presence of five adult members in good standing.

3. Only those individuals who are recognized by the president may speak during a meeting which has “come to order.”

4. If someone wants to speak, it should be to the whole group unless the president gives permission to have a small side conversation for the purpose of furthering the meeting.

5. The president serves as the neutral gatekeeper in discussions of matters to be voted upon.

6. In order to discuss something that the group needs to vote on, someone other than the president has to first make a motion. The proper wording is, “I move that . . .” and not, “I make a motion that . . . “ It does not become a motion until it is seconded.

7. Before an item can be discussed as a motion, someone has to offer a “second.” “I second the motion.”

8. The secretary’s minutes need to reflect who introduces the motion, who seconds the motion and what the motion states. The secretary may ask to president to clarify these things at any time.

9. If there is no second, the motion “dies,” meaning it will not be discussed.

10. If there is a second, the president calls on members of the assembly to speak in favor of or against the motion.

11. If someone who supports the basic motion wants to suggest a change within the motion, he/she may make an “amendment” in the form of a new motion. “I move that the current motion be amended like this . . . ”

12. The motion to make an amendment must receive a second before it is discussed and voted upon. If it does not receive a second, it dies and discussion returns to the original motion. If the amendment passes, then discussion resumes on the amended motion.

13. Voting may be by one of five methods:

(1) Voice vote (aye or nay). (2) Show of hands. (3) By rising. (4) By a roll call. (5) By ballot.

14. Once eligible voting members decide upon an item, the secretary announces the vote count and the president announces whether the motion passed or failed.

15. In the event of a tie vote, motion requiring a majority is lost.

16. If the motion passes, the president gives directions or requests that appropriate action be taken by whoever is responsible to act on the motion that has passed.

17. At the end of the meeting, the president asks for a “motion to adjourn.” Someone seconds and the president asks for a vote. If it passes, the meeting has officially ended.

18. Tabling a motion means putting it aside for consideration at a future meeting; tabling it indefinitely means that it is dead for good and cannot be brought up again.

19. No motion is necessary to adjourn a meeting. The president asks if there is any further business, and if not, they make the announcement, “The meeting is adjourned.” However, a motion may be made to adjourn, which is not discussable or amendable. A vote is then taken on the motion. If a member feels that the business has not been completed, they may “Move that we continue for __ minutes.”

20. Elections: Nominations for office do not need to be seconded. The president should ask “Are there other nominations?” at least twice and if there are no other nominations, they may proceed with the voting. If only one name is submitted for an office, that person can be elected by acclamation on a duly made motion to that effect. SPJST by-laws stipu-