Rules of Order

Getting Things Done Decently

Why Order Is Good

If you’re the only one in a room arguing for one thing or another, you can ignore all the rules, because no one is listening.

In court or in a meeting where other people have arguments to make and objectives to achieve that may differ from what YOU want, knowing the rules and how to use them to your advantage can decide who wins!

Rules of court and rules of order have a lot in common.

Both sets of rules are designed to give everyone an equal chance.

The rules of court give everyone an equal chance in court to be heard, present arguments, and get the judge to agree.

The rules of order give everyone an equal chance in a meeting to be heard, present arguments, and get the group to agree.

Knowing the rules for a Garden Club or Town Council meeting will help you understand how to get your way with judges.

The rules give you rights.

How often have you attended a meeting where good ideas were ignored by a group leader who made all the decisions or where loud-mouth bullies wouldn’t let others get a word in edgewise?

It happens.

But, only when the group does not invoke the rules of order.

If you thought the rules of order were too hard to learn, we’ve prepared the following tool so you can present your arguments and get your way at any kind of meeting where Parliamentary Procedure should be followed.

Our tool is easy to use.

It is the simplest statement of Roberts Rules of Order that are accepted by all civilized societies as the best way to get the best results from a group of people with diverse ideas and desires.

The Apostle Paul demanded, “Do everything decently and in order!”

We agree.

Don’t let obnoxious bullies run the meetings in your life.

Next time you attend a meeting where decisions might adversely affect you or your loved ones, stand up and say, “I move for a decision to invoke the rules of order so everyone gets a chance to be heard today.”

If the chairman or a small group of loud-mouths in the crowd try to shout you down, stand proudly to your feet again and say to the entire group assembled, “I call for a second and a vote on my motion.”

Any chairman who will not honor your motion and call for the second and put it to a vote (if you get a second) should be tarred-and-feathered!

The following lists action in order of precedence, highest first, lowest last.

Rules are tools for peace.

Use them and prosper!

Rules of Order

1. To Fix The Time Of The Next Meeting — takes precedence over all motions. The body cannot, of course, adjourn without the day and hour fixed for its next convention. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority carries.
2. To Adjourn (or Recess) — May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority carries.
3. Question of Privilege — such as to request a window be opened to cool the room. May interrupt. Need not be recognized. Needs no second. Chair decides.
4. To Call For Orders Of The Day — to take up business designated as an order of the day. May interrupt. Need not be recognized. Needs no second. No vote required, but 2/3 may postpone.
5. Rise To Point Of Order — to challenge propriety of current action before the body. May interrupt. Need not be recognized. Needs no second. No vote required, unless appealed, in which case majority decides.
6. Appeal — to challenge decision of chair. May interrupt. Need not be recognized. Requires a second. Majority decides.
7. To Suspend The Rules — when rules interfere with objective specified in motion. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Needs at least 2/3 vote. Always temporary for the meeting at hand. The Rules return and remain in full force thereafter.
8. To Create Special Orders (or General Orders) — to schedule an action as special or general order of business for future action. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Requires 2/3 vote for special order, majority vote for general order.
9. To Withdraw (or Renew) Motion — by movant at any time before final action. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Needs no second. Majority carries.
10. To Ballot — to call for a vote to decide whatever measure presently before the body.
11. Objection to Consideration — to prevent consideration of objectionable, discourteous, or improper matter. May interrupt. Need not be recognized. Needs no second. Vote of 2/3 required. If 1/3 wish to continue, the objection fails.
12. To Lay On (or Take From) Table — out of order immediately after body defeats objection to consideration. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority carries.
13. To Close Debate — to bring issue to vote (or table). May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Vote of 2/3.
14. To Postpone To Certain Day — motion postponed becomes general order of day specified. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority rules.
15. To Refer (or Recommit) — to send to committee. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority carries.
16. To Amend — may amend, may amend amendment, but no third degree. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority rules.
17. To Postpone Indefinitely — to put off discussion. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority rules.
18. Main Question — the plan contemplated by the body. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Majority rules.
19. To Reconsider — must be moved by one who voted with prevailing side. May interrupt for entry only. Movant need not be recognized. Requires a second. Majority decides.
20. To Rescind (or Repeal) — not in order when effect can be had by reconsidering. May not interrupt. Must be recognized. Requires a second. Vote of 2/3 required or majority of entire membership, unless majority of members present when notice given at previous meeting that action would be taken.
21. Limitation on the Chair — The chairman is not permitted to vote except after a tie vote is taken when his or her vote would break the tie. The chairman’s job is to serve the group as an unbiased meeting moderator so free discussion and debate can take place “on the floor”.

Conclusion

The foregoing rules of order are taken from Roberts Rules of Order in use and honored by all civilized societies worthy of the name.

Understanding these simple rules and insisting upon their being observed at meetings where decisions may affect your life will better prepare you to get your way in court where similar rules control.

Practice asserting yourself!

Demand order!