Parliamentary Procedure Competition Questions

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to parliamentary procedures and their applications.

Amendment

To change or modify the intent of the original motion.

Parliamentary Procedure

A method whereby meetings may be conducted in an orderly and democratic manner, assuring that majority rules and the rights of the minority are protected.

Division of the House

A call for a re-vote usually by a method that allows for a more accurate count than a voice vote.

Motion to Reconsider

To allow the assembly to return to the floor a motion previously passed or failed for further discussion.

Motion to Refer

To allow a select group to study a proposal in more detail or to assign certain individuals responsibility for a task.

presiding officer leaves chair

Call the vice president or a ranking officer to take their place if the presiding officer needs to leave the chair.

Purpose of the Vote

To secure the position of the majority.

Division of the House after Voice Vote

The presiding officer would immediately put the motion to a vote again, calling for a show of hands or another visible vote.

Main Motion moved while another motion under discussion

Only one main motion can be on the floor at any given time.

Amend an Amended Amendment

Call for a second as the motion is in order.

More than one motion on the floor?

Yes, but only one main motion at any one time.

Reconsider a Motion to Lay on the Table?

A member should rise to a point of order because laying on the table cannot be reconsidered.

Chairman's Error in procedure or ruling

If a mistake violates constitutional or parliamentary principles,

• the chairman should correct it at the point of the error.

• reserve business to the point of infraction, correct the mistakes on them, and resume business from that point

how many times may the main motion be amended

The main motion may be amended as many times as the group desires, but only two amendments may be pending at one time.

move to vote by ballot

The chairman asks for a second, put to vote, if carries, have people pass out and collect ballots

Placing a Motion before the Assembly, what must the chair do

The chairman must state the motion when placing it before the assembly.

Special Committee vs Committee of the Whole

A 'special' committee is formed for a special purpose, while a committee of the 'whole' consists of the entire organization and ultimately their vote

Not Debatable Motions

• 'to lay on the table,'

• 'to take from the table,'

• 'to adjourn'

Quorum definition

The number of members necessary to conduct business.

Question definition

A motion or a proposal submitted to a group for a decision to act

Main Motion Process

To place a main motion before the assembly, a member must propose it, another member must second it, and the chairman must restate it and acknowledge second

Disagreeing with Chairman's Decision

Request a division of the house to count the vote visibly.

why would a motion be amended by dividing it into 2 or more motions

To allow separate votes on each part of the motion.

Appealing the Decision of the Chair

To prevent the chair from controlling the assembly and to ensure majority rule.

Discharging a Committee

A committee may be automatically discharged after the final report or prior to the committee completing the task

or by a two-thirds vote.

Committee of the Whole

Allows the entire assembly to consider a subject informally and freely.

Indicating Readiness to Vote

State 'question' to signal readiness to vote.

Plurality vs Majority

A candidate has a plurality with more votes than any other candidate; a candidate has a majority with more than half the total votes.

Motion to Suspend Specific Rule

Temporarily suspends the rule to enable a group to take action that would otherwise be out of order.

Parliamentary Inquiry vs Point of Order

Parliamentary inquiry is used for uncertain procedure, while a point of order is used for known rule infractions.

Chair in Possession of the Floor

This statement is not true when the chair grants the floor to a member.

Precedence in Parliamentary Procedure

The order of the rank of motions; which motion takes priority over others.

Roberts Rules of Order

The most commonly accepted reference on parliamentary procedure, authored by Major Henry M. Robert.

The Floor

A term designating the area in which the organization is conducting its business.

Temporarily Suspended Rules

Procedural rules can be temporarily suspended in the best interest of the organization.

Appealing the Chair's Decision Purpose

To allow members to question the rulings of the chair and vote on such rulings if there is disagreement.

Debate on Motion to Suspend the Rules

A member should rise to a point of order since the motion to suspend is not debatable.

Most Frequently Used Motion

A main motion.

Purpose of Motion to Lay on the Table

Postpone action on a question until a later time in the current meeting.

Purpose to Suspend the Rules

To temporarily suspend the written rules governing the organization's operation.

Motion 'To Take from the Table' Without Second

state that the motion dies for lack of support.