Parliamentary Procedures

FBLA

Addressing the Chair

Getting the chair's attention by saying, e.g., "Madam Chairwoman," "Mr. Chairman," "Madam President," or "Mr. Moderator."

Agenda

Order of business; program of a business meeting

Ad Hoc Committee

Committee established for a specific purpose, for a particular case

Adjourn

To end a meeting

Announcing the Vote

In announcing the vote on a motion, the chair should:

(1)report on the voting itself, stating which side has prevailed;

(2)declare that the motion is adopted or lost; and

(3)state the effect of the vote or order its execution

Ballots

Slips of paper for voting

Carried

Passed or adopted; used in referring to affirmative action on a motion

Caucus

Private session in advance of a scheduled meeting

Chair

the Chair, Chairman, Chairwoman: To preside over; the presiding officer

Chairman/Chairwoman Pro Tem

Presiding officer for the time being

Commit

To refer to a committee

Committee of the Whole

Designation of all of the members of an assembly present at a meeting as members of an ad hoc committee; working as a committee of the whole allows an assembly to function informally (e.g., to have unlimited debate).

Convene

To open a session

Division of the Assembly

a Division: A vote retaken for the purpose of verifying a voice vote or show of hands; a division may be ordered by the chair or by a single member.

Division of the Question

A motion to divide a pending motion into two or more separate questions in order that they may be considered separately.

Election by Acclamation

Election by unanimous consent; used when only one person has been nominated for an office

Ex-officio

By right of office

Expunge

To eliminate part of a motion by crossing out or drawing a line around words; one never erases, since the original text may be needed for the minutes.

Germane

Closely related, relevant; amendments and debate must be germane to the question at hand

Having the Floor

Having been recognized by the chair to speak

Immediately Pending Question

The last motion stated by the chair

In Order

Correct according to rules of parliamentary procedure.

Yield: To give the floor to the chair, to another speaker, or to a motion taking precedence over that being cosidered.

Yield

To give the floor to the chair, to another speaker, or to a motion taking precedence over that being cosidered.

Main Motion

A motion which brings before the assembly some new subject upon which action of the assembly is desired.

Majority

More than half of the votes cast by persons legally entitled to vote, excluding abstentions.

Minutes

Written records of business transacted.

Motion

A proposal by a member, in a meeting, that the assembly take a particular action.

Nominate

To propose an individual for office.

Obtaining the Floor

Securing permission to speak.

Orders of the Day

Agenda for a meeting.

Parliamentarian

Parliamentary adviser to the presiding officer.

Pending Question

A motion awaiting decision.

Plurality

In an election, the largest number of votes given a candidate when three or more candidates are running; a plurality that is not a majority never elects anyone to office except by virtue of a special rule previously adopted.

Point of Information

Request for information concerning a motion.

Precedence

Take Precedence: Priority in rank; to outrank.

Previous Question

Motion which, if adopted, orders an immediate vote.

Proxy

A person authorized to vote for another.

Question of Privilege

A device that permits a request or main motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly or any of its members to be brought up for immediate consideration because of its urgency, e.g., a motion to turn the air conditioner up or a motion to close the windows so that people can hear.

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present at a meeting for business to be legally transacted.

Recess

A short intermission.

Recognize

To allow someone to obtain the floor in order to speak.

Rescind

To repeal, annul, cancel, or revoke formally.

Resolution

Motion used to express the sentiment of a group, usually beginning with the words "resolved that...."

Rising Vote

A vote taken by having members stand.

Roll Call Vote

A procedure by which the vote of each member is formally recorded in the minutes.

Second

To indicate support for consideration of a motion by saying: "I second the motion."

Slate

List of candidates

Unanimous (or General) Consent

A means of taking action on a motion without a formal vote. When a presiding officer perceives that there is little or no opposition to a motion before the assembly, business can often be expedited by the chair's simply calling for objections, if any. If no objection is heard, the motion is adopted; if even one member objects, the motion is brought to a formal vote by the usual procedure.

Voice Vote

A vote taken by having members call out "aye" or "no" at the chair's direction

Yield

To give the floor to the chair, to another speaker, or to a motion taking precedence over that being considered.