Parliamentary Procedure

Adjourn

motion to close a meeting.

Agenda

list of items to be addressed at a meeting.

Amend

change a motion.

Aye

a positive vote, formal way of saying yes

Bylaws

rules and regulations that govern an organization's operation, including such matters as the election of officers, membership qualifications, and meeting times.

Call to question

statement made by a member when he or she believes it is time to vote on a motion.

Chair

one who is in charge of a meeting.

Convene

gather for a meeting; call a meeting to order.

Gavel

mallet used by chair to bring a meeting to order.

Majority

number greater than one-half of the voting members at a meeting.

Minority

number less than one-half of the voting members at a meeting.

Minutes

written record of what is said and done during a meeting; kept by the secretary.

Motion

official request for a group to take action or reach a decision.

No

a negative vote.

New business

topic brought before the group for the first time.

Quorum

fewest number of members who must be present at a meeting for the group to conduct official business.

Second

statement made to show approval of a motion made by another member of the group; at least one member must second a motion before it can be discussed.

Table

postpone making a decision on an issue under discussion.

Unfinished business

topic brought before the members at least the second time.

Assembly

meeting of members

Debate

discussion

Division

a call for a vote by a different method

To obtain the floor

the executive right to speak

Regconize

the giving by the chair to a member to make a motion or speak

Unanimous

all positive votes or all negative votes