Robert's Rules of Order

by Henry M. Robert

Preface

There appears to be much needed a work on parliamentary law, based, in its general principles, upon the rules and practice of Congress, and adapted, in its details, to the use of ordinary societies. Such a work should give, not only the methods of organizing and conducting the meetings, the duties of the officers and the names of the ordinary motions, but in addition, should state in a systematic manner, in reference to each motion, its object and effect; whether it can be amended or debated; if debatable, the extent to which it opens the main question to debate; the circumstances under which it can be made, and what other motions can be made while it is pending. This Manual has been prepared with a view to supplying the above information in a condensed and systematic manner, each rule being either complete in itself, or giving references to every section that in any way qualifies it, so that a stranger to the work can refer to any special subject with safety.

To aid in quickly referring to as many as possible of the rules relating to each motion, there is placed immediately before the Index, a Table of Rules, which enables one, without turning a page, to find the answers to some two hundred questions. The Table of Rules is so arranged as to greatly assist the reader in systematizing his knowledge of parliamentary law.

The second part is a simple explanation of the common methods of conducting business in ordinary meetings, in which the motions are classified according to their uses, and those used for a similar purpose compared together. This part is expressly intended for that large class of the community, who are unfamiliar with parliamentary usages and are unwilling to devote much study to the subject, but would be glad with little labor to learn enough to enable them to take part in meetings of deliberative assemblies without fear of being out of order. The object of Rules of Order in deliberative assemblies, is to assist an assembly to accomplish the work for which it was designed, in the best possible manner. To do this, it is necessary to somewhat restrain the individual, as the right of an individual in any community to do what he pleases, is incompatible with the best interests of the whole. Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty. Experience has shown the importance of definiteness in the law; and in this country, where customs are so slightly established and the published manuals of parliamentary practice so conflicting, no society should attempt to conduct business without having adopted some work upon the subject, as the authority in all cases not covered by their own rules.

It has been well said by one of the greatest of English writers on parliamentary law: "Whether these forms be in all cases the most rational or not is really not of so great importance. It is much more material that there should be a rule to go by, than what that rule is, that there may be a uniformity of proceeding in business, not subject to the caprice of the chairman, or captiousness of the members. It is very material that order, decency and regularity be preserved in a dignified public body."

H. M. R.
December, 1875.

Introduction.

Parliamentary Law

Plan of the Work

Definitions

Part I. — Rules of Order.

A compendium of parliamentary law, based upon the rules and practice of Congress.

Article I — Introduction of Business.

1. How introduced

2. Obtaining the floor

3. What precedes debates on a question

4. What motions to be in writing, and how they shall be divided

5. Modification of a motion by the mover

Article II — General Classification of Motions.

6. Principal or Main motions

7. Subsidiary or Secondary motions

8. Incidental motions

9. Privileged motions

Article III — Motions and their Order of Precedence.

Privileged Motions.

10. To fix the time to which to adjourn

11. Adjourn

12. Questions of privilege

13. Orders of the day

Incidental Motions.

14. Appeal (Questions of Order)

15. Objection to the consideration of a question

16. Reading papers

17. Withdrawal of a motion

18. Suspension of the Rules

Subsidiary Motions.

19. Lie on the table

20. Previous Question

21. Postpone to a certain day

22. Commit (or Re-commit)

23. Amend

24. Postpone indefinitely

Miscellaneous Motions.

25. Filling blanks, and Nominations

26. Renewal of a motion

27. Reconsideration

Article IV — Committees and Informal Action.

28. Committees

29. Forms of Reports of Committees

30. Reception of Reports

31. Adoption of Reports

32: Committee of the Whole

33. Informal consideration of a question

Article V — Debate and Decorum.

34. Debate

35. Undebatable questions and those opening the main question to debate

36. Decorum in debate

37. Closing debate, methods of

Article VI — Vote.

38. Voting, various modes of

39. Motions requiring more than a majority vote

Article VII — Officers and the Minutes.

40. Chairman or President

41. Clerk, or Secretary, and the Minutes

Article VIII — Miscellaneous.

42. Session

43. Quorum

44. Order of business

45. Amendment of the Rules of Order

Part II. — Organization and Conduct of Business.

A simple explanation of the methods of organizing and conducting the business of societies, conventions, and other deliberative assemblies.

Article IX — Organization and Meetings.

46. An Occasional or Mass Meeting.

(a) Organization

(b) Adoption of resolutions

(c) Committee on resolutions

(d) Additional Officers

47. A Convention or Assembly of Delegates

48. A Permanent Society.

(a) First meeting

(b) Second meeting

49. Constitutions, By-Laws, Rules of Order and Standing Rules

Article X — Officers and Committees.

50. President or Chairman

51. Secretary, or Clerk, and the Minutes

52. Treasurer

53. Committees

Article XI — Introduction of Business.

54. Introduction of Business

Article XII — Motions.

55. Motions classified according to their object

56. To Amend or modify.

(a) Amend

(b) Commit

57. To Defer action.

(a) Postpone to a certain time

(b) Lie on the table

58. To Suppress Debate.

(a) Previous Question

(b) An Order limiting or closing debate

59. To Suppress the question.

(a) Objection to its consideration

(b) Postpone indefinitely

(c) Lie on the table

60. To Consider a question the second time.

(a) Reconsider

61. Orders and Rules.

(a) Orders of the day

(b) Special orders

(c) Suspension of the rules

(d) Questions of order

(e) Appeal

62. Miscellaneous.

(a) Reading of papers

(b) Withdrawal of a motion

(c) Questions of Privilege

63. To close a meeting.

(a) To fix the time to which to adjourn

(b) Adjourn

64. Order of Precedence of motions

Article XIII — Debate.

65. Rules of speaking in debate

66. Undebatable questions and those that open the main question to debate

Article XIV — Miscellaneous

67. Forms of stating and putting questions

68. Motions requiring a two-thirds vote for their adoption

69. Unfinished business

70. Session

71. Quorum

72. Order of Business

73. Amendment of Constitutions, By-Laws, and Rules of Order

Additional Content

Legal Rights of Deliberative Assemblies

Table of Rules Relating to Motions

Index