Title: The APTA House of Delegates: Democracy in Action The Basics of Parliamentary Procedure Based on Robert
1The APTA House of DelegatesDemocracy in
ActionThe Basics of Parliamentary Procedure
Based on Roberts Rules of Order, Newly
Revised, 10th Edition
- Stephen M. Levine, PT, DPT, MSHA, RP
- Speaker of the House
- APTA Board of Directors
- Revised, February 2008
2The APTA House of Delegates A Professional
Democracy
- In a democratic society, rules ensure freedom and
respect for all - The APTA House of Delegates (HOD) is analogous to
other legislative bodies such as Congress or your
state legislature - The HOD, formally deliberates policy, has the
power to charge the Board of Directors to carry
out activities on behalf of the Association
3APTA Governance Democracy
- The governance process of our Association is a
fascinating example of democracy at work - Allows for the ability for those with differing
viewpoints to come together, discuss and debate
an issue, often with passion, in an arena that
allows for the majority to rule, but which
requires the rights of the minority be protected.
4The HOD A Deliberative Assembly
- Operates according to bylaws which can only be
revised (known as amending) by giving notice
and by a 2/3 vote of the body - Must follow Special Rules of Order, Rules of
Order, and the Parliamentary authority
5The Parliamentary Authority
- The most commonly used is Roberts Rules of Order
(Newly Revised), 10th Edition, 2000 (RONR) - There are several parliamentary authorities
including Robert, Sturgis, Demeter, and others - All APTA components (Chapters, Sections, and
Assemblies) use RONR X
6Roberts Rules of Order (RONR)
- Purpose
- To enable the overall membership of an
organization to establish and empower an
effective leadership as it wishes, and at the
same time to retain exactly the degree of control
over its affairs that is chooses to reserve to
itself. - RONR (10th ed.) p. XLVII
7Know the Rules!!
- Sporting events have rules and referees
- Deliberative Assemblies have RONR and
parliamentarians! - Knowing the rules gives you knowledge,
confidence, and power - When you know how to negotiate the system, making
an impact is possible - You can select strategies from the Rules to
achieve your goals
8Roberts Rules of Order (RONR)
- Ultimately, it is the majority of delegates in
the HOD who decide the general will, but only
following the opportunity for a deliberative
process of full and free discussion. - RONR is not concerned with the wisdom of a
specific decision, but with the process by which
the group arrives at the decision.
9Parliamentary Procedure RONR The Basics
- Ranking Motions
- Main Motion
- Subsidiary Motions
- Privileged Motions
- Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
- Process of Amending
- Incidental Motions
- Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the
Assembly - Motions Arising out of Committee Reports
- Forms of Voting
- Previous Notice
- Bylaws
- Standing Rules
- Meeting vs. Session
10RONR Ranking Motions
- Thirteen (13) Ranking Motions
- So named because they have rank and are the only
ones with rank - A lower ranking motion may not be made when a
higher ranking motion is pending - Pending is the term used when a motion has been
stated by the chair and is being discussed - Lowest rank Main Motion
- Highest Rank Fix The Time To Which To Adjourn
11RONR 13 Ranking Motions
- Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn
- Adjourn
- Recess
- Raise a Question of Privilege
- Call for the Orders of the Day
- Lay on the Table
- Previous Question
- Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate
- Postpone to a Certain Time (Postpone Definitely)
- Commit or Refer
- Amend
- Postpone Indefinitely
- Main Motion
12RONR Main MotionRank 13
- Lowest Ranking motion
- Original Main Motion Introduces new business
- Incidental Main Motion Relates to or is
incidental to business of the assembly, but does
not mark the beginning of a particular
involvement of the assembly in a substantive
matter - Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted
- Adopt recommendations of a committee
- Ratify action taken at a meeting where no quorum
was present
13Questions to be Addressed for Main Motions,
Incidental Motions, and Motions that bring a
question again before the assembly
- Can someone wishing to make this motion interrupt
someone who already has the floor? - Does this motion require a second in order to be
heard? - Is this motion debatable?
- Is this motion amendable?
- What kind of vote does it take to pass this
motion? - Can the motion, as passed or failed, be
reconsidered at a later time?
14RONR Main MotionRank 13
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable Yes
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Exceptions Main motions that require a 2/3 vote
- Motion to adopt or suspend rules of order
- Amend something previously adopted without notice
- Amend bylaws
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
15RONR Subsidiary Motions
- A subsidiary motion assists the assembly in
treating or disposing of a main motion and
sometimes of other motions - A form of secondary motion
16RONR Subsidiary MotionsPostpone Indefinitely
Rank 12
- Purpose To kills the main motion and avoid a
direct vote on the question - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable Yes
- Debate can go into the merits of the main
question - Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
- Only if the vote was in the affirmative
17RONR Subsidiary MotionsAmendRank 11
- Purpose To modify the wording and (somewhat) the
meaning of a pending question - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable Yes
- Only when the question to which it applies is
debatable - Amendable Yes
- Unless pending question is a secondary amendment
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
18RONR Subsidiary MotionsCommit or Refer Rank 10
- Purpose To send a pending question to a
relatively small group (Board, Committee, etc.)
so that the question may be carefully
investigated and put into better condition for
the assembly to consider - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable Yes
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
- Only if the committee has not begun consideration
of the question referred
19RONR Subsidiary MotionsPostpone to a Certain
Time (Postpone Definitely) Rank 9
- Purpose To put off action on a pending question,
within limits, to a definite day, meeting, or
hour, or until after a certain event - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable Yes
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
20RONR Subsidiary MotionsLimit or Extend Limits
of Debate Rank 8
- Purpose To exercise special control over debate
on a pending question or in a series of pending
questions - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Two-Thirds (2/3)
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
21RONR Subsidiary MotionsPrevious Question Rank
7
- Purpose 1) To bring the assembly to an immediate
vote 2)To close debate, and 3)To stop amendment
of the immediately pending question and such
other questions as the motion may specify - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Two-Thirds (2/3)
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
- Can be reconsidered before any vote has been
taken under the order for the previous question
22RONR Subsidiary MotionsLay on the Table Rank 6
- Purpose To lay the pending question aside
temporarily when something else of immediate
urgency has arisen - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered No
23RONR Privileged Motions
- A privileged motion deals with special matters of
immediate importance. It does not relate to the
pending business. - A form of secondary motion
24RONR Privileged MotionsCall for the Orders of
the Day Rank 5
- Purpose To require the assembly to conform to
its agenda, program, or order of business - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor Yes
- Requires a Second No
- Debatable No
- Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Demand
- On demand as a request, but a 2/3 vote by the
assembly can set them aside - Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered No
25RONR Privileged MotionsRaise a Question of
Privilege Rank 4
- Purpose To bring up for immediate consideration
a request or motion relating to the rights and
privileges of the assembly or any of its members - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor Yes
- Requires a Second No
- Debatable No
- Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Chair Rules on
request - If motion is required, it is an incidental main
motion and requires a majority vote - Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered No
26RONR Privileged MotionsRecess Rank 3
- Purpose To begin a recess immediately
- Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered No
27RONR Privileged MotionsAdjourn Rank 2
- Purpose To close the meeting immediately
- Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable No
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered No
28RONR Privileged MotionsFix the Time to Which to
Adjourn Rank 1
- Purpose To set the time, and sometimes the
place, for another meeting to continue business
of the session, with no effect on when the
present meeting will adjourn - Criteria
- In order when another has the floor No
- Requires a Second Yes
- Debatable No
- Amendable Yes
- Vote required for adoption Majority
- Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered Yes
29RONR Incidental Motions
- An incidental motion is related to the
parliamentary situation in such a way that it
must be decided before business can proceed. - A form of secondary motion
30RONR Incidental MotionsNo Rank
- Appeal
- To challenge a ruling by the chair and have the
assembly make the final decision - Division of the Assembly
- Whenever a member doubts the results of a voice
vote, a Division is used to require the vote to
be retaken by standing - Objection to the Consideration of the Question
- To avoid a motion altogether
- Can be raised only before there has been any
debate or before any subsidiary motion has been
stated by the chair
31RONR Incidental MotionsNo Rank
- Point of Information
- A request directed to the chair, or through the
chair to another officer or member, for
information relevant to the business at hand but
not related to parliamentary procedure - Point of Order
- When a member thinks the rules of the assembly
are being violated, this is used to call upon the
chair for a ruling enforcing the rules - Request for Permission to Withdraw a Motion
- Required after the motion to which it pertains
has been stated by the chair as pending
32RONR Motions that Bring a Question Again Before
the Assembly
- Take from the Table
- To bring a tabled motion back before the
assembly - Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted
- To change an action previously taken or ordered
- Discharge a Committee
- To take a matter out of a committees hands after
referring it to the committee and before the
committee has made a final report - Reconsider
- To bring back for further consideration a motion
which already has been voted on. The motion must
be made, but not necessarily taken up, no later
than the meeting after the one at which the vote
to be reconsidered was taken.
33RONR Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
- Obtaining and assigning the floor
- A member rises when no one else has the floor and
addresses the chair - The Chair recognizes the member by announcing his
name or title
34RONR Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
- How the motion is brought before the assembly
- The member makes the motion
- (I move that..)
- Another member, without needing to rise, seconds
the motion - (I second the motion, or second)
- The chair states the question on the motion
- (It is moved and seconded that)
35RONR Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
- Consideration of the motion
- Members can debate the motion
- Before speaking in debate, members obtain the
floor - The maker of the motion has first right to the
floor if he claims it promptly - All remarks must be addressed to the chair
- Debate must be confined to the merits of the
motion - Debate can be closed only by order of the
assembly (2/3 vote) or by the chair if no one
seeks the floor for further debate
36RONR Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
- Consideration of the motion
- The chair puts the question (puts it to a vote)
- The chair asks Are you ready for the question?
- If no one rises to claim the floor, the chair
proceeds to put the question - The chair states
- The question is on the adoption of the motion
that. - As many as are in favor, say Aye
- Those opposed say No.
- The chair announces the result of the vote
37RONR Process of Amending
- The adoption of the motion to amend does not
adopt the motion thereby amended that motion
remains pending in its modified form - A members vote on an amendment does not obligate
him to vote on a particular way on the motion to
which the amendment applies - An amendment must always be germanethat is,
closely related to or having a bearing on the
subject of the motion to be amended
38RONR Process of Amending
- There are three basic processes of amendment, the
third of which is an indivisible combination of
the first two - To insert or add
- To insert words, or if they are placed at the end
of the sentence or passage being amended, to add
words (or a paragraph) - To strike out
- To strike out words or a paragraph
- To strike out and insert, or to substitute
- To strike out and insert applies to words
- To substitute applies to striking out an entire
paragraph, or the entire text of a main motion,
and inserting another
39RONR Forms of Voting
- Voice Vote
- The most commonly used form of voting
- Chair puts the question and calls for the Aye
votes and No votes - Rising Vote
- The normal method of voting on motions requiring
a two-thirds vote for adoption. - Used to verify a voice vote
- Can be ordered by the chair, or by a single
member who calls for a Division of the assembly - Counted Vote
- Can be ordered by the chair or ordered by a
majority vote of the assembly
40RONR Previous Notice
- Requirement of previous notice means the
announcement that the motion will be introduced,
including its exact content, must be included in
the call of the meeting - Motions that have the effect of changing or
nullifying the previous action of the assembly
require previous notice if they are to be adopted
by only a majority vote - The adoption or amendment of bylaws or special
rules of order require previous notice and a
two-thirds vote - The notice becomes invalid if the motion is
amended beyond the scope of the notice
41RONR Bylaws
- Bylaws have an important bearing on the rights
and duties of members within the organization,
and on the degree to which the general membership
is to retain control of, or be relieved of
detailed concern with, the societys business. - Except as the rules of a society may provide
otherwise, its assembly has full and sole power
to act for the entire organization, and does so
by majority vote - Any limitation or standing delegation of the
assemblys power with respect to the society as a
whole can only be by provision in the bylaws - Bylaws should be made no more restrictive nor
more detailed in specification than necessary
42RONR Bylaws
- Bylaws and special rules of order (which deal
with parliamentary procedure) contain the
provisions of a society that are expected to have
stability from session to session, and to
represent the judgment of the whole society as
distinguished from the members voting at any one
session - These bylaws and rules require both
- Previous Notice, and
- Two-Thirds vote for amendment
- Rules of order require a two-thirds vote for
suspension - Bylaws cannot be suspended
43RONR Meeting vs. Session
- Each event of the members being assembled to
transact business constitutes a separate meeting - The complete unit of engagement in proceedings by
the assembly is a session, which consists of of
one or more connected meetings - One session cannot tie the hands of the majority
at any later session
44RONR Standing Rules
- Standing Rules usually contain both parliamentary
rules relating to the conduct of business, and
non-parliamentary rules - Although Standing Rules can be adopted by a
majority vote at any session and continues in
force until it is rescinded or amended, such a
rule does not interfere materially with the
freedom of a later session, since it can be
suspended for the duration of any session (but
not for longer) by a majority vote - The effect of Standing Rules expires at the close
of the session that adopts them
45Logistics of the House
- Pre-HOD activities are organized to occur while
onsite, but before the House actually begins, to
allow delegates from different components to have
some preliminary discussions on the issues - Chief/Section/Assembly strategies meetings
- Motion Discussion groups
- Independently scheduled Regional Caucus meetings,
if desired by delegates - Once the HOD begins, motions are taken up in the
order assigned by the Reference Committee - RC 1-07, RC 2-07, RC 3-07, RC 4-07, etc.
46Logistics of the House
- The Speaker of the House (Speaker) conducts the
proceedings of the HOD in accordance with
Association Bylaws, Standing Rules and our
parliamentary authority - The merits of a motion may be discussed as long
as the deliberative body chooses to discuss it.
47Logistics of the House
- The Speaker makes an attempt to alternate debate
between opposing viewpoints so that discussion
can flow and all views may be heard - For most motions, a majority vote of those
present is necessary to adopt a motion (others
require 2/3) - If adopted, the motion becomes an Association
position, policy, guideline, or standard. - If the motion is defeated, the next order of
business is taken up and the process begins again
48Where there is no law, but every man does what
is right in his own eyes, there is the least of
liberty.
..Henry M. Robert
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