Parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure is a systematic plan devised for the efficient conducting of any business meeting. We will follow this procedure as closely as possible. This same procedure is used in all business meetings. Make yourself familiar with these steps so that you can contribute to making our meetings run as smoothly as possible. If you have any questions, your chapter parliamentarian can help you.

A motion before a group should include these steps:
Address the presiding officer.

1. Be recognized.
2. State motion clearly, prefacing your remarks with "I move..."
3. Seconding the motion.
4. Restatement of motion by Secretary or President.
5. Discussion.
6. Amendment, providing it does not materially change the original motion.
7. Amendment must be seconded and voted upon before further discussion of the main motion.
8. Ask for questions.
9. Vote on the motion. Vote can be by voice, hands or ballot.
10. Result of vote is announced.
11. A motion may be tabled on majority vote and will be considered at a later time by majority request. A majority constitutes 2/3 of members present.

More Parliamentary Procedure

1. Obtaining the floor: member rises and says "Madam President..." (f)
2. Assigning the floor: chair recognized and says "Jane" (c)
3. Making the motion: the proper thing to say, "I move that..." (f)
4. Second the motion: simply say, "I'll second the motion." (f)
5. Stating the motion: says, "the motion has been made that... Is there any discussion?" (c)
6. Discussion/debate: stated to the chair and continues until closed. (f)
7. Putting the question: says, "The question is on the motion. Those in favor?" (c)
8. Announcing the vote: chair says either, "the affirmative has it and we will" or "the negative has it and the motion is lost." (c)

NOTE: (f), (c) = action from the floor, chair respectively