Roberts Rules - Abbreviated - Office of the Provost

Roberts Rules - Abbreviated

Abbreviated Roberts Rules

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This brief summary touches only the major points of parliamentary procedure; Robert's Rules of Order should be consulted whenever questions arise.

LANGUAGE		INTERRUPT SPEAKER?	SECOND NEEDED?	MOTION DEBATABLE?	MOTION AMENDABLE?	VOTE NEEDED?
PRIVILEGED MOTIONS deal with the welfare of the group, rather than with any specific proposal. They must be disposed of before the group can consider any other motion.
Adjourn the meeting	I move that we adjourn	no	yes	no	no	majority
Recess the meeting	I move we recess until	no	yes	no	yes	majority
Complain about noise, room temperature etc.	Point of privilege	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS provide various ways of modifying or disposing of main motions. They must be acted upon before all other motions except privileged motions.
Suspend debate on a matter without calling for a vote	I move we table the matter	no	yes	no	no	majority
End debate	I move the previous question	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority
Limit length of debate	I move debate on this matter be limited to	no	yes	no	yes	2/3 majority
Ask for a vote by actual count, to verify a voice vote	I call for a division of the house	no	no	no	no	none*
Postpone consideration of a matter to a specific time	I move we postpone the matter until	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Have a matter studied further	I move we refer this matter to a committee	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Consider a matter informally	I move the question be considered informally	no	yes	yes	no	majority
Amend a motion	I move that this motion be amended by	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Reject a main motion without voting on the motion itself	I move the question be postponed indefinitely	no	yes	yes	no	majority
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS grow out of other business that the group is considering. They must be decided before the group can return to the question that brought them up.
Correct an error in parliamentary procedure	Point of order	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
Object to a ruling by the chair	I appeal the chair's decision.	yes	yes	yes	no	majority
Consider a matter that violates normal procedure, but does not violate the constitution or bylaws	I move we suspend the rules	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority
Object to considering some matter	I object to the consideration of this matter	yes	no	no	no	2/3 majority
Obtain advice on proper procedure	I raise a parliamentary inquiry	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
Request information	Point of information	yes	no	no	no	none
Withdraw a motion	I request leave to withdraw the motion	no	no	no	no	majority
MAIN MOTIONS are the tools used to introduce new business.
Introduce business	I move that	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Take up a matter previously tabled	I move we take from the table	no	yes	no	no	majority
Reconsider a matter already disposed of	I move we reconsider our action relative to	yes	yes	yes	no	majority
Strike out a motion previously passed	I move we rescind the motion calling for	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Consider a matter out of its scheduled order	I move we suspend the rules and consider	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority

*But majority vote if someone objects.

Reprinted with the permission of Calvin College, Faculty Handbook Appendix B - Parliamentary Procedure and Definition