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<br />R o s e n b e -,ra I s iux-ulles O)f 0"O� rder,.40
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<br />01'Mple Pa,rlia�me�nta� ry
<br />P� roicedu,�res fiol�r the 21st Ce�ntu,�ry
<br />he rules of procedure at meetings
<br />BUMMEN11''.. should be simple enough for most
<br />people to understand. Unfortunately,
<br />that hasn't always been the case. Virtu-
<br />ally all clubs, associations, boards, coun-
<br />cils and bodies follow a set of rules,
<br />Robert's Rules ql'Order, which are em-
<br />bodied in a small but complex book.
<br />Virtually no one I know has actually
<br />read this book cover to cover.
<br />Worse yet, the book was written for
<br />another time and purpose. If you are
<br />running the British Parliament, Robert's
<br />Rules qf0rder is a dandy and quite use-
<br />ful handbook. On the other hand, if
<br />you're running a meeting of a five-
<br />member body with a few members of
<br />the public in attendance, a simplified
<br />version of the rules of parliamentary
<br />procedure is in order. Hence, the birth
<br />of "Rosenberg's Rules of Order."
<br />This publication covers the rules of
<br />parliamentary procedure based on my
<br />20 years of experience chairing meetings
<br />in state and local government. These
<br />rules have been simplified and slimmed
<br />down for 21st century meetings, yet
<br />they retain the basic tenets of order to
<br />which we are accustomed.
<br />framework for the orderly conduct
<br />of meetings.
<br />2. Rules should be clear. Simple rules
<br />lead to wider understanding and
<br />participation. Complex rules create
<br />two classes: those who understand
<br />and participate and those who do
<br />notfully understand and do not
<br />fully participate.
<br />3. Rules should be user-friendly. That
<br />is, the rules must be simple enough
<br />that citizens feel they have been able
<br />to participate in the process.
<br />4. Rules should enforce the will of
<br />the majority while protecting the
<br />rights of the minority. The ultimate
<br />purpose of the rules of procedure is
<br />to encourage discussion and to facili-
<br />tate decision-making by the body. In
<br />a democracy, the majority rules. The
<br />rules must enable the majority to
<br />express itself and fashion a result,
<br />while permitting the minority to also
<br />express itself (but not dominate) and
<br />fully participate in the process.
<br />The Chairperson Should Take a
<br />Back Seat During Discussions
<br />"Ros enter g's Rules of Order" are sup- While all members of the governing
<br />ported by the following four principles: body should know and understand the
<br />rules of parliamentary procedure, it is
<br />1. Rules should establish order. The the chairperson (chair) who is charged
<br />first purpose of the rules of pa-rlia- with applying the rules of conduct.
<br />mentary procedure is to establish a The chair should be well versed in those
<br />exce- -to �",ii e,, eiri,eira, firee
<br />-to ir"nove oir),
<br />by Mve Rosenberg
<br />rules, because the chair, for all intents
<br />and purposes, makes the final ruling on
<br />the rules. In fact, all decisions by the
<br />chair are final unless overruled by the
<br />governing body itself
<br />Because the chair conducts the meeting,
<br />it is common courtesyfor the chair to
<br />take a less active role than other mem-
<br />bers of the body in debates and discus-
<br />sions. This does not mean that the chair
<br />should not participate in the debate or
<br />discussion. On the contrary, as a mem-
<br />ber of the body, the chair has full rights
<br />to Participate in debates, discussions
<br />and decision-making. The chair should,
<br />however, strive to be the last to speak at
<br />the discussion and debate stage, and
<br />should not make or second a motion
<br />unless he or she is convinced that no
<br />other member of the body will do so.
<br />I
<br />Formal meetings normally have a written,
<br />published agenda; informal meetings
<br />may have only an oral or understood
<br />agenda. In either case, the meeting is
<br />governed by the agenda and the agenda
<br />constitutes the body's agreed-upon road
<br />map for the meeting. And each agenda
<br />item can be handled by the chair in the
<br />.following basic format.
<br />First, the chair should clearly announce
<br />the agenda item number and should
<br />clearly state what the subject is. The
<br />chair should then announce the format
<br />that will he followed.
<br />Second, following that agenda.format,
<br />the chair should invite the appropriate
<br />people to report on the item, including
<br />any recommendation they might have.
<br />The appropriate person may be the
<br />chair, a member of the governing body,
<br />*t*
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