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Rosenberg Y s Rules o)f Order,040 S 10 10 im P le Parliamentary Procedures fior the 21st Century by Dave Rosenberg ��»«<111»»»»» rm��111111111 he rules of procedure at meetings framework for the orderly conduct rules, because the chair, for all intents should be simple enough for most of meetings. and purposes, makes the final ruling on people to understand. Unfortunately, 2. Rules should be clear. Simple le rules the rules. In fact, all decisions by the that hasn't always been the case.Virtu- chair are final unless overruled by the all all clubs, associations, boards, coup- lead to wider understanding and governing body itself. Y participation. Complex rules create g g Y cils and bodies follow a set of rules, two classes: those who understand Because the chair conducts the meeting, Robert's Rules of Order,which are em- g bodied in a small but complex book. and participate and those who do it is common courtesy for the chair to P not fully understand and do not take a less active role than other mem- Virtually no one I know has actually full participate. bers of the body in debates and discus- read this book cover to cover. Y P P Y y 3. Rules should be user-friendly.That sions.This does not mean that the chair Worse yet, the book was written for is, the rules must be simple enough should not participate in the debate or another time and purpose. If you are discussion. On the contrary, as a mem- runnin the British Parliament, Robert's that citizens feel they have been able ber of the body, the chair has full rights g to participate in the process. Y g Rules of Order is a dandy and quite use- to participate in debates, discussions ful handbook. On the other hand, if 4. Rules should enforce the will of and decision-making.The chair should, you're running a meeting of a five- the majority while protecting the however, strive to be the last to speak at member body with a few members of rights of the minority.The ultimate the discussion and debate stage, and the public in attendance, a simplified purpose of the rules of procedure is should not make or second a motion version of the rules of parliamentary to encourage discussion and to facili- unless he or she is convinced that no procedure is in order. Hence, the birth tate decision-making by the body. In other member of the body will do so. of"Rosenberg's Rules of Order." a democracy, the majority rules.The This ublication covers the rules of rules must enable the majority to The Basic Format for an P express itself and fashion a result, parliamentary procedure based on my P Agenda Item Discussion while permitting the minority to also 20 years of experience chairing meetings ex ress itself(but not dominate) and Formal meetings normally have a written, in state and local government.These P published agenda; informal meetings rules have been Y have simplified and slimmed fully participate in the process. ma h only n oral or understood Y down for 21st century meetings,yet agenda. In either case, the meeting is they retain the basic tenets of order to The Chairperson Should Take a B i Di i governed by the agenda and the agenda which we are accustomed. ac Seat Durng scussons constitutes the body's agreed-upon road "Rosenber 's Rules of Order" are sup- While all members of the governing map for the meeting.And each agenda g p body should know and understand the item can be handled by the chair in the ported by the following four principles: rules of arliamentar procedure, it is following basic format. P YP g 1. Rules should establish order.The the chairperson (chair) who is charged First, the chair should clearly announce first purpose of the rules of parlia- with applying the rules of conduct. the agenda item number and should mentary procedure is to establish a The chair should be well versed in those g clearly state what the subject is.The chair should then announce the format that will be followed. are excep ti orl s to t1i e ru]e offtee Second, following that agenda format, ai]d,, operI delba"te oi] i'll o"t]011 SQ ,111111,111'1 e excep ti oi]s a,] the chair should invite the appropriate people to report on the item, including a,pp]y d t they..... ere .. .. recom a ion av.. .. ��. .. ..� des].. ... ..� '. .. '... any men ey might have. The appropriate person may be the chair, a member of the governing body, www.cacities.org 1