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17City of Roseville y Commissioner’s Handbook The rules of procedure at meetings should be simple enough for most people to un- derstand. Unfortunately, that hasn’t always been the case. Virtually all clubs, associa- tions, boards, councils and bodies follow a set of rules, Robert’s Rules of Order, which are embodied in a small but complex book. Virtually no one I know has actually read this book cover to cover. Worse yet, the book was written for an- other time and purpose. If you are running the British Parliament, Robert’s Rules of Order is a dandy and quite useful hand- book. On the other hand, if you’re running a meeting of a five member body with a few members of the public in attendance, a simplified version of the rules of parlia- mentary procedure is in order. Hence, the birth of “Rosenberg’s Rules of Order.” This publication covers the rules of parliamentary procedure based on my 20 years of experience chairing meetings in state and local government. These rules have been simplified and slimmed down for 21st century meetings, yet they retain the basic tenets of order to which we are accustomed. “Rosenberg’s Rules of Order” are support- ed by the following four principles: 1. Rules should establish order. The first purpose of the rules of parliamentary procedure is to establish a framework for the orderly conduct of meetings. 2. Rules should be clear. Simple rules lead to wider understanding and participation. Complex rules create two classes: those who understand and participate and those who do not fully understand and do not fully participate. 3. Rules should be user-friendly. That is, the rules must be simple enough that citizens feel they have been able to participate in the process. 4. Rules should enforce the will of the major- ity while protecting the rights of the minority. The ultimate purpose of the rules of procedure is to encourage discussion and to facilitate decision- making by the body. In a democracy, the majority rules. The rules must enable the majority to express itself and fashion a result, while permitting the minority to also express itself (but not dominate) and fully participate in the process. The Chairperson Should Take a Back Seat During Discussions While all members of the governing body should know and understand the rules of parliamentary procedure, it is the chairper- son (chair) who is charged with applying the rules of conduct. The chair should be well versed in those rules, because the chair, for all intents and purposes, makes the final ruling on the rules. In fact, all decisions by the chair are final unless over- ruled by the governing body itself. Because the chair conducts the meeting, it is common courtesy for the chair to take a less active role than other members of the body in debates and discussions. This does not mean that the chair should not participate in the debate or discussion. On the contrary, as a member of the body, the chair has full rights to participate in debates, discussions and decision-making. The chair should, however, strive to be the last to speak at the discussion and debate stage, and should not make or second a motion unless he or she is convinced that no other member of the body will do so. The Basic Format for an Agenda Item Discussion Formal meetings normally have a written, published agenda; informal meetings may have only an oral or understood agenda. In either case, the meeting is governed by the agenda and the agenda constitutes the body’s agreed-upon road map for the meeting. And each agenda item can be handled by the chair in the following basic format. First, the chair should clearly announce the agenda item number and should clearly state what the subject is. The chair should then announce the format that will be followed. Second, following that agenda format, the chair should invite the appropriate people to report on the item, including any recommendation they might have. The appropriate person may be the chair, a member of the governing body, a staff person, or a committee chair charged with providing information about the agenda item. Third, the chair should ask members of the body if they have any technical questions for clarification. At this point, members of the governing body may ask clarifying questions to the people who reported on the item, and they should be given time to respond. Fourth, the chair should invite public comments or, if appropriate at a formal meeting, open the meeting to public input. If numerous members of the public indicate a desire to speak to the subject, the chair may limit the time of each public speaker. At the conclusion of the public comments, the chair should announce that public input has concluded (or that the public hearing, as the case may be, is closed). Fifth, the chair should invite a motion from the governing body members. The chair should announce the name of the member who makes the motion. Sixth, the chair should determine if any member of the body wishes to second the motion. The chair should announce the name of the member who seconds the motion. It is normally good practice for a motion to require a second before proceeding with it, to ensure that it is not just one member of the body who is inter- ested in a particular approach. However, a second is not an absolute requirement, and the chair can proceed with consider- ation and a vote on the motion even when there is no second. This is a matter left to the discretion of the chair. Seventh, if the motion is made and seconded, the chair should make sure everyone understands the motion. This is done in one of three ways: 1. The chair can ask the maker of the motion to repeat it; 2. The chair can repeat the motion; or 3. The chair can ask the secretary or the clerk of the body to repeat the motion. Eighth, the chair should now invite discus- sion of the motion by the members of the governing body. If there is no desired discussion or the discussion has ended, the chair should announce that the body will vote on the motion. If there has been no discussion or a very brief discussion, the vote should proceed immediately, and there is no need to repeat the motion. Appendix F. Rosenberg’s Rules of Order