The ins and outs of Parliamentary Law

Have you ever met someone that was really versed in Parliamentary Law? Did you know you could get certified, CPP? In fact, it’s a good thing for purchasing professionals or any business professional to at least investigate. (Being able to run an efffective meeting is a skill most of us can use).

The National Parliamentary Education Project of the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP) has currently distributed instructor manuals and student’s workbooks for the formal study of parliamentary law and procedure to more than 1600 colleges and universities. This parliamentary project is sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundations.

Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter once stated, “The history of liberty has largely been the history of observance of procedural safeguards.” Parliamentary procedure is the safeguard by which the decision-making process can be orderly and problems can be resolved fairly.

Did you know that many city governments employ a versed and certified parliamentarian to conduct their counsel meetings? Parliamentary rules take into account the often conflicting interests that develop during meetings, and they provide procedures that ensure decisions are made fairly.

Here’s some basic definitions:

Quorum – minimum number of members required to transact business

Bylaws – basic regulations governing the organization

Standing rules – details concerning administration of organization

Motion – formal proposal that an action be taken

Presiding officer – meeting leader who sees that rules are observed

 Here are the Six Steps in Handling a Main Motion:

1. Member makes a motion
2. Another member seconds the motion
3. Presiding officer places motion before group
4. Motion is open for debate
5. Motion is put to a vote
6. Presiding officer announces the result

General Henry Martyn Robert, who gave his name to the book that has brought order to millions of meetings was a U.S. Army Engineer officer of Huguenot descent born May 2, 1837. Led to the study of parliamentary law over a number of years by experience in civic and church organizations, he published the first edition of Robert’s Rules of Order on February 19, 1876. The tenth edition is now available.

Quote by Henry M. Robert, “It is difficult to find another branch of knowledge where a small amount of study produces such great results in increased efficiency in a country where the people rule, as in parliamentary law.”