South Carolina Yearbook - September 2020

2020 South Carolina Nurses Association
TIPS ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Parliamentary procedure must not be viewed as a set of arbitrary rules. It should be considered as
the application of common sense and logic in the conduct of a meeting. Compliance with this set of
rules serves to protect, and is directly related to, our jealously guarded ideal of democratic process.
The great value of the democratic process is open and orderly discussion which results in intelligent
compromise. When general consent is evidenced by a group, the importance of following
parliamentary procedure becomes primarily that of maintaining the orderly conduct of a meeting.
Democratic principles basic to the appropriate conduct of a meeting are as follows:
1. Justice and courtesy to all.
2. One thing at a time
3. Rule of the majority
4. Right of the minority to be heard.
The rules contained in the latest edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER shall govern meetings of
this association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with
these bylaws.
SOME RULES OF DEBATE
1. Recognition by the chair is, of course, the first step in presenting a motion.
2. Time will be saved if members will think carefully before wording a motion so as not to
make it too long, say what they really want and not include points of discussion in the
motion.
3. All motions, other than those of a personal nature, must be in writing.
4. No business involving any kind of action should be conducted without a motion.
5. All main motions are debatable.
6. Debate begins after the motion is made.
7. Debate should be limited to the motion before the assembly.
8. Proposer of the motion may speak to it first.
9. Proposer of the motion may not speak against his/her motion, but may vote against it.
10. Address remarks through the presiding officer; do not speak directly to other members
during debate.
11. Avoid personalities. The motion is under discussion not the proposer.
12. The presiding officer should not enter into debate and cannot close debate.
13. Voting may be done by general consent (silence). Chair says, “If there is no objection, the
report will be accepted as information.”
14. The Chair votes only if his/her vote will change the result or break a tie. If his/her vote
creates a tie, the motion is lost.
RONR: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 11th Edition
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