6/6/2012. Parliamentarian. What Is My Job? Qualities of a Parliamentarian. Texas PTA President's Resource Guide definition:

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1 Parliamentarian Texas PTA BASICS Series Qualities of a Parliamentarian Texas PTA President's Resource Guide definition: A parliamentarian should have a fair and impartial mind and attitude, as well as knowledge of parliamentary procedure. A parliamentarian in PTA whether he serves at the Local, Council or Area PTA level should have a fundamental knowledge of the Vision, Mission, Purposes, and policies of the PTA. July What Is My Job? Where can you find your job description? Bylaws and Standing Rules Texas PTA President's Resource Guide Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) July

2 Parliamentarian in the Bylaws ARTICLE VII: Officers and Their Election Section 2. Officers and their election b. Officers, with the exception of the (historian and) parliamentarian, shall be elected by ballot in the month of. However, if there is but one (1) nominee for an office, election for that office may be by voice vote. The (historian and) parliamentarian shall be appointed by the newly-elected president, subject to the approval of the newly-elected officers. ARTICLE VIII: of Officer Section 6. The parliamentarian shall: a. advise the presiding officer on questions of parliamentary procedure; and b. vote only when the vote is by ballot. July Plan of Work ARTICLE X: Executive Board Section 5. The duties of each executive board member shall be to: b. submit a written Plan of Work to the executive board for approval; July Assisting the President and Board Confers with president prior to meeting concerning agenda Brings resources to meetings Sits near president to be able to be consulted during meeting Advises the president on points of parliamentary procedure (president makes final ruling) Does not speak without permission Maintains a position of impartiality Does not make motions, enter debate or vote (unless by ballot) July

3 Confers with president prior to meeting concerning agenda The president, knowing in advance the business to come before the assembly, should confer with the parliamentarian before the meetings open, and during recesses, in order to anticipate any problems that may arise and to avoid, as much as possible, frequent consultation during the meetings. July Brings resources to meetings Bylaws and Standing Rules Texas PTA Policy on Local and Council Bylaws Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) Ballots Ballot Box Blank Tellers Report July Sits near president to be able to be consulted during meeting The parliamentarian should be assigned a seat next to the president, so as to be convenient for consultation in a low voice, but the president should try to avoid checking with the parliamentarian too frequently or too obviously. July

4 Advises the president on points of parliamentary procedure (president makes final ruling) It is also the duty of the parliamentarian as inconspicuously as possible to call the attention of the president to any error in the proceedings that may affect the substantive rights of any member or may otherwise do harm. July Advises the president on points of parliamentary procedure (president makes final ruling) There should be an understanding between the parliamentarian and the president that there will probably be occasions when it may be essential for the president to listen to suggestions being made by the parliamentarian, even if it means momentarily not giving full attention to others or asking the assembly to stand at ease during the consultation July Does not speak without permission During a meeting the work of the parliamentarian should be limited to giving advice to the president and, when requested, to any other member. Only on the most involved matters should the parliamentarian actually be called upon to speak to the assembly; and the practice should be avoided if at all possible. July

5 Maintains a position of impartiality Does not make motions, enter debate or vote (unless by ballot) A member of an assembly who acts as its parliamentarian has the same duty as the president to maintain a position of impartiality, and therefore does not make motions, participate in debate, or vote on any question except in the case of a ballot vote. He does not cast a deciding vote, even if his vote would affect the result, since that would interfere with the president's prerogative of doing so. July Parliamentary Procedure Robert s Rules for Dummies definition: Parliamentary procedure refers to the practices used in meetings to keep things orderly and give everybody a fair chance to be heard for at least as long as it takes for everybody to realize that nothing new is being said and a large majority is ready to make a decision and get on with other business. July Parliamentary Procedure Gives a standard procedure to maintain order Protects the rights of the minority Protects the rights of those not present The majority rules Quorums Only one thing is considered at a time Your meetings run more efficiently and are shorter! July

6 Agenda Agenda/Order of Business Call to Order Opening Ceremonies (optional) Reading and Approval of Minutes Report of Treasurer Letters or Communication Report of Executive Board Reports of Standing Committees Reports of Special Committees and/or Special Orders Unfinished Business New Business Program Announcements Adjournment July Eight Essential Steps to a Main Motion July Eight Essential Steps to a Main Motion Action from the Floor 1. Obtaining the Floor 3. Making the Motion 4. Seconding the Motion 6. Discussion (debate) Action by the Chair 2. Assigning the Floor 5. Stating the Motion 7. Putting the Question 8. Announcing the Vote July

7 Rules of Debate If he/she wishes, the person who makes the motion speaks first All remarks are addressed to the president/presiding officer All members have the right to speak (alternate pro/con, if possible) All discussion must be confined to the immediately pending question The president/presiding officer does not enter into discussion July Rules of Debate Amendments or other secondary motions can be introduced and voted on Unless there are special rules, a member can speak for 10 minutes No member may speak for a second time until everyone has the opportunity to speak once Debate can only be ended with a 2/3 vote or by the president/presiding officer if no one seeks the floor for further debate July Amendments Before being restated by the president/presiding officer, the maker has the right to modify his or her motion or to withdraw it entirely Most common ways to amend a motion: Insert words (or add words if at the end) Strike out words Strike out and insert July

8 Amendments Only two amendments (primary and secondary) may be pending on a main motion at any time Discussion of an amendment must relate only to the amendment, unless the whole motion is involved by substitution An amendment must be germane to the question under consideration July Voting Voice General Consent Show of Hands or Cards Standing or Rising Vote Standing Counted Vote Roll Call Vote Ballot Vote July Types of Votes Majority Vote more than one half of the votes cast Two-Thirds Vote at least two-thirds of the votes cast Tie Vote a lost vote July

9 Test Your Knowledge 1. What do you do if the president does something wrong (calls for the wrong type of vote, forgets to get a second on a motion, forgets to call for the vote, etc.)? 2. What do you do if you have an opinion to express on a motion? 3. How can you best support the president? July Test Your Knowledge 4. What should you do if the membership appears confused with the procedure? 5. What do you do when you don't know the procedure? 6. How can you prepare for a meeting? July Where to Look for Answers Bylaws and Standing Rules Texas PTA President's Resource Guide Texas PTA Parliamentary Pointers National PTA Quick-Reference Guides Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) National Association of Parliamentarians Robert s Rules of Order In Brief Robert s Rules for Dummies July

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