Some people think that following parliamentary procedure wastes time at meetings. I usually find that those people are slowed down as they cannot move their ideas through as others are given the full right of participation. Parliamentary procedure works to give all members a fair chance to participate and to do things based on a majority vote.
Some organizations have a tradition of not following a parliamentarian authority. New people are often left out of the decision making process and the organization is run by a click. The click only lets those who agree with it advance to positions of authority. The organization starts to eat it self apart from the inside as new potential members don't want to be part of the group. Others leave as they never have a chance to present their ideas or to advance.
Groups need to have a fresh perspective coming in or they die of stagnation. Following parliamentary procedure can never guarantee that such freshness will be available. Lack of parliamentary procedure does guarantee that such freshness will never exist.
Saturday 14 November 2009
Friday 6 November 2009
Changing Procedures
If an organization wants to change some procedure, it had better take a good look at its bylaws. That is often where a change in procedure needs to be made. But many organizations do not want to do that. They think that they can just decide on the change and let it go at that. What do I mean? below is an example.
Imagine that an organization wants to add a permanent committee to handle publicity. They have never done this before. Publicity had been handled informally but members were finding that this was not working. So they pass a resolution creating the committee and say that it is permanent.
One member looks at the bylaws and sees that there is a provision for certain standing committees and the bylaws are silent about adding new standing committees. This member points out that it is improper to establish a standing (permanent) committee for publicity. This member is right. Since there is a definite list of standing committees, a new one can only be created by adding to the list in the bylaws -- amending the bylaws to do so.
Even if a majority want the committee to be a standing one, they have to follow the procedures in their bylaws to amend them. Caution in making changes is important. You need to follow the rules as they are the rules that your society adopted.
Hope this helps.
Imagine that an organization wants to add a permanent committee to handle publicity. They have never done this before. Publicity had been handled informally but members were finding that this was not working. So they pass a resolution creating the committee and say that it is permanent.
One member looks at the bylaws and sees that there is a provision for certain standing committees and the bylaws are silent about adding new standing committees. This member points out that it is improper to establish a standing (permanent) committee for publicity. This member is right. Since there is a definite list of standing committees, a new one can only be created by adding to the list in the bylaws -- amending the bylaws to do so.
Even if a majority want the committee to be a standing one, they have to follow the procedures in their bylaws to amend them. Caution in making changes is important. You need to follow the rules as they are the rules that your society adopted.
Hope this helps.
Saturday 31 October 2009
The Agenda
It is funny that many people think that the Board or the President sets the agenda for a meeting. Neither of these is true unless the bylaws contain a provision saying so. So how does the agenda get set?
If the organization just follows the general order of business stated in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised or in one of the other standard works, no agenda is needed. A clear order of business is established. But this is not enough for many organizations. They want a clear indication of when matters will come up.
If an agenda is needed or wanted, it is the meeting that establishes it. The appropriate officer, often in consultation with others, proposes an agenda. This isa main motion and can be amended by proposals. Most amendments are handled by unanimous consent. If there is not unanimous consent, the change is usually voted on. If a member is proposing to bring up an idea under New Business, no vote is needed. The assembly, often by unanimous consent, votes to accept the agenda.
So if somebody tells you that the officers set the agenda, just ask them where that rule is written down. If they cannot give an exact citation that you can check out, ignore them.
If the organization just follows the general order of business stated in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised or in one of the other standard works, no agenda is needed. A clear order of business is established. But this is not enough for many organizations. They want a clear indication of when matters will come up.
If an agenda is needed or wanted, it is the meeting that establishes it. The appropriate officer, often in consultation with others, proposes an agenda. This isa main motion and can be amended by proposals. Most amendments are handled by unanimous consent. If there is not unanimous consent, the change is usually voted on. If a member is proposing to bring up an idea under New Business, no vote is needed. The assembly, often by unanimous consent, votes to accept the agenda.
So if somebody tells you that the officers set the agenda, just ask them where that rule is written down. If they cannot give an exact citation that you can check out, ignore them.
Wednesday 28 October 2009
The Reason for ParliamentaPstrry Procedure
Parliamentary Procedure is designed to give all at a meeting a fair share in the action. It is not designed to limit people; it is designed to give people a chance to bring forth their ideas in a fair way. It is designed to make the playing field fair and equal. Trouble is that many organizations have people who don't want to play fair. These are the people who afraid to let others bring forth ideas or who are afraid to let people stop debate because they have heard enough.
Parliamentary Procedure also works to let the majority rule and decide things as opposed to some minority which thinks that they are right about how things should be.
Yes, it is complicated at times as it is dealing with human relations -- not the easiest thing in the world. But a little knowledge can help all.
Parliamentary Procedure also works to let the majority rule and decide things as opposed to some minority which thinks that they are right about how things should be.
Yes, it is complicated at times as it is dealing with human relations -- not the easiest thing in the world. But a little knowledge can help all.
Saturday 24 October 2009
Web Site
My web site, where there is a lot of study material for Parliamentary Procedure, is www.parliamentarycorner.com.
Just a start
I have been involved in Parliamentary Procedure for several years. Yeah, I capitalize it even though it does not need to be so. Parliamentary Procedure is important, I firmly believe, because it helps people learn how to interact productively with others without one person or one small set of people being dominate. Parliamentary Procedure is based on all being equal and all having a fair chance to participate in a society. It only works if the society wants to make it work. That is probably enough for this post.
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