Consolidated Standard Order

From Genunix

Meetings adhering to Standard Order are conducted by voting consent to all matters. All actions of the body, including adjuring the meeting, are presented as "motions" which are submitted to the chair, opened for discussion, and then voted upon to determine the resulting action. In this way, quorum is essential because without it the meeting can't even be stopped.

Order is created by ensuring the rights of all members of the body. Anyone may submit a motion, disagree with the chair (point of order), or speak in an orderly fashion (take the floor).

• Officers
  • Chairman
  • Vice Chair
  • Secretary

• Motions
  • Initiated by "I move to.."
  • A "second" must be obtained by "I second the motion". This does not endorse the motion, only that it should be considered!
  • Following a second, the presiding officer shall repeat the motion: "It has been moved and seconded that (restate the motion here). Is there any discussion?"
  • Following any discussion, presiding officer shall restate the motion yet again prior to vote: "Those in favor of the motion that (restate metion here), please say "Aye", those opposed say "No".
  • If the motion passes it is said, "The motion is carried."

• Types of Motions:
  1. Main Motions: Primary form of motion, used to bring new business before the body for debate, discussion, and vote.
  2. Restorative main motions: Similar to main motion but refering to prior motions. These motions include amendments to prior action, ratifications, reconsideration, rescind (nullify previously approved motion), or resume consideration ("take from the table").
  3. Susidiary Motions: These motions alter main motions, or deoay or hasten its consideration. These include postponement ("lay on the table"), close debate, limit or extend debate, postpone to a certain time, refer to a committee, or to amend.
  4. Privileged motions: These motions have priority over main motions, and include adjourn, recess, and question of privilege.
  5. Incidental Motions: These do not related directly to main motions but related to incidents that take place during a meeting. These include appeal from a decision of the chair, suspend the rules (for instance, allowing non-members to speak), consider informally, point of order, parliamentary inquiry, withdrawal of a motion, division of a question, divisions of the assembly (committees).

• Order of Business:
  1. Call to order, "The meeting will please come to order."
  2. (Optional) Roll call
  3. Reading, correction, approval or dispoition of minutes of previous meetings
  4. Reports of officers
  5. Reports of boards and standing committees
  6. Reports of special committees
  7. Unfinished business, "Unfinished business is now in order."
  8. New business, "New business is now in order."
  9. Announcements
  10. Adjournment, Call for motion to adjurn, second, and vote. Presiding officer may ask "Is there any further business?" before calling meeting adjured.

• Speaking
  • The "floor" is obtained by addressing the chairman by saying "Mr. Chairman"
  • The chair recognizes the member, asking for identification "Please identify yourself" and then states "The chair recognizes Mr. (Name)"
  • Optionally, the chair may request to know the nature of the request.
  • Unless otherwise stipulated by bylaws, the chair may assign time limits or limitations on the speaker.
  • Comments after obtaining the floor should be stated and then concluded with "Thank you Mr Chairman."
  • Unless engaged in informal discussion, speakers should not be interrupted.
  • Persons should always be referred to by last name, as a matter of formality.

Important Reminders:

• Submitting or Seconding a motion does not automatically insinuate that you approve of the motion, merely that it should be considered.
• Votes do not need to be unanimous.
• Not all votes must be done in the same fashion (typically roll call format for phone meetings), votes with which no opposion is expect may be done by "general consent", that is "Are there any opposed?" This does not apply to main motions.
• When breaking format an incidental motion to suspend the rules should be submitted to the chair. Following this incident rules apply again.
• Requests to speak should always be submitted to the chair by saying "Mister Chairman". The chair may then request that you identify yourself before allowing you to speak. This format may be broken during informal debate if specifically allowed by the chair.
• Motions may be "tabled" (temporarily suspended) to be taken up at the next meeting or untill a stipulated time: "Mr Chairman, I move to table the current motion to be taken up at our next meeting."
• A motion should be recited by the chair three (3) times:
  • Repeated after submission; to ensure the wording of the motion is precise.
  • Repeated prior the vote; to ensure all voting members are clear on what they are voting on.
  • Repeated after the outcome vote; to ensure clarify the action that will result.
• Failed motions should be recorded in the minutes.
• Rescinded motions may also be requested to be "expunged" from the minutes (never happened, not recorded).