Buklod Atenistas Guide to Parliamentary Procedure

as adhered on Roberts Rules of Order, 11th Edition

I. Principles a. A deliberative assembly is an autonomous body that enjoys the freedom to conduct its business in accordance with the provisions for the rights of the members and that of the assembly per se. b. The right to vote is limited to the members who are present in a meeting during the time a vote is actually taken. c. Even if the vote is unanimous, rules can never be suspended to give a right to vote to a non-member. d. Cumulative voting is prohibited. e. Absentee voting is prohibited. f. One motion can be considered at a time. g. The majority rules, but only after providing for the minority to be heard. h. The only way to keep a member from being heard is by a 2/3 of the entire group to stop a debate. i. j. Before the start of a plenary session, the presiding officer will already designate who shall lead the standing rules (singing of National Anthem, Prayer, etc.) Strict adherence to the Table of Motions as provided in the Appendix (simplified from Roberts Rule of Order, 12th Edition) is expected of the members of the parliament.

k. Violation of such must be dealt with accordingly and be considered as a grave offense. II. Parliamentary Procedures in Buklod Atenista Plenary Sessions a. Getting Started i. Opening Ceremony: the Presiding Officer, while carrying the mace, will be the first person in queue. The Presidents of each Ateneo School1, followed
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Arranged alphabetically per school name

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by the Ambassadors, and lastly, the other delegates will enter, respectively. All members of the parliamentary board will remain standing until the meeting is called to order. ii. Standing rules2 will be followed unless an Incidental Motion of Suspension of Rules3 is raised. iii. The Presiding Officer will ask the Secretary if the board is in quorum. If affirmative, proceed to iv. Otherwise, the plenary session must be postponed. iv. The Presiding Officer will call the meeting to order. This shall be gestured by two taps of the gavel. All members of the parliamentary board will now take their seats. v. For customary purposes, a roll call will be ordered by the Presiding Officer. Such will be done by the Secretary or whoever is deemed assigned by the Presiding Officer. vi. Reading of the Previous Minutes will follow. An overview on what was discussed on the last meeting will be read by the Secretary or whoever is deemed assigned by the Presiding Officer. The approval of this aforementioned will be attested by a Motion of Approval 4 raised by any member of the board. b. Meeting Proper i. Reports from Office, Boards and Standing Committee and on Special Orders will be entertained, should there be any. ii. On the absence of necessary and urgent reports, discussions about Unfinished Businesses and General Orders will be discussed. iii. The Presiding Officer will announce the agenda for the meeting, or openly ask the pleasure of the body as to the order of presentation. If the former, the board will adhere to the order of presentation as crafted by the Presiding Officer beforehand and to the standing rules of raising motions.

i.e - National Anthem, School Song, Prayer See Appendix for guidance as to the Nature and Levels of Motions Ibid.

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If the latter, members of the Parliament will proceed to the discussion of matters by raising a General Motion. 5 iv. Discussion proper commences. v. The Presiding Officer will assume that there are no more points of clarifications, suggestions or recommendations if there are no Incidental Motions raised after a General Motion or an Agendum, whichever is deemed necessary. In such case when a motion/issue has been tackled, the Presiding Officer will affirm if no more discussions will take place. If so, he/she will say The motion is carried and as a gesture, will tap the gavel once before proceeding to the next issue/motion 6. When all underlying issues/motions are carried, proceed to C. c. Raising Issues i. The Presiding Officer will ask the pleasure of the body as to what issues will be discussed. The Presiding Officer will record the concerns. Should there be a list secured beforehand, he/she will cite the order of presentation. ii. The floor will be given to the member of the parliament whom the Presiding Officer7 gave the privilege of speaking. On the absence of an order of presentation, any member amongst the board can raise a General Motion for discussion. iii. While a main motion of issue is being discussed, Incidental and Subsidiary Motions are to be raised as a gesture of clarification, question, suggestion, and opposition. Such motions are implications of the formal procedure of parliamentary inquiries. iv. For every accomplished discussion of a general debate, the Presiding Officer must say There being no more remarks on the issue of <insert issue here>, is the board ready for the next question? If negative, a
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Reminder: From here on, strict adherence to the Nature and Levels of Motions as provided in the Appendix regarding proper code of interruption, seconding, debating, voting, referral, postponement or reconsideration must be strictly observed.

A tap of a gavel signifies an approval of a motion.

The Presiding Officer, at this juncture will reiterate the question being talked about. i.e A general debate is then introduced when he/she will say The question is that the body has considered the <insert issue here>. Remarks?

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Subsidiary or Incidental Motion can be raised by any member of the board to indicate a need for further discussion. If affirmative, the next issue will be raised. v. If there are issues to be raised, proceed to D. Otherwise, the Presiding Officer will ask the pleasure of the body and go back to C. i. for guidance. d. Adjournment i. A motion to adjourn must be made. ii. The adjournment shall be the last item of the standing order of business. iii. The Presiding Officer shall ask for objections to the motion to adjourn. If there are objections, debate and division follows. If the vote results to a no, the meeting continues, and the chair asks the pleasure of the body. If otherwise, the session is adjourned by three taps on the gavel. iv. Upon Adjournment, the Presiding Officer shall call for members to rise. An exit procession with similar order as in the Entrance Procession will then follow. III. PHRASING OF REGULARLY USED STATEMENTS

1. Main Motions: a. Motion to reconsider a decision of the chair: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to reconsider the action on the question of <insert general motion here>. A motion for reconsideration is raised by any member of the plenary who notices a misjudgement of decision of the Chair. Exempli gratia, during a division of house and Yeas have it, the Presiding Officer verdicts over the Nays. b. Motion to rescind a decision of the chair: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to rescind the action which was adopted regarding the motion of <insert general motion here>. 2. Incidental Motions: a. Motion to appeal the decision of the chair: Mr/Ms. Chair, I move to raise a motion to appeal the decision about <insert what to appeal here>.
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b. Motion to close nomination: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to close the nomination. c. Motion to divide the house: Mr/Ms. Chair, I raise a motion to divide to house d. Motion to object the consideration: Mr/Ms. Chair, with due respect, however I would like to raise a motion to object the consideration about <insert matter of consideration here>. e. Motion to ask a question or clarify matters or parliamentary inquiry: I call/rise for a parliamentary question, Mr/Ms Chair. <Insert question here>. f. Motion to raise an opinion or comment: Mr/Ms Chair, Point of Information. <insert comment here> g. Motion to raise if a parliamentary rule has been broken: Point of Order, Mr/Ms. Chair. <Insert ground for motion of order> h. Motion to suspend a standing rule: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to raise a motion to suspend a standing rule about <insert standing rule here> <Insert justification here> i. j. Motion to withdraw a motion: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to withdraw a motion about <insert motion here> <insert justification here> Motion to adopt the general motion: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to adopt the <insert general motion here

3. Subsidiary Motion: a. Motion to postpone temporarily a discussion or motion: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to lay the question regarding <insert motion here> on the table. <Insert justification here>. b. Motion to go back to the question/main motion and start voting. Mr/Ms Chair, I call for the previous question of this plenary session. <Insert justification here> c. Used to stop debate and vote immediately on the question before the organization. If adopted, a vote is taken at once on the pending question. d. Motion to limit discussion or debate: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to limit/extend the discussion on <insert matter here> to/for <insert a set time/ number of speakers here>. <insert justification here>

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e. Motion to postpone the discussion or session to a specific time: Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a motion to postpone the discussion to <insert time here>. <Insert justification here>. f. Motion to refer the matter to a specific committee: Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a motion to refer the matter to <insert committee here>. <Insert justification here>. g. Motion to amend the general motion: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to amend the motion about <insert motion here>, by adding [or removing] <insert append here> after the word <last word>, such that when properly seconded and approved, it will be read as <insert name of motion with correction>. h. Motion to amend an amendment of the general motion: Mr/Ms Chair, I move to amend the amendment by adding/replacing the words <insert word here> after the amendment <insert first level amendment here>, such that when properly seconded and approved, it will be read as <insert name of motion with the secondary amendment>. 4. Privilege Motion: a. Motion to fix time of the next meeting: Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a motion to fix the time of the next meeting. b. Motion for recess: Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a motion for recess A recess suspends proceedings for a definite period of time to be resumed on the same day. c. Motion to call for a caucus; Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a call for a caucus A caucus is a recess called for the purpose of allowing groups to meet and discuss certain matters at hand. d. Motion to adjourn: Mr/Ms Chair, I raise a motion to adjourn this plenary session. e. Motion to excuse self from doing something during a session: Mr/Chair, motion of privilege. <Insert request of privilege here>. This motion is raised when a parliamentarian needs to pick up his/her pen, answer a phone call, or go to attend personal necessities.

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APPENDIX: Nature and Levels of Motions

Main Motions8
Main Motion Reconsider Rescind Resume consideration Set special order to business

Can Interrupt Speaker?

Requires Second?

Debatable?

Votes Required

Amendable?

Subject to Referral to Committee

Subject to Postponement

Subject to Reconsideration

No Yes No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes No

50%+1 50%+1 2/3 50%+1

Yes No Yes No

Yes No Yes No

Yes Yes Yes No

Yes No Yes No

No

Yes

Yes

2/3

Yes

No

No

Yes

Incidental Motions9
Appeal decision Close nomination Division of House Object to Consideration Parliamentary Inquiry Point of Order

Can Interrupt Speaker?

Requires Second?

Debatable?

Votes Required

Amendable?

Subject to Referral to Committee

Subject to Postponement

Subject to Reconsideration

Yes

Yes

Yes

50%+1

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

2/3

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

None

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

2/3

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

None

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

None

No

No

No

No

All Main Motions need a second and are debatable except for the resuming of a consideration that was previously postponed indefinitely.
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Incidental Motions generally can interrupt a speaker, except a Motion to Close a Nomination, Suspend Rules and Withdraw or Approve a Main Motion.

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Suspension of Rules Point of Information Withdraw motion Adopt a motion

No

Yes

No

2/3

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

None

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

50%+1

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Subsidiary Motions10
Postpone temporarily/ Lay motion on table Call for previous question (vote immediately) Limit or extend debate Postpone to specific time Refer to committee Amend Amend an Amendment Postpone Indefinitely

Can Interrupt Speaker?

Requires Second?

Debatable?

Votes Required

Amendable?

Subject to Referral to Committee

Subject to Postponement

Subject to Reconsideration

No

Yes

No

50%+1

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

2/3

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

2/3

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

50%+1

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

50%+1

Yes

No

No

No

No No

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

50%+1 50%+1

Yes No

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

No

Yes

Yes

50%+1

No

No

NO

No

10

Subsidiary Motions can NEVER interrupt a speaker, but ALWAYS require seconding and voting.

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Privilege Motions11
Fix time of next meeting Recess Caucus Adjourn Privilege12

Can Interrupt Speaker?

Requires Second?

Debatable?

Votes Required

Amendable?

Subject to Referral to Committee

Subject to Postponement

Subject to Reconsideration

No

Yes

No

50%+1

Yes

No

No

No

No No No Yes

Yes Yes Yes No

No No No No

50%+1 50%+1 50%+1 None

Yes Yes No No

No No No No

No No No No

No No No No

NOTHING FOLLOWS

Prepared by: Peter Paul Ra. Paras (SGD) Ambassador, 2012-2013 Ateneo de Davao University
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All Privilege Motions require a second except a Motion of Privilege. This motion is the only Privilege Motion as per Roberts Rule of Order 11 Edition that can interrupt a speaker.
th

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