The Purpose of Parliamentary Procedure
Parliamentary procedure helps groups of people reach fair decisions and get things done.  These rules exist so that we can work together and so that every voice can be heard.  

Where Did Parliamentary Procedure Start? 
Parliamentary procedure, as used by groups today, finds it origins in the British Parliament.  When he was president of the Senate, Thomas Jefferson wrote the  Manual of Parliamentary Practice  (called Jefferson's Manual for short) and based it on the rules used in the British Parliament.  Jefferson's 1801 publication would be the model for what we now know as Robert's Rules of Order.  ​

Who is Robert and What Were His Rules of Order?
In 1863, Henry Martyn Robert (1837-1923) was asked to preside over a meeting in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Because he was unsure about how to conduct the meeting, it did not go well--the meeting lasted for fourteen hours!  Robert started to study how meetings could be held in a fair and efficient way.   In 1876, after reading the few available  parliamentary law books, Robert published the first edition of what we now call Robert's Rules of Order. (The title of his first book was Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies)  The first edition included key principles that we still practice today.  

What Are A Few Basic Terms? 
In order to use parliamentary procedure effectively, you need to know a few basic terms:
       Motion.  A motion is how business is brought before an assembly.  According to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, a motion is "a formal proposal by a member, in a meeting, that the assembly take certain action." (RONR (12th ed.) 3:21).   A motion is "introduced" by a member, after the motion is introduced it must be "seconded."  A member begins a motion with the words "I move".   

      Second.  Before a group can discuss whether a motion is a good or a bad idea, at least one other person must agree that the motion should be debated.  A person who seconds a motion only has to say "second" after the motion has been made.  Once the motion has been seconded, the group can then discuss, or "debate" the issue.  

    Debate.  Although this word is often associated with argument, that's not what the term means in parliamentary procedure.  In parliamentary procedure, members debate a motion when they discuss its pros and cons.  

         Quorum.  The minimum number of members needed to hold a meeting.  

Where Can I Learn More?
  • Contact MAP! 
  • Test your knowledge of parliamentary procedure!  Try these Brain Teasers by Parliamentarian Jim Slaughter.  
  • Essential Parliamentary Procedure For Junior and High Schools​. This guide by Ann McFarlane, PRP, explains the basics of parliamentary procedure for students.
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Resources

Check out the NAP Bookstore for these resources:  
     Online Courses:
        Parliamentary Fundamentals 102 
         Parliamentary Procedure Made Easy 
     Books 
         Your Guide to Parliamentary Procedure
         Robert's Rules of Order, In Brief (3d Edition)

 Download the iParli App on your iPhone

National Student Council. Gives guidelines for using parliamentary procedure in your student government meetings.  
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Parliamentary Procedure Guide For Students and Teachers   Explains the basics of debate for beginning parliamentary debaters.

Future Farmers of America Parliamentary Competitions.
FFA teams compete nationally to demonstrate their mastery of parliamentary procedure.  Watch some recent competitions here:​
Future Business Leaders of America
Family Career and Community Leaders of America
Health Occupations Students of America

      

Maryland: Did You Know?

The student member of the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County is the only student in the country who is able to vote on all matters before a local board of education.
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Photo 94604849 / Anne Arundel County © Sean Pavone | Dreamstime.com

Dedicated to Educating Maryland on Parliamentary Procedure 

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