Thank you for the summary. Parliamentary procedures can seem complex but are important for conducting meetings effectively. Let me know if you have any other questions!

1. Parliamentary Procedure in
Action
Success Leadership Series
J. Timothy Sulisz

2. Course Objectives
Review basic parliamentary principles:
A. Learn & practice main & 7 subsidiary motions
B. Talk about the rules governing debate on
motions
C. Learn how to use order of precedence

3. Agenda
• Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures
• Handling a Main Motion
• Order of Precedence of Subsidiary Motions
• Seven Subsidiary Motion

4. Why Have Parliamentary Procedures?
• Parliamentary rules take into account the often
conflicting interests that develop during
meetings, and they provide procedures that
ensure decisions are made fairly
• Helps groups conduct meetings in an orderly
fashion

5. Who uses parliamentary procedure?
• Large groups who need to maintain order at
their meetings:
▫ Toastmasters Clubs, Districts, Board of Directors
▫ Charitable organizations such as Kiwanis or Order
of Foresters
▫ Condominium corporations
▫ Union meetings
▫ Board of Directors
▫ City Council
▫ Parliaments of Ontario and Canada

6. Principles of Parliamentary Rules
• The votes of all voting members are counted
equally
• Absent members and members holding minority
opinions have rights
▫ Free and fair debate
▫ To know the meaning of the motion
• Majority has the right to decide and the minority
to be protected and speak on the issue
• Facilitate transaction of business in good faith

7. Quiz: Define the following…
• Quorum
• Constitution
• Bylaws
• Standing rules
• Motion
• Presiding officer

8. Basic Definitions
• Quorum – minimum number of members required to
transact business
• Constitution – basic regulations governing the
organization (name, purpose, members, officers, etc.)
• Bylaws – fundamental rules of the organization that
are amended infrequently
• Standing rules – details concerning administration of
organization that are easily changed or overridden
• Motion – formal proposal that an action be taken
• Presiding officer – meeting leader who sees that rules
are observed

9. Six Steps in Handling a Main Motion
1. Member makes a motion: I move that…
2. Another member seconds the motion: I second the
motion.
3. Presiding officer places motion before group: It is
moved and seconded that…
4. Motion is open for debate: the maker of the
motion is asked if he or she wants to speak
5. Motion is put to a vote: Are you ready to vote?
Restatement of the motion & how the vote will be
taken. All those in favour… All those opposed…
6. Presiding officer announces result: The motion is
adopted or lost

10. Voting
• If the vote is tied, it is lost
• Presiding officer does not vote, unless his vote
affects the results
• For a tie vote, a Chair can vote in favour
ensuring that the motion is passed
• If there is one more vote in favour of a motion,
the Chair can vote against it making a tie so the
motion is defeated

11. Exercise 1
• Give a short simple statement proposing a
course of action
• Second the motion
• Speak in favour or against the motion
• Call for the vote by the chairman & re-statement
of the motion
• All members of the group should participate
• No amendments or others types of motions
• Time limit: 10 minutes

12. Subsidiary Motions
• Only one motion can be discussed at a time
▫ Seven subsidiary motions help the assembly to
modify, delay action on or get rid of a motion
▫ If a subsidiary motion is made, focus shifts to that
motion – it has a higher order of precedence
▫ Action must be taken on the pending motion
before discussing the main motion
▫ Each of the seven subsidiary motion has an order
of precedence or rank

13. Subsidiary Motions
1. Postpone indefinitely – group avoids direct vote
on main motion
2. Amend – wording of another motion is modified
3. Refer to committee – send to another group for
study
4. Postpone to a certain time – consider something
later
5. Limit or extend limits of debate
6. Close debate [previous question] – stop debate on
pending motion and vote
7. Lay on table – put aside a pending motion

14. Subsidiary Motions
• Lay on table
• Close debate [previous question]
• Limit or extend limits of debate
Order of
• Postpone to a certain time Precedence
• Refer to committee (see handout)
• Amend
• Postpone indefinitely

15. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Postpone Indefinitely
• You Say: I move that the motion be postponed
indefinitely
• Purpose: To avoid a direct vote on a motion
• How Used: Dispose of inappropriate or undesirable
motions; avoid going on record as supporting it
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

16. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Amend
• You Say: I move to amend the motion by…
• Purpose: To alter or modify the wording of a motion
• How Used: Insert words, strike out words, or both
to alter the meaning; must be germaine
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

17. Subsidiary Motions
• Amendments are the mostly widely used
subsidiary motions
• Primary and secondary amendments are
possible; tertiary are not
• Debate focuses on second amendment first,
followed by the primary amendment, and then
the main motion
• Can be complex
▫ E.g. amendment by substitution or by filling of
blanks

18. Exercise 2
• Present a simple motion and second it
• Start speaking in favour or against the motion
• Introduce an amendment
• All members of the group should participate
• Time limit: 15 minutes

19. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Refer to Committee
• You Say: I move to refer the motion to…
• Purpose: To send to a committee for further study
• How Used: Group needs more information to make
a decision; specify committee to be assigned
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

20. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Postpone to a Certain Time
• You Say: I move to postpone the motion to…
• Purpose: To postpone to another specific time
• How Used: Crucial members / information not
at the meeting; must state when postponed to
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

21. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Limit or Extend Limits of Debate
• You Say: I move that debate be limited to… [specify
how or when]
• Purpose: To limit or extend debate
• How Used: Limit number / length of speeches;
place maximum time limit on debate
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: 2/3 Majority

22. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Close Debate (Previous Question)
• You Say: I move to close debate (or the previous
question)
• Purpose: to close debate on pending motion
• How Used: Know enough information to vote; avoid
repetition; focus on more important motions
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: 2/3 Majority

23. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Lay on the Table (Take from the Table)
• You Say: I move to lay the question on the table
• Purpose: To interrupt business for some urgent
reason (e.g. visit by the mayor)
• How Used: Sparingly; specify reason for taking this
action; rule out of order if reason not legitimate
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: Majority

24. Exercise 3
• Present a simple motion and second it
• Start speaking in favour or against the motion
• Introduce as many of the seven subsidiary
motions in order of precedence
• All members of the group should participate
• Time limit: 15 minutes

25. How to Learn More
• Purchase a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, 11th
Edition
• Participate in Club Business meetings
▫ Prepare wording of motions ahead of time to
present at the business meeting
▫ Investigate any motions that you aren’t familiar
with at a business meeting
▫ Follow-up on any mistakes that you made to learn
how to present the motion better
• Join the Parliamentary Society of Toronto, AIP