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ASK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN
BY MIKE SWIFT, VVA PARLIAMENTARIAN
Q: Can I move to divide
the question if I only want to adopt part of what the motion
says?
A: When a motion relating to a single subject contains
several parts, each of which can stand as a proposition if
the others are removed, the parts may be separated, considered,
and voted on as if they were distinct questions by adopting
the motion Division of a Question. The motion to divide must
state the manner in which the question is to be divided.
A motion cannot be divided unless each part presents a proper
question for the assembly to act upon if none of the other
parts is adopted, and unless the effect of adopting all of
the parts will be exactly the same as adopting the compound
main question. Robert’s, pages 261-63.
Q: Is a board
required to grant permission to non-board members who demand
attendance at board meetings? If so, can their attendance
be limited by the board?
A: Non-board members can be excluded
at any time from part or all of a meeting of a board, or
from all of its meetings. Such exclusion can be effected
by a ruling of the chair in cases of disorder, or by the
adoption of a rule on the subject, or by an appropriate motion
as the need arises. A motion to exclude all non-board members
is often referred to as a motion to “go into executive
session.” Robert’s,
page 625, line 11 & line 19.
Q: How long after a vote
is taken can someone raise a point of order contesting the
vote?
A: Points of order regarding the conduct of a vote may
be raised immediately following the announcement of the voting
result until another member has been recognized and has introduced
another matter. Robert’s, starting on page 233, line
32.
Q: Can one veterans’ organization adopt a motion
ordering another veterans’ organization to take certain
action?
A: Veterans’ organizations are usually incorporated,
which makes them legal entities of their particular state,
and as a matter of parliamentary procedure no corporation
can order another corporation to take a certain action. If
two corporations intend to work together, it is not a question
of parliamentary procedure. They should seek legal counsel.
Q:
Can a member have his or her statements recorded in the minutes?
A:
In an ordinary society, unless the minutes are to be published,
they should contain mainly a record of what was done at the
meeting, not what was said by the members. Robert’s,
page 451, line 25. For published minutes, “the secretary’s
assistant should be a stenographic reporter or recording
technician.” Robert’s, page 458, lines 18-36.
A more detailed article from the Parliamentary Journal published
by the American Institute of Parliamentarians is available
at www.parligroup.com Click on “document.”
Send
your questions on parliamentary procedure to parliamentarian@vva.org Answers are based on Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly
Revised 10th Edition.
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©2006-
2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910