Robert's Rules of Order
The basics needed to navigate Staff Senate proceedings
The most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the conduct of procedure of Senate meetings (Staff Senate Code, Article XIII).
What are Robert's Rules of Order, and who is Robert?
Robert's Rules of Order is a guide to parliamentary procedure that originated in 1876 with Colonel Henry Martyn Robert, a U.S. Army engineer who wrote the first manual to resolve confusion at meetings after a poor experience he had presiding over a church meeting. The rules are based on the parliamentary rules of the U.S. House of Representatives and have become widely adopted by societies and organizations to ensure orderly and democratic decision-making.
The rules have been updated numerous times over the years, with adaptations in the current 12th edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised made to address modern practices like electronic meetings.
Although the name "Robert's Rules of Order" may not be widely known, most people will likely find the vernacular of the rules familiar (phrases such as "calling the meeting to order" and "moving to adjourn", for example).
Why follow Robert's Rules of Order for Senate meetings?
Robert's Rules of Order were developed to ensure that meetings are fair, efficient, democratic and orderly. They provide common rules and procedures for deliberation and debate, allowing all members to voice their opinions in an orderly manner so that everyone can hear and be heard.
Robert's Rules of Order also standardizes meeting agendas, helping participants anticipate and better follow the order of meeting proceedings.
Core principles of the rules include:
- Balanced rights: Structured to balance the rights of the majority, minority, and individual members of an organization
- Majority rule: Based on the principle that the will of the majority should prevail, while still protecting the rights of those with minority viewpoints
- Protection of individuals: Ensure that individual members have their rights protected and that their voiced can be heard through proper recognition from the meeting chair
- Organized meetings: Provide a framework for decision-making to make meetings more productive, even in contentious situations
Robert's Rules Basics
- All members have equal rights, privileges, and obligations.
- A quorum must be present for business to be conducted.
- Quorum: the minimum number of members who must be present for official decisions or votes to take place
- No person should speak until recognized by the meeting chair (in Staff Senate's case, the president serves as the chair).
- Only one question at a time may be considered.
- All discussion must be relevant to the immediately pending question.
- No member should speak more than twice in each debatable motion.
- All remarks should be addressed the the chair - no cross debate is permitted.