Meeting Tips

Meeting Tip 19

When in Doubt, Ask

Don’t know how to phrase a motion? Say, "I have a Parliamentary Inquiry. (Chair: The member will state his/her inquiry.) I’d like to offer a motion to do _____. How should I word it?" Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) p. 281-282: "A Parliamentary Inquiry is a question directed to the presiding officer to obtain information on a matter of parliamentary law or the rules of the organization bearing on the business at hand."

Don’t understand a proposed motion or its effect? Say, "Point of Information! (Chair: The member will state his/her point.) Could someone explain...?" RONR p. 282: "A Point of Information is a request directed to the chair, or through the chair to another officer or member, for information relevant to the business at hand but not related to parliamentary procedure."

When chairing, unsure if a proposed motion is in order, or unsure how to interpret a bylaw? Ask your parliamentarian for advice, or ask the assembly to decide (i.e., put it to a vote). RONR p. 245: "When the chair is in doubt as to how to rule on an important point, he can submit it to the assembly for decision...."

When an answer for a parliamentary question isn’t required immediately, ask for free advice online at www.robertsrules.com/cp/Scripts/ASP/forum/, or obtain the services of a professional parliamentarian (www.parliamentarians.org/prpreferral.php) for a formal, written opinion.

Meeting Myth

Myth: You can interrupt with a Point of Information to inform the assembly of important information related to a pending motion.Fact: "A Point of Information asks a question relevant to the business before the body but not related to parliamentary procedure, e.g. ‘How much uncommitted money is now in the treasury?’ ... It is not in order to raise a Point of Information to give information; instead, you must wait to be recognized and make your informative point as part of debate." — Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief, p. 95

_______________________________________________________________________Meeting Tips and Myths are based on the cited references. The rules, bylaws and/or statutes governing your organization may supersede the rules described above. Meeting Tips and Myths are written by Paul McClintock, PRP, and are presented as a public service by the Point of Order Parliamentary Law Unit, which meets monthly for parliamentary study on the 4th Saturday in Seattle, Washington. Website: www.PointOfOrder.org. Email: info@PointOfOrder.org.

To receive our complimentary "Meeting Procedures Reference Sheet" based on the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, email us at refsheet@PointOfOrder.org and we will gladly email it to you.