Parliamentary Law: Definitions

1. Management & Leadership in Ministry
Roberts Rules
Definitions

2. The most commonly used
„terms‟, defined in everyday
language, and listed in
alphabetical order.

3. Amendable: Whether or not the „motion‟ can be
altered in any way (striking out, adding, or
substituting), prior to the business meeting voting
on the issue.
An Appeal or Objection: A person may „challenge‟
the validity of the chairperson‟s ruling on any
matter. This appeal is immediately put to the vote
(generally with no debate) to determine if the
„ruling‟ has the support of the majority of those in
attendance.
By-Law: Major governing/procedural rules of the
organization that are highly unlikely to change
(i.e.: the members will meet at least once per year
to transact the business of the church). Different
than: Standing Rules

4. Commit or Refer: a decision of the business mtg.
to send an item of business to a committee for
their additional input, research, recommendation
or action.
Debatable/Undebatable: whether or not the person
in charge of the business meeting, can or can
not allow there to be „discussion‟ about the
motion being considered. Some „motions‟ are not
debatable … the assembly simply & immediately
votes (yes or no).

5. Dividing the Question: When the motion being
discussed has a number of „sub-points‟, the
business meeting may request the motion be
divided into smaller statements & voted on
individually, rather than as a whole.
A Division of the Vote/Assembly/House: Anyone
challenging the validity or accuracy of the report
of the voting, may insist that those who voted in
favour or against a motion, physically „stand or
raise their hand‟ in order to verify the count.

6. Ex-Officio: A person serves on a committee or
board BECAUSE they also hold another office in
the church (i.e. The elected treasurer of the
church, is ex-officio on the Church Board and on
the Finance committee).
The Floor: indicates which person presently has
the right to be speaking (or which motion is
presently before the business meeting for their
consideration).
General Consent: Many motions, elections and
reports may be received or approved by the
congregation, without the necessity of a formal
vote (i.e. simple nods of the heads).

7. Lay on the Table /Table a motion: This is an
undebatable motion which requires a majority
vote. Effect is that the issue or motion being
discussed is temporarily set aside and no longer
discussed or voted on, until a majority
vote to „take from the table‟.
Majority Vote: Simply means “more than half”.
Generally a vote of 50% + 1 carries the decision.
In the case of an odd number of votes (half of 17
votes = 8.5) a majority vote is 9.

8. A Motion: A statement which the business
meeting will eventually vote on (either to approve
or reject). A „motion‟, a „question‟, a „resolution‟
are for all intents & purposes, synonymous
terms.
Orders of the Day: This is the officially approved
„agenda‟ of the business mtg. It provides the
agreed upon sequence & timeline in which
business is to be conducted. For instance an
„Order of the Day‟ may be that at 9:30 a.m. we
recess for a 10 minute coffee break, OR between
8:15 – 9:15 p.m. the Orders of the Day calls for
the „receiving of the financial report‟.

9. Plurality Vote: an election based on who receives
the largest number of votes (not necessarily a
majority vote). i.e. 10 people vote for 4
candidates …it is possible that no one will
receive 6 votes (a majority)
A Point of Order: A person attending at a business
meeting may interrupt the proceedings to object
to the behaviour of another person in
attendance, or the appropriateness of „how‟ a
matter of business is being conducted. The
person raising the objection simply states “A
point of Order”…at which time the chairperson
makes an immediate ruling on the concern.
(Different that a “Question of Privilege”)

10. Precedence: Determining which order the various
items of business must be dealt with. (pecking
order …)
Previous Question: (Calling the question). A
motion requiring a 2/3 vote, which forces the end
of debate & requires an immediate vote on the
motion.

11. Pro Tem: Latin term: „For the time being‟ or a
temporary assignment ( i.e. Mary was absent, so
Bill was asked to serve as the business mtg.
secretary „pro tem‟). Also identified as: „pro
tempore‟ or „P.T.‟
Question: “Are you ready for the question” means:
are you ready to vote on the motion? (the
question being „What is your vote/pleasure/will
concerning the motion before the assembly?”

12. Questions of Privilege: All business discussions
can be interrupted at any time, by a person
asking for clarification about procedures, or the
rights & responsibilities they have as members of
the business meeting.
Standing Rules: the agreed upon general practices
of the organization which tend to change from
time-to- time (salary ranges, vacation time).
These rules can be changed without giving
advance notice to the assembly (spur
of the moment). See By-Laws

13. Two Thirds Vote: Means at least twice as many
people are in favour of the action/motion, as are
against the motion.
If the business meeting has an indivisible
number of people voting … 2/3 means you must
round the number UP.
2/3 of 100 votes = 66.666% If 66 people voted in
favour of the motion, this would NOT BE
SUFFICIENT to carry the vote. 67 votes are
needed.

14. When do we need a 2/3 vote?
A 2/3 vote is required whenever …
the rights of the individual or the organization are being
limited/ restricted; or
previously made decisions are being over-ruled or over-
turned (decisions made prior to the present meeting)
Amend or Rescind the Constitutions, Bylaws, or Agenda
Amend or Rescind Something Already Adopted;
Suspend the Orders of the Day;
Refuse to Proceed to the Orders of the Day;
Take up a Question Out of its Order.
Limit or Extend Limits of Debate;
Call for the Previous Question.
Take Away Membership or Office;
Discharge a Committee.

15. Quorum: Generally: Attendance of 50% +1 of the
membership is needed in order to make
decisions & conduct the official business of the
organization. The by-laws usually establish this
percentage; for instance in the Wesleyan
denomination an appropriately/duly called
Church Board mtg. or Annual Business mtg. can
be conducted with whatever number of members
are present. The by-laws indicate you do not
need 50% + 1 to have a quorum.
HOWEVER … it is unwise to make decisions for
the church, without an adequate representation
of people being present

16. A Reconsideration: Any person in attendance at a
business meeting may request that a decision of
the business meeting be „reconsidered‟. The
business meeting must vote 50% +1, in order to
reopen discussion on a previously decided
matter. Only someone who voted on the winning
side of the previous vote, may request a
„reconsideration‟.

17. Vote: If even one person indicates a preference
that a formal vote be taken on a motion, election
or report (as opposed to a „consensus vote‟) then
the chairperson is required to take an official vote
by the membership. Some jurisdictions require
an official motion & election take place (ballot
vote) for the election of officers. A formal vote is
usually done by ballot, although raising of the
hand, voice or standing votes are sometimes
used.