Rising vote to cut off debate

Any and all moves to limit or cut off the right of the minority to present its case requires a two-thirds vote. Any move to deny the minority this right by a majority vote—e.g. Motion “to Table”— is by definition, out of order.

Furthermore, all two-thirds votes are expected to be taken by a rising (standing) vote (RONR, 10th, P.395, L.30). The main reason for this is accuracy, but a subtext could be that those who want to deny the minority the right to present their case should stand and identify themselves.

This last point is certainly in accord with the spirit of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Flag, highlight, and notate

Robert’s Rules is not an heirloom novel. Mark it up and make it ready to use. I like the stiff plastic writeable Post-it Notes an inch high and inch and a half wide (mostly see-through). Use red for hot topics, yellow for supporting points, and blue for other items.

About Post-it Notes, as southerners sometimes include when saying grace, “God bless the hands that prepared them.”

Ask a parliamentarian

As I say in <<Author>>, I am not a licensed parliamentarian, but I have a fair amount of experience. Use the comments here to ask a question. I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.

Open input

Use the comments here to bring up anything you want about parliamentary procedure in church (or other organizational) struggles.

The author reserves the right to zap any comment without explanation.

A note on dates of posts–ignore them

The dates can be manipulated on WordPress and I do so to arrange the material in a logical, if not tactical, order.

I’ll let you know of new material with a brief initial post.

Just for the record, I started the blog on July 29, 2006 looking toward a training session leading up to our diocese convention in October.