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Robert's Rules of Order is the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in America. It provides rules for conducting meetings so that decisions are made fairly, with majority rule while protecting the rights of the minority. First published in 1876 by General Henry M. Robert, it is now in its 12th edition (2020).
City councils, school boards, HOAs, nonprofits, corporate boards, churches, unions, student governments, professional associations, and thousands of other organizations. Any group that votes on decisions can benefit from parliamentary procedure.
Only if your bylaws say so. Many organizations adopt Robert's Rules as their parliamentary authority but also create their own standing rules or special rules of order that modify specific procedures to fit their needs. Robert's Rules itself is designed to be flexible.
A quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present to conduct business. Without a quorum, the group cannot make binding decisions. Your organization's bylaws should specify the quorum. If not specified, Robert's Rules defaults to a majority of the membership.
Having "the floor" means you have been recognized by the chair to speak. Only one person has the floor at a time. To obtain the floor, stand (or raise your hand in virtual meetings) and wait for the chair to call on you.
This is one of the most misunderstood distinctions. Lay on the Table sets a matter aside temporarily so the group can address something more urgent — with the intention of coming back to it at the same meeting. Postpone delays a matter to a specific future time or meeting. Most people who say "let's table this" actually mean "let's postpone it."
In most organizations, the chair votes only when their vote would affect the result: to break a tie, to create a tie (which defeats a motion), or in a ballot vote where all members vote. The chair should remain impartial during debate.
A point of order is a way to call attention to a rule violation. Any member can raise a point of order by saying "Point of order!" without being recognized. It must be raised promptly, at the time the breach occurs; a point of order raised later is usually too late, except for breaches that have a continuing effect, such as an action that conflicts with the bylaws. The chair then rules on whether the point is well taken.
Yes. The reference materials, charts, tutorial, and AI Parliamentarian are all free to use. We also offer a free tier for meeting management. Premium features like unlimited meetings, transcription, and live streaming are available through our Professional and Public Sector plans.
The AI Parliamentarian is an AI assistant trained on Robert's Rules of Order that can answer your procedural questions in plain English. Ask it anything from "How do I amend a motion?" to "Can a member who voted on the losing side bring back a defeated motion?"
Email us at [email protected]. For procedural questions, try the AI Parliamentarian for instant answers.