Parliamentary Procedure Jean Gamester, DTM & Monica Horten - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Parliamentary Procedure Jean Gamester, DTM & Monica Horten District 91 September 2017

Who’s Who in our “ Lowerarchy ”?

Our “ Lowerarchy ” www.toastmasters.org

Who are the members of the District Council? What are their responsibilities?

District Council The district council serves as the administrative governing body of the district, operating with powers delegated to the district council by the Board of Directors of Toastmasters International. District Council Business – Key Areas Finances Appointments and Elections Assignment of Clubs to Areas and Divisions Reports www.toastmasters.org

Who are the members of the District Executive Committee? What are their responsibilities?

The DEC – Our District Leaders www.toastmasters.org

Who is the representative of Toastmasters International in the District? District Director

Who is held to account for what District Leaders do in the District? District Director

The District Director • Is the representative of Toastmasters International in the District • Has responsibility for the running of the district and is accountable for achieving the district mission • Is accountable for what district leaders do • All other roles report to the District Director • All district appointments are made by the District Director, some of them need to be confirmed by the DEC and Council • Chairs the Council and the DEC www.toastmasters.org

True or False? “ I’ve been elected to my role, it’s totally up to me how I do it.” False

True or False? The DEC and the Council have total freedom to decide for themselves through voting on motions on how things will be run in the District . False

We are governed by • Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Toastmasters International • District Administrative Bylaws • Club Constitution for Clubs of Toastmasters International • Policy and Protocol • District Leadership Handbook • And Robert’s Rules of Order www.toastmasters.org

“It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it”

“It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it”

What is Parliamentary Procedure?

In Toastmasters – Parliamentary procedure means Roberts Rules of Order

Principles of Roberts Rules • Parliamentary procedure facilitiates the transaction of business in fairness & good faith • All members have rights including absent members • to free & fair debate • to know meaning of a motion and what its effect will be • Minority opinions have the right to be heard • Majority has right to decide • Votes are counted equally – no member votes twice, no member’s vote counted more than once

Motion A formal proposal by a member that certain action be taken. Specific - what, when, who, (financial value). Process 1. Member proposes a motion ▪ Raise hand & wait for recognition ▪ Chair recognises by stating name • Main motion 2. Another member seconds the motion ▪ Seconder agrees the motion should be considered, but does not have to • Proposer be in favour & does not have to be recognised by chair /Second 3. Presiding officer places motion before group • May not interrupt ▪ Repeats the motion as stated & • Debateable ▪ Motion now open for debate & is now property of group 4. Motion is open for debate • Amendable ▪ Chair invites proposer to speak first, then others invited to speak • Majority vote ▪ For /against alternate - chair may ask who wishes to speak for/against ▪ No-one speaks twice until all those who wish to have spoken once ▪ Debate must be on merits of proposal and germane to topic 5. Motion is put to a vote

Deciding the motion Decisions by email are not recommended by Roberts Rules . • Are there any objections? Motion decided by unanimous consent. If no objections, the Chair declares the matter agreed. If even one objection, a vote is held. • Are you ready to vote? Chair • The vote is taken in the following order: announces result • Voice : all those in favour say aye or no . If The ‘aye’s the outcome is not clear or there is have it. disagreement then 14 in favour, 12 against. • Hand signal, and counted. If the outcome is not clear or there is disagreement then - • Secret ballot

• Modify wording Amendments • Insert, add or strike out text • If Amendment is rejected (falls) then original motion may be voted • Must be germane to the Motion - can alter the intention • Amend the Amendment (Secondary Amendment) – it it falls, primary Amendment is voted • Only 1 primary & secondary Am. at a time Proposer & Seconder Subsidiary motion May not interrupt Debateable - on merits of Am Majority vote

Divide the motion Motion to divide a motion so as to Proposer & Second consider two parts of it separately Incidental motion Not debateable - adopted by majority May not interrupt vote speaker Amendable E.g. motion is venue and time of Not Debateable conference - vote separately on where Majority vote to hold it, & what date. If vote agrees to divide, then Chair then states the first part of the Motion and puts to vote

Motion to limit or extend debate • Limit number of speakers or time per speaker on a given Motion Proposer & Seconder • E.g. move to have 2 speakers for & against, Subsidiary motion for 3 mins each May not interrupt • Place maximum time limit on motion Amendable • Not debateable E.g move to close debate at 8.30pm & a vote taken on the motion 2/3 vote • Motion to limit debate is outranked by motion to close debate, and by motion to adjourn

Point of order • Enforcement of the rules • May be raised by anyone • Does not require Second • A point of order may be raised where: • May interrupt a speaker • Not germane to motion • Not debateable • Personal attack or derision • Incidental motion • Interrupting the speaker • Ruled on by the Chair • Speaking over time • Failure to hear all views • Objections outstanding /not addressed • Meeting procedure is not being correctly followed

Appeal a decision of the chair • A member who disagrees with a • May be raised by ruling by chair may appeal : anyone • Requires Second • Relates to decision not the person • May interrupt a • Motion is “Shall the decision of the speaker Chair be sustained?” • Is debateable but not • Takes the matter from the Chair to the amendable group for decision • Majority vote • Is debateable but no member may • Incidental motion speak more than once

Request for information • Request for information relevant to Proposer business at hand No Second • Usually supplementary & readily Incidental motion available Not Debateable No vote • Directed to Chair • E.g. Please ask the Finance Officer to give us the end of year balance?

Some final words