American Legion Post 356 Lynn Haven Florida

American Legion

General Membership - First Saturday of the Month 11:00 PM
Executive Board - Third Monday 6:00 PM
House Committee - Second Monday 6:00 PM

Sons of The American Legion

General Membership - First Tuesday 7:00 PM

Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

Meetings held in The American Legion are governed by Robert's Rules of Order. To become an expert in parlimentary procedure can require years of study. You don't have to be an expert to participate in a meeting. Below are presented some of the basic motions and the rules that apply to them. Look for what you want to do in the "To Do This" column, preface your motion with "You Say This" column, and the various requirements for the motion and how it is acted upon follow under the various columns.

"To Do This:"

"You Say This:"

May You
Interrupt
the Speaker?

Do You Need
a Second?

Is It
Debatable?

Can It Be
Ammended?

What Vote
Is Needed?

Can It Be
Reconsidered?

Adjourn Meeting

"I move that we adjourn."

Yes

Majority

Call An Intermission

"I move that we recess for..."

Yes

Majority

Complain About Heat, Noise, Etc.

"I rise to a question of privilege."

Yes

No Vote

No
(usually)

Temporarily Suspend Consideration of an Issue

"I move to table the motion."

Yes

Majority

End Debate and Amendments

"I move the previous question"

Yes

2/3

No¹

Postpone Discussion for a Certain Time

"I move to postpone the discussion until..."

Yes

Majority

Yes

Give Closer Study of Something

"I move to refer the matter to committee."

Yes

Majority

Yes²

Amend a Motion

"I move to amend the motion by..."

Yes

Yes³

Yes

Majority

Yes

Introduce Business

"I move that..."

Yes

Majority

Yes

Motions Listed Above Are In Order Of Precedence

That means that motions that are higher up the list will be acted on before those below it on the list. For instance, if you have a motion that is being debated and someone wants to complain about the noise in the room (A Question of Privilege), that will be answered before debate continues. Or, if someone makes an amendment to a motion, the amendment is voted on before the motion it amended.

The Motions Below Are In No Order

"To Do This:"

"You Say This:"

May You
Interrupt
the Speaker?

Do You Need
a Second?

Is It
Debatable?

Can It Be
Ammended?

What Vote
Is Needed?

Can It Be
Reconsidered?

Protest Breach of Rules or Conduct

"I rise to a point of order."

Yes

No Vote⁴

To Vote on a Ruling of the Chair

"I appeal from the chair's decision."

Yes

Majority

Yes

Suspend Rules Temporaily

"I move to suspend the rules so that..."

Yes

2/3

Avoid Considering an Improper Matter

"I object to consideration of this motion."

Yes

2/3⁶

--⁷

Verify a Voice Vote by Having Members Stand

"I call for a division." or "Division"

Yes

No Vote

Request Information

"Point of information."

Yes

No Vote

Take Up a Matter Previously Tabled

"I move to take from the table..."

Yes

Majority

Reconsider a Hasty Action

"I move to reconsider the vote on..."

Yes

--⁸

Majority

Notes:

¹ Unless vote on question is not yet taken.

² Unless the committee has already taken up the subject.

³ Only if the motion to be amended is debatable.

⁴ Except in doubtful cases.

⁵ A majority vote in negative needed to reverse the ruling of the chair.

⁶ A 2/3 vote in negative is needed to prevent consideration of main motion.

⁷ Only if the main question or motion was not, in fact, considered.

⁸ Only if the motion to be reconsidered is debatable.