Robert 's Rules of Order - wikipedia Robert 's Rules of Order `` In Brief '' redirects here. For online publication formerly known as In Brief, see Virginia Law Review Online. Robert 's Rules of Order Cover of 2011 ( 11th ) edition Author General Henry M. Robert Sarah Corbin Robert Henry M. Robert III William J. Evans Daniel H. Honemann Thomas J. Balch Daniel E. Seabold Shmuel Gerber Publisher Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group Publication date 2011 Pages 669 ( main text ), 716 ( numbered ), 816 ( total ) ISBN 978 - 0 - 306 - 82021 - 2 ( hardcover ) 978 - 0 - 306 - 82020 - 5 ( paperback ) 978 - 0 - 306 - 82022 - 9 ( leatherbound ) OCLC 860989594 Dewey Decimal 060.42 ROB LC Class JF515. R692 2011 Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised, commonly referred to as Robert 's Rules of Order ( or simply Robert 's Rules ), is the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in the United States. It governs the meetings of a diverse range of organizations -- including church groups, county commissions, homeowners associations, nonprofit associations, professional societies, school boards, and trade unions -- that have adopted it as their parliamentary authority. The manual was first published in 1876 by U.S. Army officer Henry Martyn Robert, who adapted the rules and practice of Congress to the needs of non-legislative societies. Ten subsequent editions have been published, including major revisions in 1915 and 1970. The copyright to Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised is owned by the Robert 's Rules Association, which selects by contract an authorship team to continue the task of revising and updating the book. The 11th and current edition was published in 2011. In 2005, the Robert 's Rules Association published an official concise guide, titled Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief. A second edition of the brief book was published in 2011. Contents 1 History and origins 2 Official editions and other versions 2.1 Official editions 2.2 In Brief 2.3 Other variations 3 Explanation of purpose of book 4 Contents of current ( 11th ) edition 4.1 The Basics 4.2 Motions 4.3 Various topics 4.4 Charts, tables, and lists 5 Additional information related to current edition 6 Changes between editions 7 Explanations of rules in book 8 Application to specific organizations 8.1 Types of organizations 8.2 Law - making bodies 8.3 Corporate world 8.4 Parliamentarians 8.5 Youth organizations 9 Alternative rules for organizations 9.1 Organization - specific rules 9.2 Other parliamentary authorities 9.3 Consensus decision - making 10 References 10.1 Primary Sources 10.2 Citations 11 External links 11.1 Preview ( limited pages ) of current editions 11.2 Sites providing full text of older editions ( from public domain ) History and origins Henry M. Robert The first edition of the book, whose full title was Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies, was published in February 1876 by then U.S. Army Major Henry Martyn Robert ( 1837 -- 1923 ) with the short title Robert 's Rules of Order placed on its cover. The procedures prescribed by the book were loosely modeled after those used in the United States House of Representatives, with such adaptations as Robert saw fit for use in ordinary societies. Although he was in the military, the rules in his book were not based on military rules. The author 's interest in parliamentary procedure began in 1863 when he was chosen to preside over a church meeting and, although he accepted the task, he felt that he did not have the necessary knowledge of proper procedure. In his later work as an active member of several organizations, Robert discovered that members from different areas of the country had very different views regarding what the proper parliamentary rules were, and these conflicting views hampered the organizations in their work. He eventually became convinced of the need for a new manual on the subject, one which would enable many organizations to adopt the same set of rules. Official editions and other versions Original 1876 ( 1st ) edition cover Official editions Henry M. Robert himself published four editions of the manual before his death in 1923, the last being the thoroughly revised and expanded Fourth Edition published as Robert 's Rules of Order Revised in May 1915. By this time Robert had long been retired from the Army with the rank of brigadier general. The revisions were based on the feedback from hundreds of letters that Robert had received through the years. In addition, to explain the rules in Robert 's Rules of Order Revised ( abbreviated ROR ), Robert published an introductory book for beginners titled Parliamentary Practice : An Introduction to Parliamentary Law in 1921 and a full book of explanations titled Parliamentary Law in 1923. Through a family trust, and later through the Robert 's Rules Association ( which is made up of descendants of Henry M. Robert ), several subsequent editions of Robert 's Rules of Order have been published, including another major revision of the work. The Seventh Edition, published in February 1970 on the 94th anniversary of the publication of the First Edition, was the first under the title Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR ). The subsequent editions were based on additional feedback from users, including feedback received by electronic means in recent years. These later editions included material from Robert 's Parliamentary Practice and Parliamentary Law. The current edition of the series became effective on September 23, 2011 under the title Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised, Eleventh Edition. This edition states that it : supersedes all previous editions and is intended automatically to become the parliamentary authority in organizations whose bylaws prescribe `` Robert 's Rules of Order, '' `` Robert 's Rules of Order Revised, '' `` Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised, '' or `` the current edition of '' any of these titles, or the like, without specifying a particular edition. -- The authorship team of the current Eleventh Edition consists of a grandson of General Robert, an attorney, a lobbyist and legislative analyst, a mathematics professor, and a copy editor, all of them being experienced parliamentarians. More than five and a half million copies have been printed ( which is a total of all editions ). The following table lists the official versions of the body of work known as Robert 's Rules of Order developed by Henry M. Robert and maintained by his successors. Editions of Robert 's Rules of Order, Robert 's Rules of Order Revised, and Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised Title Edition Year Authors ( posthumous authorial credit in italics ) Publisher Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies : Robert 's Rules of Order First 1876 Major Henry M. Robert S.C. Griggs & Company Second 1876 Major Henry M. Robert ( Lieut. Colonel in later printings ) S.C. Griggs & Company Third 1893 Lieut. Colonel Henry M. Robert ( Colonel, then General in later printings ) S.C. Griggs & Company ( Scott, Foresman and Company in later printings ) Robert 's Rules of Order Revised Fourth 1915 General Henry M. Robert Scott, Foresman and Company Fifth 1943 General Henry M. Robert ( Editors : Isabel H. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert, Trustee ) Scott, Foresman and Company Sixth 1951 General Henry M. Robert ( Editors : Isabel H. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert, Trustee ) Scott, Foresman and Company Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised Seventh 1970 General Henry M. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert with the assistance of Henry M. Robert III, James W. Cleary, and William J. Evans Scott, Foresman and Company Eighth 1981 General Henry M. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert with the assistance of Henry M. Robert III, James W. Cleary, and William J. Evans Scott, Foresman and Company Ninth General Henry M. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert with the assistance of Henry M. Robert III and William J. Evans Scott, Foresman and Company Tenth 2000 General Henry M. Robert, Sarah Corbin Robert, Henry M. Robert III, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, and Thomas J. Balch Perseus Books Eleventh 2011 General Henry M. Robert, Sarah Corbin Robert, Henry M. Robert III, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, and Thomas J. Balch with the assistance of Daniel E. Seabold and Shmuel Gerber Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group In Brief Henry M. Robert III, grandson of the original author and Trustee for the Robert 's Rules Association, had acknowledged that `` there has been controversy among parliamentarians concerning the length of Robert 's Rules in its various editions and the complexity of the rules it describes. '' As a result, a supplemental book was developed. In 2005, a shorter reference guide, Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief ( abbreviated RONRIB ), was published by the same authorship team and publisher as the Tenth Edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR ) and was made to be in accord with that edition of RONR. A second edition of this shorter guide was published in 2011 to conform with the current Eleventh Edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised. The In Brief book is the only authorized concise guide for Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised and is intended as an introductory book for those unfamiliar with parliamentary procedure. The authors say, `` In only twenty minutes, the average reader can learn the bare essentials, and with about an hour 's reading can cover all the basics. '' It is meant to be an introductory supplement to the current edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised and is not suitable for adoption as a parliamentary authority in itself. Other variations Since the copyrights for several of the original editions ( 1915 or earlier ) have expired, numerous other books and manuals have been published incorporating `` Robert 's Rules of Order '' as part of their titles, with some of them based on those earlier editions ( see List of books with Robert 's Rules in the title ). The existence of multiple editions and other variations, all published as `` Robert 's Rules of Order '', can sometimes cause confusion, as the various publications may differ in some details. Explanation of purpose of book Generally, Robert 's Rules of Order is a guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group. The purpose of the book is `` to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member 's opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion. '' The book is designed for use in ordinary societies rather than legislative assemblies, and it is the most commonly adopted parliamentary authority among societies in the United States. It is also recognized as `` the most widely used reference for meeting procedure and business rules in the English - speaking world. '' The book states that it is `` a codification of the present - day general parliamentary law ''. `` General parliamentary law '' refers to the common rules and customs for conducting business in organizations and assemblies. It does not refer to statutory legal requirements nor to common - law precedent derived from court judgments. In other words, the book is about procedures for meetings and not about what is `` legal '' ( i.e. it is not a law book ). As a reference, it is designed to answer, as nearly as possible, any question of parliamentary procedure that may arise. The Eleventh Edition contains 669 pages of text, and all of its original content was included because it `` has at some time come up as a question of procedure somewhere ''. The completeness of the book was made so that organizations would not have to write extensive rules for themselves. In addition, members of different organizations could refer to the same book of rules. Contents of current ( 11th ) edition The contents of the current ( 11th ) edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR ), published in 2011, include details on the types of groups that use the book, the ways that decisions could be made, and the various situations in which decisions are made. The basics The Introduction in the book provides a history of parliamentary procedure and includes the background and history of Robert 's Rules of Order. Rules in the book are based on the rights of the majority, of the minority ( especially a strong minority that is greater than one third ), of individual members, of absentees, and of all these together. Some fundamental principles upon which the book is based include : one question at a time ; one person, one vote ; and a vote being limited to members present. A group that uses the book is called a deliberative assembly. The types of deliberative assemblies are a mass meeting, a local assembly of an organized society ( local club or local branch ), a convention, a legislative body, and a board. An organization may have rules which could include a corporate charter, a constitution or bylaws, rules of order ( special rules of order and parliamentary authority ), standing rules, and customs. To conduct business, groups have meetings or sessions that may be separated by more than or be within a quarterly time interval. The types of meetings are a regular meeting, a special meeting, an adjourned meeting, an annual meeting, an executive session, a public session, and electronic meetings. A member of a deliberative assembly has the right to attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote. The process of making a decision is done through a motion, which is a proposal to do something. The formal steps in handling a motion are the making of a motion, having a second, stating the motion, having debate on the motion, putting the motion to a vote, and announcing the results of the vote. Action could be taken informally without going through these steps by using unanimous consent. When making a choice, the basic principle of decision is majority vote. In situations when more than majority vote is required, the requirement could include a two - thirds vote, previous notice, or a vote of a majority of the entire membership. Motions The book provides details about main motion s including the motion to ratify. In addition, the book lists other motions and provides details ( including explanations, forms, and examples ) on these motions which include : Subsidiary Motions - Postpone Indefinitely, Amend, Commit or Refer, Postpone to a Certain Time, Limit or Extend Limits of Debate, Previous Question, and Lay on the Table Privileged Motions - Call for the Orders of the Day, Raise a Question of Privilege, Recess, Adjourn, and Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn Incidental Motions - Point of Order, Appeal, Suspend the Rules, Objection to the Consideration of a Question, Division of a Question, Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim, Motions Relating to Methods of Voting and the Polls, Motions Relating to Nominations, Request to Be Excused from a Duty, and Requests and Inquiries ( Parliamentary Inquiry, Request for Information, Request for Permission ( or Leave ) to Withdraw or Modify a Motion, Request to Read Papers, and Request for Any Other Privilege ) Motions That Bring A Question Again Before An Assembly - Take from the Table, Rescind / Amend Something Previously Adopted, Discharge a Committee, and Reconsider Details for each motion include its purpose, when it could be made, if it is debatable, if it is amendable, the vote required for adoption, and if it could be reconsidered. The `` order of precedence '', or rank, of the motions is also described in detail. Various topics The second half of the book covers various topics in detail. Brief summaries of these topics are as follows : Depending on the situation, motions could be renewed, or made again. On the other hand, members should not use legitimate motions for dilatory and improper purposes to waste time. A quorum, or minimum number of members, is required to be present at a meeting in order to validly conduct business. The business that is to come up in a meeting could be listed in an order of business or an agenda. Each member could get a chance to speak through assignment of the floor and debate. Debate may be limited in the number of speeches and time and should be respectful to others at all times. Voting takes place to decide the course of action and it could be done in a multitude of ways, such as voice vote, standing vote, and ballot vote. Officers in an organization could be elected through the process of nominations and elections. Each organization decides for itself which officers to have, but the minimum officers in a deliberative assembly are a presiding officer ( usually `` president '' or `` chairman '' ) and a secretary. The secretary keeps the minutes, or the official records of the proceedings, for each meeting. As part of their duties, the officers may have reports to give, such as a financial report given by the treasurer. In addition, an organization may have a board to handle business on behalf of the organization. Officers and boards only have such authority and powers that are given to them in the governing documents of the organization. There may also be committees that are formed to assist the organization. The boards and committees may have reports to give as well. People may gather in mass meetings for a specific purpose or cause. One such purpose of the mass meetings could be for the intent of organizing a permanent society. Each organization has its basic rules contained in its bylaws. The bylaws could describe the name of the organization and its purpose, the requirements to be a member or an officer, how meetings are scheduled, if there are boards or committees ( or both ), its parliamentary authority, and how to amend the bylaws. Representatives from constituent groups may gather as delegates in conventions to conduct business on behalf of the organization. Conventions may consist of several meetings and may last for several days or more on an annual basis or other such infrequent interval. If members do not act according to the organization 's rules, they could be subject to disciplinary procedures. Such action could range from censure to the extreme of expulsion from the organization. Officers could be disciplined by removal from office. Charts, tables, and lists The tinted pages ( pages marked by a gray band along the outer edge ) in the rear of the book contain the following charts, tables, and lists : ( 1 ) Chart for Determining When Each Subsidiary or Privileged Motion Is In Order, ( 2 ) Table of Rules Relating to Motions, ( 3 ) Sample Forms Used in Making Motions, ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) Motions and Parliamentary Steps, ( 6 ) Motions Which Require a Two - Thirds Vote, ( 7 ) Motions Whose Reconsideration Is Prohibited Or Limited, and ( 8 ) Table of Rules for Counting Election Ballots. Additional Information related to current edition In addition to containing a summary of basic points from the current ( 11th ) edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR ), the following contents are unique to the current ( 2nd ) edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief ( RONRIB ) : an example of an agenda, additional sample dialogues, frequently asked questions, an example of a call of a meeting, an example of a memorandum listing the order of business, and the following tables : ( A ) Handling Motions as Chair, ( B ) When Chair Stands and Sits, ( C ) Conducting a Meeting as Chair, ( D ) Table of Rules Relating to Motions, and ( E ) Words to Use as a Member. The Robert 's Rules Association has also made the Eleventh Edition available in CD - ROM format ( designed for installation on Windows PCs ) through American Legal Publishing. The CD contains the current editions of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised and Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief as well as a Timekeeper 's Guide, Teller 's Report, Sample Rules for Electronic Meetings, various Forms, and resources for Ballot Voting and Understanding Secondary Amendments. An e-book version of the current Eleventh Edition has not been released by the Robert 's Rules Association. Any copy of Robert 's Rules of Order that is downloaded online is likely an older edition ( 1915 or earlier ) that is available in the public domain. Translations of any edition of Robert 's Rules of Order into other languages have not been published by the Robert 's Rules Association. Any translated copy of Robert 's Rules of Order done by a third party may not accurately reflect the correct meaning in the target language. Changes between editions The following table lists some of the changes that were made between the editions of Robert 's Rules of Order. The numbered pages may not correspond to the total number of pages in the edition due to additional material in the preface, introduction, and other miscellaneous pages that were not included in the numbering system. Edition ( Year ) Numbered Pages Partial list of changes from previous edition 1st ( 1876 ) 176 Original edition 2nd ( 1876 ) 192 Added Part III : Miscellaneous ( the 1st Edition only had Parts I and II ) Revised Table of Rules and moved it from back of book to front of book 3rd ( 1893 ) 218 Motion to Lie on the Table was changed to Lay on the Table Filling Blanks was moved from `` Miscellaneous motions '' to under Motion to Amend Added motion to Rescind 4th ( 1915 ) 323 `` Completely reworked and 75 percent enlarged by original author '' Significant reorganization of the book ( Part III combined into Part II and portions of Part II combined into Part I ) Added motion to Recess Added many of the incidental motions 5th ( 1943 ) 326 Incorporated only in - page changes planned by General Robert before his death Expanded Index 6th ( 1951 ) 326 Added Principles Underlying Parliamentary Law Added The Parliamentarian Added that notice for a special meeting should state its purpose Added suggested wording for bylaws with regard to the annual meeting, officer terms, and nominating committee 7th ( 1970 ) 594 `` Enlarged more than twofold and totally recast to be made self - explanatory '' Complete reworking of the book in order to maintain copyright Main divisions of the book changed from `` Articles '' to `` Chapters '' Presented natural order of motions ( from lowest to highest rank ) Significant expansion of explanation of motions with examples Added topics including `` agenda '' and `` executive session '' Added tinted pages of charts and tables Omitted most of references to Congress 8th ( 1981 ) 594 Recognized that a board is a form of deliberative assembly ( unlike a committee ) Clarified rule prohibiting interruption of voting Clarified motions of Previous Question and Lay on the Table 9th ( 1990 ) 706 Reinserted hints to inexperienced presiding officers ( this section was removed from the 7th Edition ) Added some principles of interpretation of bylaws and other documents Recognized that copies of minutes and agenda may be submitted in advance 10th ( 2000 ) 704 Re-formatted book, added line numbers, and moved tinted pages from middle of book to end of book ( and changed the `` tint '' from the color of the entire page to a gray band along the outer edge of the page ) Removed some references to being `` legal '' ( parliamentary law is not a court of law ) Recognized alternate forms of `` chairman '' ( `` chair '' or `` chairperson '' ) Recognized customs Expanded explanation of Point of Order and its timeliness including when there is a breach of a continuing nature Recognized existence of the internet and possible electronic meetings 11th ( 2011 ) 716 `` Significantly re-edited with expanded and updated treatment of many topics '' A new subsection on electronic meetings Recognized that notice may be sent by electronic communication such as e-mail More fully explained rules for counting ballots and resolving election disputes Added definition for a member `` in good standing '' A thorough revision of the chapter on disciplinary procedures Removed more references to being `` legal '' ( parliamentary law is not a court of law ) Re-formatted Index ( Index became more `` compact '' ) Generally, a fuller list and more details of the changes are found in the preface of each edition. A detailed list of changes for the current ( 11th ) edition is provided on the website maintained by the Robert 's Rules Association. All the changes were a result of questions and comments received from users. Explanations of Rules in book Starting in the period between the Tenth Edition and the Eleventh Edition, the authors released official interpretations of rules in the book onto the website maintained by the Robert 's Rules Association. The interpretations from that period were later incorporated into the Eleventh Edition. In addition, the authors addressed common misunderstandings of the rules coming from frequently asked questions. Some of the misunderstandings involve : when the president can vote, if ex-officio members can vote, the definition of majority, how abstention s affect the vote, a `` friendly amendment '', `` calling the question '', `` tabling '' a motion, getting items on the agenda, and the contents of minutes. While these misunderstandings are of the rules in the current edition of Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised, the organization may be governed by other rules which supersede these `` default '' rules. The official interpretations and addressed common misunderstandings were a result of questions posted in the Question & Answer Forum at the Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. This forum is actively moderated by members of the authorship team. Application to specific organizations In those cases in which the bylaws or other governing documents of an organization refer to `` Robert 's Rules of Order, '' certain rules in the book may be subordinate to other specified rules, including any conflicting provisions in applicable law, the corporate charter, the constitution or bylaws, and special rules of order. Types of organizations In the Question & Answer Forum on the website maintained by the Robert 's Rules Association, members of the following types of organizations have posted questions regarding how the rules in the book apply to their specific organization : alumni associations charitable organizations church groups city councils community organizations condominium associations cooperatives county commissions cultural groups dog clubs educational groups family reunions Greek fraternities and sororities gaming clubs golf and country clubs hobby groups homeowner associations horse clubs nonprofit associations political organizations professional societies school boards school groups scientific organizations service organizations sports leagues student governments teacher associations trade unions village boards volunteer fire departments yacht clubs Law - making bodies Generally, Robert 's Rules of Order is designed for ordinary societies. However, law - making bodies at the local level ( such as a city council or a county commission ) function similarly to boards of societies. The book has found application to such bodies. Such bodies are also subject to open meeting laws ( Sunshine laws ) and other applicable laws, all of which supersede any conflicting provisions in the book. On the other hand, legislative bodies at the state or national level have their own well - defined set of rules ( such as Mason 's Manual of Legislative Procedure ). However, a survey found that four state legislative chambers in the United States still use Robert 's Rules of Order. Corporate world Further information : Parliamentary procedure in the corporate world Robert 's Rules of Order is based on each member of a group having equal weight as expressed by vote. This book has found application in the corporate world, such as in shareholder meetings and in board of director meetings. However, the rules have to be modified to account for when some individuals within the group have more power than others. Parliamentarians A parliamentarian is an expert on parliamentary procedure. To be effective consultants for the organizations they work for, parliamentarians are expected to be knowledgeable on Robert 's Rules of Order. The National Association of Parliamentarians ( NAP ) is the largest non-profit association of parliamentarians in the world. This organization bases its opinions and instruction upon Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( 11th ed. ). Membership in this organization requires passing an exam which is based on the first half of the concise guide, Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief ( 2nd ed. ). The American Institute of Parliamentarians is another non-profit association of parliamentarians. This organization stresses proficiency and familiarity with a variety of parliamentary authorities, although it states on its website that `` Robert 's Rules of Order is the most frequently used parliamentary authority ''. The website also states that it `` is the premier manual on parliamentary authority '' and `` a ' must - have ' text for every parliamentarian ''. Youth organizations Youth organizations, such as Business Professionals of America ( BPA ), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America ( FCCLA ), Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda ( FBLA - PBL ), HOSA - Future Health Professionals, the National FFA Organization, and SkillsUSA, sponsor parliamentary procedure competitions ( such as Parli Pro ) as part of their programs for their student members. These competitions are based on Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised. The National Association of Parliamentarians have partnered with some of these organizations. Robert 's Rules of Order are used in Congressional Debate ( also referred to as Student Congress ), an event put on by the National Speech and Debate Association ( NSDA ). Robert 's Rules of Order is also used in Model United Nations conferences. While the chair of each committee in an MUN conference may sometimes deviate from the written rules for educational purposes, the format of the rules in the specific committees is mostly based on Robert 's Rules of Order. Another program in which Robert 's Rules of Order may be used is Model Congress, although the rules in these programs may more closely resemble those in the legislative assemblies that the programs simulate. Alternative Rules for organizations Organization - specific Rules Even if an organization has adopted Robert 's Rules of Order, it can still adopt its own rules which supersede any rules in this book. The only limitations might come from the rules in a parent organization or from national, state, or local law. An example of a rule that organizations sometimes adopt is one that allows the use of proxy voting. Such a rule is not allowed unless the organization specifically provides for it in its bylaws. Other parliamentary authorities Parliamentarians have estimated that about 85 to 95 percent of organizations in the United States use Robert 's Rules of Order. The remaining percentage of organizations use other books on meeting procedures. Notable examples of such books on parliamentary authority include The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, Demeter 's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, and Riddick 's Rules of Procedure. These books along with Robert 's Rules of Order share the general idea of rule of the majority with respect for the minority. A difference may be a `` simplification '' of the rules. Henry M. Robert III responded to the simplification by saying the following : In an effort to make parliamentary procedure more widely accessible, known, and employed, the approach of `` simplification '' unfortunately resurrects the very problem that Robert 's Rules first emerged to solve. When there are large gaps in the rules, one or more of three major problems occur : much time is spent in debating what the rules are or should be, the chair unilaterally imposes a result, or the majority imposes a result that frequently disregards the rights of the minority. When virtually everyone agrees, an assembly may be able to get by without resort to elaborate rules. When there is serious division, however, it is in human nature that each side will attempt to construe any ambiguity in the rules in such a way as to foster its substantive objectives. The ideal is that the rules applicable to a contentious subject are so clear that the contending sides can not plausibly differently interpret them to their own advantage. Only then does parliamentary law fully play its role as the neutral arbiter that channels disputes into productive debate over substance, instead of time - wasting and manipulative maneuvering over procedure. Also in response to the simplification was the publication of a supplemental guide to the official book ( see In Brief ). Consensus decision - making In modern parliamentary procedure, the usual practice is having a proposal first, then discussion on this proposal with any modifications to it, and finally a vote on it, with majority vote deciding the issue if there are any disagreements. An alternative to this process is consensus decision - making. In this alternative, discussion of potential proposals is held first, followed by the framing of a proposal, and then modifying it until the group reaches a consensus, when there is no longer any disagreement. As a response to this alternative, the authors of Robert 's Rules of Order stated their belief in using debate and majority vote as part of the process in making decisions for the group. References Primary sources Robert, Henry M. ; et al. ( 2011 ). Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( 11th ed. ). Philadelphia, PA : Da Capo Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 306 - 82021 - 2 ( hardcover ), ISBN 978 - 0 - 306 - 82020 - 5 ( paperback ), ISBN 978 - 0 - 306 - 82022 - 9 ( leatherbound ) Robert III, Henry M. ( 2011 ). `` The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site ( Home ) ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. The Robert 's Rules Association. Citations ^ Jump up to : Slaughter, Jim ; Ragsdale, Gaut ; Ericson, Jon L. ( 2012 ). Notes and Comments on Robert 's Rules ( Fourth ed. ). Carbondale and Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press. p. 160. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8093 - 3215 - 1. ^ Jump up to : `` RONR Question & Answer Forum : Introduction ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. xliii ^ Jump up to : `` Historical Vignette 038 - An Army Engineer Brought Order to Church Meetings ''. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Office of History. November 2001. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 25. ^ Jump up to : `` A Short History of Robert 's Rules ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Trout, Stran. `` Pictures of Robert 's Rules of Order ''. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. First Edition 1876 ( Note the diamond shape on the cover ) Jump up ^ `` One of the Best Sellers ''. Google News Archive Search. The Day. August 22, 1917. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 01. Jump up ^ Kloss, Gerald ( December 5, 1955 ). `` The Man Who Wrote the Rule Book ''. Google News Archive Search. The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 27. ^ Jump up to : `` Excerpts from Speech by Henry M. Robert III ( Presented September 21, 2004 to the convention of the National Association of Parliamentarians ) ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Robert, Henry M. ( 1921 ). Parliamentary Practice : An Introduction to Parliamentary Law. New York : D. Appleton - Century Company. p. x. Jump up ^ Robert, Henry M. ( 1923 ). Parliamentary Law. New York : D. Appleton - Century Company. p. v. Jump up ^ `` The 75th Anniversary of Robert 's Rules of Order ''. Google News Archive Search. The Afro - American ( Reprinted from the Maryland Teacher ). March 24, 1951. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Madam, Are You Out of Order ? ''. Google News Archive Search. The Free Lance - Star ( via the AP ). September 6, 1957. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 27. Jump up ^ Braude, Dick ( January 11, 1981 ). `` Roberts rules pass test of time ''. Google News Archive Search. Beaver County ( Pa. ) Times ( via the AP ). Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 02. Jump up ^ Dennis, Landt ( July 5, 1970 ). `` Is ' Robert 's Rules ' Passe ? ''. Google News Archive Search. Toledo Blade ( reprinted by permission from the Christian Science Monitor ). Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 25. Jump up ^ `` New edition of ' Robert 's Rules ' ready ''. Google News Archive Search. The Southeast Missourian. July 14, 1970. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 02. Jump up ^ `` National Association of Parliamentarians > > Convention Minutes ( 38th Biennial Convention Minutes September 2011 ) ''. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Announcement by Henry M. Robert, III, at the 2011 convention of the National Association of Parliamentarians ®. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. vii Jump up ^ Donadio, Rachel ( May 20, 2007 ). `` Point of Order ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ `` About the Authors of RONR ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. ^ Jump up to : Trout, Stran. `` Robert 's Rules of Order Printings ''. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 19. Jump up ^ Ockerbloom, John Mark. `` The Online Books Page, Online Books by Henry M. Robert ''. University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 20. ^ Jump up to : `` Robert 's Rules In Brief ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. ^ Jump up to : Robert 2011, p. xxiv Jump up ^ `` Get The Right Book ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. lii ^ Jump up to : Slaughter, Jim. `` Parliamentary Procedure in the 21st Century ( Updated from `` Parliamentary Procedure in 2005 '' in the 2005 The Toastmaster Magazine ) ``. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. RONR is used by approximately 85 % of all organizations in the United States. ^ Jump up to : Sylvester, Nancy. `` The New Version of Robert 's and Why You Should Care ''. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Since approximately 95 % of the organizations in the U.S. prescribe Robert 's as their parliamentary authority, the 11th edition is most likely the parliamentary authority for all organizations you are involved in. Jump up ^ `` National Association of Parliamentarians > > FAQ ''. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 08. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. xxix Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. li Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 263 Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 5 Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 3 Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 54 Jump up ^ Robert 2011, pp. xxi - xxii Jump up ^ Robert III, Henry M. ; et al. ( 2011 ). Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief ( 2nd ed. ). Philadelphia, PA : Da Capo Press. p. vii. ISBN 978 - 0 - 306 - 82019 - 9. Jump up ^ `` The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site ( Home ) ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ On the official website, there is no mention of an e-book version. Jump up ^ On the official website, there is no mention of translated versions. Jump up ^ Kostrioukova, Anastassia ( October 22, 2014 ). `` Oleg Kharkhordin speaks on rules of order in Russian society ''. jordanrussiacenter.org. NYU Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Jump up ^ Donadio, Rachel ( May 20, 2007 ). `` Point of Order ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Changes in the Eleventh Edition ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. ^ Jump up to : `` Official Interpretations by the Authors of RONR ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. ^ Jump up to : `` Frequently Asked Questions about RONR ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 8 Jump up ^ `` Mason 's Manual for Legislative Bodies ''. National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 2 Jump up ^ Slaughter, Jim. `` Corporate Meetings and Parliamentary Procedure ''. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Updated from and reprinted with permission from `` Better, More Legal Corporate Meetings '' in the June / July 1998 N.C. Business Lawyer. Jump up ^ Bierbaum, Gene, PhD ( 2010 ). The Parliamentarian of Tomorrow. Xlibris Corporation. p. 23. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4535 - 4792 - 2. Jump up ^ `` National Association of Parliamentarians > > Parliamentary Basics ''. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` National Association of Parliamentarians > > How to Apply ''. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Become a Parliamentarian - American Institute of Parliamentarians ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 02 - 19. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Recommended Reading - American Institute of Parliamentarians ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 11 - 17. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 12. Jump up ^ `` National Association of Parliamentarians > > Youth Partnerships ''. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 30. Jump up ^ `` NSDA HS Manual '' ( PDF ). National Speech and Debate Association. Jump up ^ `` Rules of Procedure ( Model UN Preparation ) ''. United Nations Association of the United States of America. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 02. Jump up ^ `` 2015 Revised Student Congress Bylaws ''. www.actaa.net. Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Jump up ^ Ramirez - Richer, Emma ( December 22, 2015 ). `` CVU goes to Princeton Model Congress ''. www.shelburnenews.com. Shelburne News. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Jump up ^ `` How to Adopt Robert 's Rules of Order ''. The Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. 429 Jump up ^ Robert 2011, p. l : `` Robert saw, on the other hand, that the evolution of majority vote in tandem with lucid and clarifying debate -- resulting in a decision representing the view of the deliberate majority -- far more clearly ferrets out and demonstrates the will of an assembly. '' External links Wikisource has original text related to this article : Robert 's Rules of Order The Official Robert 's Rules Of Order Web Site ( robertsrules.com ) Site maintained by the Robert 's Rules Association Preview ( limited pages ) of current editions Preview Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR, 11th ed., 2011 ) through Google Books Preview Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief ( RONRIB, 2nd ed., 2011 ) through Google Books Sites providing Full text of older editions ( from public domain ) The following sites are not maintained by the Robert 's Rules Association and have no relation to the Official Robert 's Rules of Order Web Site : robertsrules.org Full text of 1915 ( 4th ) ed. ( ROR ) - This site is not related to the official site despite a similar domain name. constitution.org Full text of 1915 ( 4th ) ed. ( ROR ) rulesonline.com Full text of 1915 ( 4th ) ed. ( ROR ) bartleby.com Full text of 1915 ( 4th ) ed. ( ROR ) Project Gutenberg Full text of 1876 ( 1st ) ed. ( original edition ) Parliamentary procedure Major concepts History of parliamentary procedure Principles of parliamentary procedure Deliberative assembly Committee Session Quorum Chair Floor Recognition Motion Second Debate Main motion Order of business Minutes Voting methods in deliberative assemblies Majority Unanimous consent Subsidiary motions Postpone indefinitely Amend Commit Postpone to a certain time Limit or extend limits of debate Previous question Cloture Lay on the table Privileged motions Call for the orders of the day Raise a question of privilege Recess Adjourn Fix the time to which to adjourn Incidental motions Point of order Appeal Suspend the rules Objection to the consideration of a question Division of a question Consideration by paragraph or seriatim Division of the assembly Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls Motions relating to nominations Request to be excused from a duty Requests and inquiries ( Parliamentary inquiry, Request for information, Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion, Request to read papers, Request for any other privilege ) Motions that bring a question again before the assembly Take from the table Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted Discharge a committee Reconsider Legislative procedures Call of the house Hoist Motion to pass on Recall of Parliament Disciplinary procedures Censure Declare the chair vacant Impeach Naming Parliamentary authorities Robert 's Rules of Order Newly Revised ( RONR ) The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure ( TSC or Sturgis ) Demeter 's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure Riddick 's Rules of Procedure Mason 's Manual of Legislative Procedure Erskine May : Parliamentary Practice Jefferson 's Manual Bourinot 's Rules of Order Beauchesne 's Parliamentary Rules and Forms Morin code ABC of Chairmanship Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert%27s_Rules_of_Order&oldid=841235100 '' Categories : Meetings Group processes Group decision - making Parliamentary procedure Parliamentary authority 1876 books Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty All articles with self - published sources Articles with self - published sources from December 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français 한국어 日本 語 Русский 文言 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 14 May 2018, at 18 : 21. 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Question: what is the most current version of robert's rules of order
Answer: The 11th