Robert’s Rules of Order: Brief Summary of Basic Procedures 

Prepared for the AMWG Technical Work Group by Mary Orton, January 2000 

IntroductionThis document is designed to give the reader a brief overview of some of the basic procedures of Robert's Rules of Order. 

operating procedures of the Technical Work Group. For a full discussion of the Rules, see Robert's Rules of Order, Newly 

Robert’s Rules of Order were designed to protect the rights of the minority, while allowing an organization to accomplish its 

Most parliamentarians agree that correct parliamentary procedure should be followed as a matter of course, not only when also agree that strict parliamentary correctness should never be insisted upon for its own sake. 

Henry Robert, the original author of Robert's Rules of Order, said, “The great lesson for democracies to learn is for the majo

minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case, and then for the minority, having failed to win a majority to thsubmit and to recognize the action as that of the entire organization, and cheerfully to assist in carrying it out, until they can the same time, he was committed to developing consensus in the groups with which he worked. He was not in favor in the demonstrated in the English House of Lords, where a requirement of unanimity or near unanimity had become a form of tyrahe saw “that the evolution of majority vote in tandem with lucid and clarifying debate – resulting in a decision representing thdeliberate majority – far more clearly ferrets out and demonstrates the will of an assembly.”1

Accomplishing the Business of the GroupBusiness is brought before an assembly with a motion made by a member. Business is carried out by making and voting o

of a motion involves six basic steps, all of which must occur for action to be taken. 

1. A member makes a motion. 2. Another member seconds the motion. 

3. The chairperson states the question on the motion; that is, restates the motion exactly as it is to be pas

4. Members debate the motion. 

5. The chairperson puts the question (to a vote). 

6. The chairperson announces the result of the vote. 

1 Robert, H.M. 1990. The Scott, Foresman Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. Scott, Foresman and Company, Glen
Robert’s Rules of Order 

Conducting Business Without a MotionSome business can be transacted without a motion. The following motions are generally not needed: To approve minutes. The chairperson can simply say, “Without objection [pause], the minutes are approved as distribu

corrections, the chairperson says, “If there are no further corrections [pause], the minutes are approved as corrected.” 

To adjourn. If the body meets regularly and follows a regular agenda, the chairperson can ask if there is any further bu

announcements; if there is none, the chairperson declares the meeting adjourned. 

To give detailed instructions on a task assigned to a committee or member. Suggestions are in order, but the general p

assigned the task should be free to handle it without detailed instructions. 

Call for the question (or, close debate and vote at once). This is often a waste of time. It takes a two-thirds vote to pas

debate when there may be members who wish to speak. Even if it passes, the vote was not on the issue itself but on wdebate, and a vote on the motion must still be held. Without a call for the question, the chairperson can ascertain if anyspeak on the motion, and if not, bring the issue to a vote. 

To not do something. No motion is needed, for example, in response to a letter received asking the assembly to do som

members are not inclined to do it. 

Conducting Business through MotionsThe following chart gives you information on the basics of conducting business: how to make a motion, debate a motion, abring a motion to a vote. Robert’s Rules uses the term “the question” to refer to the motion that is pending on the floor. The been used here. 

You want to: Do you 

need the 

floor? 

What do you say? Chairperson’s Action 

Obtain the floor. No “Mr. Chairperson” or 

“Madam Chairperson” 

The chairperson recognizes you, 

unless: you wish to speak to a motion 

and the person who made the motion hasn’t spoken yet and wishes to, 

someone else requested the floor 

before you, 

you have spoken once on the 

subject and others wish to speak who have not spoken yet, or 

you have already spoken twice on 

the issue during this meeting. 

The pers

has the eheard at t

In cases 

knows thfloor have the questshould lefar as posfavoring ameasure
Robert’s Rules of Order 

You want to: Do you 

need the 

floor? 

What do you say? Chairperson’s Action 

Make a motion. Yes “I move to spend $50 to...” The chairperson waits for a second. 

If none is forthcoming, she asks, “Is there a second to the motion?” If there is none, “The motion is not seconded. The next item of business is...” 

The chairperson may rule “out of 

order” any motion obviously meant to obstruct or push through an action without discussion. 

If you are 

motion is construct ask the cassistanc

Second a motion. No “I second the motion,” or, “I 

second it,” or, “Second!” 

The chairperson states the question: 

“It has been moved and seconded to spend $50 to...” The chairperson uses the exact wording of the motion. (If the motion needs to be restated in order to be in suitable form, the chairperson negotiates this with the maker of the motion BEFORE the question is stated. The wording in the minutes is exactly as stated by the chairperson.) 

A second 

of the moseconder consider 

There is 

for discusuntil the cquestion. 

Speak to a motion on 

the floor. 

Yes Confine your remarks to the 

merits of the pending question, address remarks to the chairperson, maintain a courteous tone, and avoid injecting a personal note into the debate. 

The chairperson remains seated and 

does not interrupt the person who has the floor as long as no disorder arises and the rules are abided by. 

Robert’s 

maximum speech, amember the same day. 

A motion 

only when so, after s
Robert’s Rules of Order 

You want to: Do you 

need the 

floor? 

What do you say? Chairperson’s Action 

Amend a motion that 

is on the floor. 

Yes “I move to amend by adding...,” 

or “I move to amend by striking the word ‘fifty’ and inserting the word ‘sixty-five.’” 

This motion is debatable if the 

main motion it amends is debatable. Debate must be confined to the merits of the amendment, not the merits of the main motion. 

Amendments designed to defeat the 

main motion can and should be ruled out of order by the chairperson. 

Motions t

upon befomotion. 

Dispose of a motion 

permanently without voting on it. 

Yes “I move that the motion be 

postponed indefinitely.” 

The motion is not amendable. 

Debate may go fully into the merits of the main question. 

This motion is in order only when the 

main motion is pending; not, for example, if an amendment is being considered. 

If the motion passes, the motion is 

suppressed for the current session (i.e., series of meetings). 

This mot

the group position oquestion. 

Withdraw your 

motion. 

Yes “Mr. Chairperson, I ask 

permission to withdraw the motion.” 

This request is neither 

amendable nor debatable. 

The chairperson first treats it as a 

unanimous consent request: “Unless there is objection [pause], the motion is withdrawn.” 

If there is objection, the withdrawal 

may be moved by the person requesting permission. This motion needs a second. Any other member can obtain the floor to move “that permission to withdraw the motion be granted.” No second is needed here. 

This may 

before vohas beguhas been 

Any mem

maker of withdraw may choo
Robert’s Rules of Order 

You want to: Do you 

need the 

floor? 

What do you say? Chairperson’s Action 

Bring the motion to a 

vote, as the chairperson. 

No The chairperson may initiate 

the action, saying, “Are you ready for the question?” If no one responds by asking for the floor, the motion is put to a vote. 

The chairperson repeats the motion 

and, if necessary, makes sure members understand the effect of an “aye” vote and of a “no” vote. “The question is on the adoption of the motion to spend $50 to...” 

The chai

formal voshow of hannouncevote as scomplete

Bring the motion to a 

vote, as a member. 

Yes “I move the previous question.” 

This motion is not debatable 

and not amendable. 

This motion must be passed 

with a 2/3 vote, because it ends debate. 

The chairperson recognizes this 

motion when debate appears to have closed, and may ask for unanimous consent instead of asking for a vote on the motion for the previous question. The chairperson says, “Are you ready for the question?” If someone wishes to continue debate, the chairperson may honor that request, or ask for a vote on the motion. 

If the vote on the motion on the 

previous question passes with the 2/3 majority required, the chairperson then brings the main motion to a vote. 

The chai

prematurquestion. allow the occur, as limit the rbe heard

Sometim

the questunanimoudebate. 
Robert’s Rules of Order 

You want to: Do you 

need the 

floor? 

What do you say? Chairperson’s Action 

Take action without a 

formal vote or without a motion, as the chairperson. 

No The chairperson states, “If there is no 

objection [without objection], the minutes will be approved.” She pauses and if no member calls out, “I object,” the action is decided upon. 

A member may object, not to the 

proposed action, but to the action being taken without a formal vote. No member should hesitate to object if he feels it is desirable to do so, but should not object merely for dilatory purposes. 

Unanimo

consent ithere seeon routine questions order to s

The minu

an action objectionunanimou

Remove the normal 

limits on the number of times members can speak in discussion of an item. 

Yes “I move that the question be 

considered informally.” 

If the motion passes, once the vote is 

taken, the chairperson says, “The question is now open to informal consideration. There is no limit to the number of times a member can speak on the question or any amendments.” 

The rule 

you may speak if ahas not yso. 

The grou

the numbspeecheslimit or cl

As soon 

disposed consideraceases, wvote.