Robert's Rules, however, are guidelines, not laws. Like many tools, there are aspects of Parliamentary Procedure which you will never use, and you need to adapt and modify the rules as best fits the task at hand. There are numerous short-cuts in common use to make Parliamentary Procedure more useful and palatable for small, less formal groups such as Alpha Phi Omega chapters. This handout is intended to inform you about several of these short-cuts, so that you may be able to make your chapter meetings run more smoothly for everyone. Each proposition presented for consideration is entitled to full and free debate.
Every member has rights equal to every other member.
The will of the majority must be carried out, and the rights of the minority must be preserved. The personality and desires of each member should be merged into the larger unit of the organization. No matter how you choose to conduct your business, these 5 basic fundamentals must go above all else. The chair of the meeting, most often the chapter president, has absolute control of the meeting. This is a great responsibility, and isn't to be taken lightly.