The benefits of a meeting run according to proper procedure extend beyond questions of liability. A presiding officer who skillfully applies parliamentary procedure can turn long, confrontational meetings into short, painless ones. Adherence to rules of order is especially important when there are disputes between majority and minority shareholders, contested elections, proxy fights or particularly contentious issues. The issues to be considered at one annual meeting where I served as parliamentarian were so controversial that several attorneys, a court reporter and multiple video cameras were present to record any error in the proceedings. By strictly adhering to parliamentary procedure, the meeting proceeded without a hitch and to the satisfaction of all sides.
Parliamentary procedure is the means by which organizations make decisions.
Stated another way, parliamentary procedure is all of the laws and rules of organizations that govern the transaction of business. Contrary to common perception, parliamentary procedure is not synonymous with the book Robert's Rules of Order. While many excellent manuals of parliamentary procedure are available, the fact that RONR 1990 is by far the most widely used and the easiest to locate argues in its favor as a parliamentary authority. RONR 1990 is an excellent resource for counsel to corporations and business associations. North Carolina is not as clear as some states in legislating that businesses follow specific meeting procedures.