Every matter presented for decision should be discussed fully. The right of every member to speak on any issue is as important as each member's right to vote. Every member has the right to understand the meaning of any question presented to a meeting, and to know what effect a decision will have. A member always has the right to request information on any motion he or she does not thoroughly understand. Moreover, all meetings must be characterized by fairness and by good faith.
Parliamentary strategy is the art of using procedure legitimately to support or defeat a proposal.
The term rules of order refers to written rules of parliamentary procedure formally adopted by an assembly or an organization. Such rules relate to the orderly transaction of business in meetings and to the duties of officers in that connection. The object of rules of order is to facilitate the smooth functioning of the assembly and to provide a firm basis for resolving questions of procedure that may arise. Fundamentally, under the rules of parliamentary law, a deliberative body is a free agent-free to do what it wants to do with the greatest measure of protection to itself and of consideration for the rights of its members. In any decision made, the opinion of each member present has equal weight as expressed by vote-through which the voting member joins in assuming direct personal responsibility for the decision, should his or her vote be on the prevailing side.