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Parlimentary Procedure

This guide outlines the parliamentary procedure for conducting assembly business, emphasizing the importance of courtesy and orderly discussion. It details the steps involved in making and voting on motions, including the roles of the Chair and assembly members. Additionally, it describes various actions that can be taken regarding motions, such as amendments and postponements.

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Cristine Gabisan
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2 views

Parlimentary Procedure

This guide outlines the parliamentary procedure for conducting assembly business, emphasizing the importance of courtesy and orderly discussion. It details the steps involved in making and voting on motions, including the roles of the Chair and assembly members. Additionally, it describes various actions that can be taken regarding motions, such as amendments and postponements.

Uploaded by

Cristine Gabisan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A short guide to Parliamentary Procedure*

This information has been assembled due to frequent requests from members of the Area
Assembly regarding the method of conducting the assembly business. However, it should be
stressed that studying and utilizing the principles in AA’s Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions,
and Twelve Concepts can provide the most useful guide to assembly protocol. We use
parliamentary procedure, when necessary, to ensure that courtesy is given to assembly
members, and to promote the orderly exchange of ideas. These procedures were developed
to serve the assembly – not to stifle it. When we are at our best, we function almost entirely
by using thoughtful consideration of our basic principles.

Step by Step
1) MOTION
a) An Area Service Committee recommendation is considered a seconded motion, and
will be restated as such by the Committee Chairperson, after he/she presents the
recommendation to the Area Assembly. (This is due to a recommendation that passes a
committee already has more than one voting member who agrees with it)

b) A motion can be made “from the floor” on any issue by any voting member of the
Assembly when there is no other issue being considered.
2) SECOND (to demonstrate that more than one voting member is in support of the motion)

3) CHAIR STATES: “It has been moved and seconded that …”.
4) DISCUSSION (also refer to THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A MOTION)

a) If every comment is in favor of the motion, the Chair may ask “Is it the sense of the
meeting that this motion be adopted?” If there is no opposition, it can be recorded as
a passed motion.
b) A reasonable opportunity is given to all to speak on the motion, and then…
c) Chair says: “There being no further discussion we will vote on …”, and restates the
motion.
5) VOTE (“all in favor of the motion …”, and then “all opposed …”) A two-thirds majority is
required to adopt the motion.
6) MINORITY OPINION, MOTION TO RECONSIDER
a) Chair asks: “Does anyone in the minority wish to speak?” Only those who voted in the
minority may speak at this time.
b) Chair asks: “Do I hear a MOTION TO RECONSIDER?” Only someone who voted in the
majority may make a motion to reconsider If this motion is made, it must be seconded.

I) The motion to reconsider is debatable. After reasonable debate, the Chair will
ask for a vote. A simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority decides this
vote. If won …
II) Discussion on the Main Motion resumes (same rules as before).

III) VOTE (same rules as before).


IV) THERE IS NO MONORITY OPINION ON THE SECOND VOTE.
Things that can happen to a motion:

1) It can be seconded, debated, voted on, etc, as outlined above.


2) The following subsidiary motions can be made regarding it (all of these must be seconded, and
require a two-thirds majority to carry):

a) It can be AMENDED. The amendment is debated and voted on; then discussion of the
original motion resumes.
b) It can be POSTPONED (tabled) either definitely (time or place stated), or indefinitely
(basically, “killed”).

c) It can be REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, either with or without additional assembly


instructions.
3) At any time during the discussion, a motion can be made to VOTE IMMEDIATELY
(“calling the question”). A second is required. This motion is not debatable. The Chair
will immediately ask for a vote on the motion to “vote immediately”, and if adopted, the
assembly votes immediately on the motion under consideration.

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