Robert's Rules of Order / Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies

by Henry M. Robert

An Amendment may be either (1) by “adding” or (2) by “striking out” words or paragraphs; or (3) by “striking out certain words and inserting others;” or (4) by “substituting” a different motion on the same subject; or (5) by “dividing the question” into two or more questions, so as to get a separate vote on any particular point or points.

Additions and Corrections.

[These corrections, though mostly contained in other parts of the Manual, are also needed in the places here indicated.]

19th page, 7th line, after “§ 13” insert a star referring to this note: “See note to § 61.”
50th ” 2d line of last note, omit all after “reconsideration.”
51st ” at end of 12th line, insert “upon another day.”
” ” 10th line, insert a star, referring to this note: “In Congress the effect always terminates with the session, and it cannot be called up by any one but the mover, until the expiration of the time during which it is in order to move a reconsideration.”
69th ” 4th line, after “§ 34,” insert “or limiting or closing debate.”
72d ” 17th line, insert a star referring to this note: “If both are personally interested. [See p. 161.]”
73d ” last line of note, insert “final” before “vote.”
80th ” add to the list in § 39 the motion “To make a special order.”

INDEX.

The figures from 1 to 45 refer to sections in Part I; those greater than 45, to sections in Part II. A complete list of motions will be found in the Index, under the title Motions, list of. The arrangement of the work can be most easily seen by examining the Table of Contents [pp. 5-8]; its plan is explained in the Introduction, pp. 12-15. SECTION.

Adjourn, motion to ……………………………………… 11, 63b
when in order ………………………………………… 11, 64
effect upon unfinished business ………………………… 11, 69
motion to “fix the time to which to adjourn” ……………… 10, 63
Amendment, motion to “amend” ……………………………. 23, 56a
by “adding” or “striking out” ………………………….. 23, 56a
by “striking out and inserting” ………………………… 23, 56a
by “substituting” …………………………………….. 23, 56a
by “dividing the question” ………………………….. 4, 23, 56a
of an amendment ………………………………………. 23, 56a
in committee ………………………………………….. 28, 53
in committee of the whole …………………………………. 32
of reports or propositions with several paragraphs ……….. 44, 48b
of Rules of Order, By-Laws and Constitutions ……………… 45, 73
motions that cannot be amended …………………………. 23, 56a
Announcing the vote. See Forms.
Appeal from the decision of the chair …………………….. 14, 61e
Apply, meaning of (Introduction, page 14).
Assembly, how organized ………………………………. 46, 47, 48
the word to be replaced by Society, Convention, etc.,
when it occurs in forms of questions, p 16.
legal rights of, pp. 158-163.
right to punish members, p. 158.
right to eject persons from their room, p. 159.
trial of members, p. 160.
Ayes and Noes. See Yeas and Nays, § 38.
Ballot …………………………………………………….. 38
Blanks, filling of ………………………………………….. 25
in balloting, not to be counted …………………………….. 38
Boards of Trustees, Managers, etc., their reports in
order when reports of standing committees are made ………… 44, 72
(See Quorum.)
Business, introduction of ……………………………….. 1-5, 54
order of ……………………………………………… 44, 72
unfinished, effect of an adjournment upon ………………… 11, 69
[See Priority of Business.]
By-Laws, what they should contain …………………………….. 49
adoption of ……………………………………………… 46a
amendment of ………………………………………….. 45, 73
Chairman, duties of ……………………………………… 40, 50
election of ……………………………………………… 46a
temporary …………………………………………….. 40, 47
of a committee ………………………………………… 28, 53
of committee of the whole ……………………………………. 32
Change of Vote allowed before result is announced ………………. 38
Classification of Motions according to their object …………….. 55
into Privileged, Incidental, Subsidiary, etc. ……………….. 6-9
Clerk, duties of ………………………………………… 41, 51
additional duties of when receiving money ……………………. 52
election of ……………………………………………… 46a
Commit, motion to ………………………………………. 22, 56b
Committees, appointment of ………………………………. 22, 46c
how they should be composed …………………………….. 22, 53
object of …………………………………………….. 28, 53
manner of conducting business in ………………………… 28, 53
Reports of, their form …………………………………. 29, 53
their reception …………………………………….. 30, 46c
their adoption ……………………………………… 31, 46c
their place in the order of business …………………… 44, 72
common errors in acting upon (note) …………………… 30, 46c
Minority Reports of, their form …………………………. 29, 53
to be acted upon must be moved as a substitute
for the committee’s report ………………………….. 28, 53
of the whole ……………………………………………… 32
as if in committee of the whole …………………………….. 33
Congress, rules of, the basis of this work, pp. 10-12.
Consideration of a question, objection to …………………. 15, 59a
Constitutions, what they should contain ……………………….. 49
adoption of by a society ………………………………….. 48b
amendment of ………………………………………….. 45, 73
Convention, manner of organizing and conducting a
meeting of …………………………………………….. 47
Credentials of delegates …………………………………….. 47
Debate, what precedes …………………………………….. 3, 54
no member to speak but twice in same …………………….. 34, 65
no member to speak longer than ten minutes at one
time ……………………………………………….. 34, 65
a majority can extend the number and length of
speeches allowed ……………………………………. 34, 65
number of speeches and time allowed in Congress
(note) ……………………………………………… 34, 65
member introducing measure has right to close ………………… 34
list of undebatable questions …………………………… 35, 66
motions that open the main question to ………………………. 35
principles regulating the extent of (see note) ……………….. 35
decorum in ……………………………………………. 36, 65
closing or limiting ……………………………………. 37, 58
Decorum in debate ……………………………………….. 36, 65
Definitions of various terms [Introduction, p. 15].
Delegates, organization of a meeting of ……………………….. 47
Division of the assembly …………………………………….. 38
of questions [see Amendment] ……………………………. 4, 56a
Ecclesiastical Tribunals, legal rights of, p. 159.
Election of Officers ……………………………………. 46a, 47
Fix the time to which to Adjourn, motion to ……………….. 10, 63a
Floor, how to obtain ……………………………………… 2, 54
Forms of making motions ………………………………….. 46, 54
of stating and putting questions ………………………… 38, 67
of announcing the result of a vote ………………………. 38, 54
of reports of committees ……………………………….. 29, 53
of treasurers’ reports …………………………………….. 52
of minutes of a meeting ………………………………… 41, 51
of conducting an occasional or mass meeting ………………….. 46
of conducting a meeting of delegates ………………………… 47
of conduction a meeting to organize a society ………………… 48
of conducting an ordinary meeting of a society ………………. 48b
Incidental questions …………………………………………. 8
Indefinite postponement …………………………………. 24, 59b
Informal consideration of a question ………………………….. 33
Introduction of Business ………………………………… 1-5, 54
Journal, or minutes ……………………………………… 41, 51
Legal Rights. See Assembly and Ecclesiastical Tribunals.
Lie on the table, motion to …………………………. 19, 57b, 59c
Main question ……………………………………………….. 6
Majority. See Two-thirds and Quorum.
Meeting, distinction between it and session ………………… 42, 70
[See also Introduction, page 15.]
how to conduct. See Forms.
Members not to be present during a debate or vote
concerning themselves ……………………………………… 36
trial of, p. 160.
Minority Report. See Committees.
Minutes, form and contents of …………………………….. 41, 51
Moderator. See Chairman.
Modification of a motion by the mover ………………………….. 5
Motions, list of. [For details, see each motion in the Index.]
Adjourn ……………………………………………… 11, 63b
Adjourn, Fix the time to which to ………………………. 10, 63a
Amend ……………………………………………….. 23, 56a
Adopt a report (same as accept or agree to) ……………… 31, 46c
Appeal ………………………………………………. 14, 61e
Blanks, filling …………………………………………… 25
Call to order ………………………………………… 14, 61d
Close debate ………………………………………….. 37, 58
Commit ………………………………………………. 22, 56b
Consideration of a question, objection to ………………. 15, 59a
Divide the question ………………………………… 4, 23, 56a
Extend the limits of debate …………………………….. 34, 65
Fix the time to which to adjourn ……………………….. 10, 63a
Incidental motions or questions ……………………………… 8
Indefinitely postpone …………………………………. 24, 59b
Informal consideration of a question ………………………… 33
Leave to continue speech when guilty of indecorum …………….. 36
Leave to withdraw a motion …………………………….. 17, 62b
Lie on the table …………………………………. 19, 57b, 59c
Limit Debate …………………………………………. 37, 58b
Main motions or questions …………………………………… 6
Objection to the consideration of a question …………….. 15, 59a
Order, questions of …………………………………… 14, 61d
Orders of the day …………………………………….. 13, 61a
Orders, special ………………………………………….. 61b
Postpone to a certain day ……………………………… 21, 57a
Postpone indefinitely …………………………………. 24, 59b
Previous question …………………………………….. 20, 58a
Principal motions or questions ………………………………. 6
Priority of Business, questions relating to ………………….. 35
Privileged motions or questions ……………………………… 9
Privilege, questions of ……………………………….. 12, 62c
Reading papers ………………………………………… 16, 62
Reception of a report [see Committees] ………………….. 30, 46c
Recommit [same as Commit] ………………………………. 22, 56
Reconsider ……………………………………………. 27, 60
Refer [same as Commit] ………………………………… 22, 56b
Renewal of a motion ……………………………………. 26, 60
Rise [in committee, equals adjourn] ……………………… 11, 32
Shall the question be considered? [or discussed] …………. 15, 59a
Special Order, to make a ………………………………….. 61b
Strike out [see Amendment] …………………………….. 23, 56a
Subsidiary motions or questions ……………………………… 7
Substitute (same as Amendment, which see) ……………….. 23, 56a
Suspension of the Rules ……………………………….. 18, 61c
Take from the table [see Lie on the table] ………………. 19, 57b
Take up a question out of its proper order ……………….. 44, 72
Withdrawal of a motion …………………………………. 17, 62
Motions, tabular view of rules relating to, page 166.
classified according to their object ………………………… 55
classified into Privileged, Incidental, Subsidiary, etc. ……… 6-9
order of precedence of [see each motion, §§ 10-27] ……………. 64
how to be made …………………………………… 1, 2, 46, 54
a second required (with certain exceptions) ……………….. 3, 67
to be stated by chairman before being discussed ……………. 3, 54
when to be in writing …………………………………… 4, 54
how to be divided ………………………………………….. 4
how to be modified by the mover ……………………….. 3, 5, 17
how to be stated and put to the question …………………. 38, 67
that cannot be amended ………………………………… 23, 56a
that cannot be debated …………………………………. 35, 66
that open main question to debate …………………………… 35
that require two-thirds vote for their adoption …………… 39, 68
Nominations, how treated ………………………………… 25, 46a
Numbers of paragraphs to be corrected by clerk without
a vote …………………………………………………… 23
Objection to the consideration (discussion or introduction
of a question ………………………………………… 15, 59a
Officers of an assembly. See Chairman, Clerk, Treasurer
and Vice-Presidents.
Order, questions of and a call to ………………………… 14, 61d
of business …………………………………………… 44, 72
of the day …………………………………………… 13, 61a
distinction between, and rules of the assembly (note) ………. 61a
special …………………………………………………. 61b
of precedence of motions. See Precedence.
Organization of an occasional or mass meeting …………………. 46a
of a convention or assembly of delegates …………………….. 47
of a permanent society …………………………………….. 48
Papers and documents, reading of ………………………….. 16, 62
in custody of clerk ……………………………………. 41, 51
Parliamentary Law, its origin, etc., (Introduction. p. 9.)
Plan of the Manual, (Introduction, page 12.)
of Part I, Rules of Order, (Introduction, page 13.)
of Part II, Organization and Conduct of Business,
(Introduction, page 14.)
Postpone to a certain time ………………………………. 21, 57a
indefinitely …………………………………………. 24, 59b
Preamble, considered after the rest of a paper …………………. 44
Precedence of motions [see each motion, §§ 10-27] ………………. 64
meaning of, (Introduction, page 14.)
Presiding Officer. See Chairman.
Previous Question ………………………………………. 20, 58a
Principal (or main) question ………………………………….. 6
Priority of Business, questions relating to are undebatable ……… 35
Privilege, questions of …………………………………. 12, 62c
Privileged questions …………………………………………. 9
Putting the question, form of …………………………….. 38, 67
Questions. See Forms, Motions, Privilege and Order.
Quorum, when there is no rule, consists of a majority …………… 43
committees and boards cannot decide upon …………………….. 43
Reading of Papers ……………………………………….. 16, 62
Reception of a report. See Committees.
Re-commit (same as Commit) ………………………………. 22, 56b
Reconsider ……………………………………………… 27, 60
Record, or minutes ………………………………………. 41, 51
Recording officer. See Clerk.
Refer [same as Commit] ………………………………….. 22, 56b
Renewal of a motion ……………………………………… 26, 60
Reports of committees. See Committees.
Rights of assemblies. See Assembly.
of ecclesiastical tribunals, p. 159.
Rise, motion to, in committee, equals adjourn ………………. 11, 32
Rules of debate. See Debate.
of Order, amendment of …………………………………. 45, 73
of Order, what they should contain ………………………….. 49
standing, what they should contain ………………………….. 49
suspension of ………………………………………… 18, 61c
relating to motions, tabular view of p. 166.
Seconding, motions that do not require ……………………… 3, 67
Secretary. See Clerk.
Session [See also Meeting] ……………………………….. 42, 70
Shall the question be considered (or discussed) ……………. 15, 59a
Speaking, rules of, See Debate.
Special Order ……………………………………………… 61b
Standing Rules ……………………………………………… 49
Stating a question, form of ………………………………. 38, 67
Strike out (see Amendment) ………………………………. 23, 56a
Subsidiary motions or questions ……………………………….. 7
Substitute (see Amendment) ………………………………. 23, 56a
Sum, largest, first put ……………………………………… 25
Suspension of the rules …………………………………. 18, 61c
Table of Rules relating to motions, p. 166.
Take from the table, motion to …………………………… 19, 57b
Time, longest, first put …………………………………….. 25
Treasurer, duties of ………………………………………… 52
Trial of Members, p. 160.
Two-thirds vote, motions requiring ………………………… 39, 68
Undebatable Questions ……………………………………. 35, 66
Unfinished business, effect of adjournment upon …………….. 11, 69
its place in the order of business ………………………. 44, 72
Vice-Presidents ……………………………………………. 46d
Vote, form of announcing [see also Forms] ………………….. 38, 54
motions requiring more than a majority …………………… 39, 68
change of, permitted before result is announced ………………. 38
Voting, various methods of …………………………………… 38
Withdrawal of a motion …………………………………… 17, 62
Yeas and Nays, voting by …………………………………….. 38
Yields, meaning of, (Introduction, page 14.)