A Procedure for Successful Meetings: Robert’s Rules of Order

A key element of effective meetings is the orderly conduct of business. For the purpose of conducting business, maintaining order and ensuring fairness to all participants, AFSCME has determined that Robert’s Rules of Order will be used to govern the local union meeting. (See the Constitution for Local Unions in Appendix C of the International Constitution.) The four cornerstones of Robert’s Rules are:

- Only one subject comes before the meeting at a time

- Each topic is freely debated with meaningful, informed discussion

- Every member has the right to be heard; every member has rights and responsibilities equal to those of every other member

- In making decisions, the majority rules — always

Basic Elements of Robert’s Rules

A motion — calling for the local to take some course of action — is made; sometimes the chair may call for a motion (“Do I hear a motion to …?”)

The chair asks for a second — for a motion to be discussed, it must be seconded

The chair states the motion and calls for discussion (“It has been moved and seconded that …. Is there any discussion?”)

When recognized by the chair, meeting participants may speak to (discuss) the motion on the floor

On occasion, during discussion, an amendment to a motion may be offered from the floor; this, too, requires a second before the chair calls for discussion (“An amendment has been made and seconded that …. Is there any discussion on the amendment?”)

When discussion has run its course or has been ended by vote of meeting participants, the chair conducts a vote (“All those in favor say ‘aye.’ All those opposed say ‘no’”)

If there is an amendment being discussed — the amendment is voted on first, then the motion as amended if the amendment carries

Sometimes a member may raise a procedural “point”:

— On a point of order (example: “The discussion has gotten off the topic of the motion on the floor”), the chair makes a ruling (“Your point is well taken, and I remind members to speak to the issue on the floor.”)
— On a point of information or point of clarification, the chair can offer clarifying information before discussion continues (“What this would mean is ….”)

For more details on conducting a meeting, see Key Parliamentary Rules in Appendix D of the AFSCME International Constitution and the AFSCME publication How to Chair a Meeting/How to Take Part in a Meeting.