Parliamentary procedure can be a complicated and cumbersome subject with many
rules and guidelines for practioners to follow. Many parliamentary professionals
start out with preconceived notions about some of the more common aspects of
parliamentary procedure. These mistaken beliefs can lead to improper rulings
which may be detrimental to the organization.
Try answering the statements below and see if you really know your parliamentary
rules.
Check back soon. We will be adding more misconceptions in the future.
Statement 1
The president is ex-officio member of all committees (except the
nominating committee) by virtue of his election to the office of president.
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Hide Answer
False. "In some organizations the president is responsible
for appointing, and is ex officio a member of, all committees (except the nominating
committee, which should be expressly excluded from such a provision); but only when he is
so authorized by the bylaws -- or, in individual cases, by vote of the assembly --
does he have this authority and status."
Roberts Rules of Order, page 440 lines 25-31.
Statement 2
The president as a candidate for re-election should not preside
during the election but should ask the vice president to do so.
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Hide Answer
False. "The chair should not hesitate to put the question
on a motion to elect officers or appoint delegates or a committee even if he is
included."
Roberts Rules of Order, page 436 lines 11-13.
Statement 3
The chair may close debate when discussion becomes repetitious.
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Hide Answer
False. "The presiding officer cannot close debate so long as any
member who has not exhausted his right to debate desires the floor, except by order
of the assembly, which requires a two-thirds vote."
Roberts Rules of Order, page 42 lines 19-22.
Statement 4
The presiding officer votes only on ballot votes.
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Hide Answer
False. "[The] chair has the same voting right as any other member.
Except in a small board or committee, however -- unless the vote is secret (that is, unless
it is by ballot)-- the chair protects his impartial position by exercising his
voting right only when his vote would affect the outcome, in which case he can either
vote and thereby change the result, or he can abstain."
Roberts Rules of Order, pages 50-51 beginning at line 29.