Explaining the Process

[Dominator]

A President presides over an assembly of which most aren't familiar with motions and their processes. May the chair briefly explain the basic purpose and requirements of each motion when it is given or is this concept strictly limited to parliamentary inquiry motions from the assembly?

[Guest Nancy N.]

It's at least part -- a fundamental part -- of the presiding officer's job to make sure that the members understand what they're voting on. P. 438 at the bottom. By extension, maybe, he should help them know what they're doing in general.

[Rev Ed]

I agree - if members are truly unfamiliar with how meetings are run, then yes the Chairman should try to provide as much information as possible. Some Chairman, for example, when the meeting is called to order will provide a brief overview as well - i.e. one person may speak at a time, one motion can be discussed at a time, all comments are to made to the Chairman not other members, etc.

[Dominator]

I agree that the president should help guide the assembly, but I didn't know if someone would call for the orders of the day as a workaround to an explanation if no parliamentary inquiry was requested.

[Dan Honemann]

I agree that the president should help guide the assembly, but I didn't know if someone would call for the orders of the day as a workaround to an explanation if no parliamentary inquiry was requested.

I'm afraid that this makes no sense at all.

[Rob Elsman]

I'm afraid that this makes no sense at all.

You beat me to it, Dan. Nevertheless, I think I get the gist of the topic.

It is not desirable, as a practical matter, for the president to turn a business meeting into a classroom on parliamentary procedure. There are certainly instances where the chair may clarify the parliamentary situation (see RONR, 10th ed., p. 188, l. 34, through p. 189, l. 3, for an example) or help a member frame a motion in the proper form, but he should refrain generally from providing more information than the current parliamentary situation requires. Training in parliamentary procedure is best done in study groups outside the context of a business meeting.

[Josh Martin]

I agree that the president should help guide the assembly, but I didn't know if someone would call for the orders of the day as a workaround to an explanation if no parliamentary inquiry was requested.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if a more knowledgeable member called for the orders of the day if the President's explanation became overly lengthy, if that's what you're getting at.

[Dominator]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if a more knowledgeable member called for the orders of the day if the President's explanation became overly lengthy, if that's what you're getting at.

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. Not that it would happen necessarily, but couldn't it?

I suppose then the chair should explain which direction the vote would go - if to continue explaining or not and the requirement for it to pass.

[Dominator]

Training in parliamentary procedure is best done in study groups outside the context of a business meeting.

I completely agree with you. Perhaps I should just suggest to the president to provide a class in between adjourned meetings for those who are interested.

Sound like a good idea?

[Gary c Tesser]

I completely agree with you. Perhaps I should just suggest to the president to provide a class in between adjourned meetings for those who are interested.

Sound like a good idea?

Sure, unless somebody else is better equipped to teach it. -- provided that we don't mean, instead of making sure that the presiding officer makes sure that the membership always knows what it's voting on.

[Josh Martin]

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. Not that it would happen necessarily, but couldn't it?

Sure.

I suppose then the chair should explain which direction the vote would go - if to continue explaining or not and the requirement for it to pass.

Of course.

[Rob Elsman]

I completely agree with you. Perhaps I should just suggest to the president to provide a class in between adjourned meetings for those who are interested.

Sound like a good idea?

If the organization is large enough to make it practical, I suggest creating a standing committee on rules, part of the function of which should be an ongoing outreach to members concerning proper parliamentary procedure. Since members come and go over time, this effort needs to be organized and constant. For new members, the committee might want to organize periodic "boot camps" as an introduction for those who do not have previous exposure to parliamentary procedure. The RONR In-Brief book can be used for this purpose. Other specialized study groups can be organized to provide more advanced training for members who aspire to hold office--especially those who wish to run for president--or chair committees.