Threat of "filibuster"

[dpmiller]

We have a small group of members who are angry about an issue that will come before our assembly in October. They are threatening to disrupt the assembly with a “filibuster.” Although relatively small, if each member of this group were to speak twice for ten minutes it could be very disruptive indeed. Other than a rules change, what strategies within Robert's Rules can the chair use to manage this debate?

[Chris Harrison]

We have a small group of members who are angry about an issue that will come before our assembly in October. They are threatening to disrupt the assembly with a “filibuster.” Although relatively small, if each member of this group were to speak twice for ten minutes it could be very disruptive indeed. Other than a rules change, what strategies within Robert's Rules can the chair use to manage this debate?

You could Limit Debate (cutting back the length of a speech or limiting each member to only one speech or both) or order the Previous Question (forcing the motion to a vote) each of which takes a 2/3 vote. See RONR pp. 183-201 for details.

[George Mervosh]

Probably the most practical tip would be to make sure their debate conforms to the rules in RONR. §43. RULES GOVERNING DEBATE beginning on p. 373, paying particular attention to germaneness and decorum.

[dpmiller]

Thanks for your help George and Chris!

[Rob Elsman]

We have a small group of members who are angry about an issue that will come before our assembly in October. They are threatening to disrupt the assembly with a “filibuster.” Although relatively small, if each member of this group were to speak twice for ten minutes it could be very disruptive indeed. Other than a rules change, what strategies within Robert's Rules can the chair use to manage this debate?

There is no such thing as a filibuster under the rules in RONR. If the obstructing group is as small as it seems, there should be no difficulty limiting or closing the debate when more would be intolerable to the assembly as a whole. See RONR (10th ed.), §§15, 16, for discussions of the proper motions to make. Mr. Mervosh rightly reminds us, too, that debate must be germane to the question. And members are not allowed to read papers without the assembly's permission.

However, it is incorrect to view the role of the chairman as a manager of debate.