Parliamentarian

[Guest Les]

Can the Parliamentarian take place in any discussion of a motion or make motion at an Annual General Meeting of a non profit group? We have only just decided to start using Roberts Rules for our meeting and some people say that the Parliamentarian can do this.

[Joshua Katz]

Not according to the rules in RONR (assuming that we're talking about the parliamentarian who is working that meeting). You can adopt special rules of order making such allowances. If a member, the parliamentarian may vote, but only when the vote is taken by ballot.

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with the comment above by Mr. Katz, the assembly may also suspend the rules to permit the member parliamentarian to participate in the meeting to the same degree as the other members or to whatever degree it deems advisable. It may, for example, suspend the rules to permit the parliamentarian to vote but not to speak in debate  or to make motions.

My own local unit of NAP has adopted a Special Rule of Order permitting the parliamentarian to participate the same as other members.  

[Joshua Katz]

2 minutes ago, Richard Brown said:

 It may, for example, suspend the rules to permit the parliamentarian to vote but not to speak in debate  or to make motions.

Assuming, of course, that the parliamentarian happens to be a member.