Parliamentarian restrictions

[Guest Jean]

May the parliamentarian enter into debate of a motion?

[Atul Kapur]

RONR (12th ed.) "47:55 A member of an assembly who acts as its parliamentarian has the same duty as the presiding officer to maintain a position of impartiality, and therefore does not make motions, participate in debate, or vote on any question except in the case of a ballot vote. He does not cast a deciding vote, even if his vote would affect the result, since that would interfere with the chair’s prerogative of doing so. If a member feels that he cannot properly forgo these rights in order to serve as parliamentarian, he should not accept that position. Unlike the presiding officer, the parliamentarian cannot temporarily relinquish his position in order to exercise such rights on a particular motion."

[J. J.]

Two things to note:

1.  You may adopt a rule that supersedes RONR on this point and permit the parliamentarian to enter into debate.

2.  The chair may permit members knowledgeable on parliamentary procedure to speak on a point of order (23:2 5). 

[Tomm]

On 3/27/2024 at 9:29 PM, Atul Kapur said:

parliamentarian has the same duty as the presiding officer to maintain a position of impartiality, and therefore does not make motions, participate in debate, or vote on any question except in the case of a ballot vote.

Does that rule still apply to parliamentarians who are also members in small boards where the chair does still vote?

[Joshua Katz]

On 3/28/2024 at 6:08 AM, Tomm said:

Does that rule still apply to parliamentarians who are also members in small boards where the chair does still vote?

It's only relevant when the parliamentarian is a member. When not a member, of course he may not vote or enter into debate. The chair's voting or debating does not enter into it, and the parliamentarian, unlike the chair, is expected to be impartial in small boards and committees as well.

[Josh Martin]

On 3/27/2024 at 10:21 PM, Guest Jean said:

May the parliamentarian enter into debate of a motion?

The parliamentarian, if a member, ultimately has the right to speak in debate, but refrains from exercising that right in order to maintain the appearance of impartiality. A member who insists on speaking in debate may find that their services as parliamentarian are no longer required.

(As J.J. notes, however, some organizations adopt their own rules on this matter.)

On 3/28/2024 at 8:08 AM, Tomm said:

Does that rule still apply to parliamentarians who are also members in small boards where the chair does still vote?

Yes. Unlike the rules pertaining to participation by the chair, the rules pertaining to participation by the parliamentarian are applicable regardless of the size or type of the assembly.

If this is a problem for an organization, generally the solutions to this are to either:

Adopt a special rule of order, as J.J. suggests, to permit the parliamentarian to speak in debate.

Don't appoint a parliamentarian, and simply have knowledgeable members serve as "unofficial" parliamentarians, under the rule in 23:2(5).

Edited March 28, 2024 at 02:48 PM by Josh Martin

[J. J.]

Just to be clear, I list the adoption of a special rule as an option, not necessarily a suggestion.