Parliamentary Procedure Practice Test

Making Motions

• A motion is a proposal to take action or make a decision
• Anyone can make a motion, but it must be seconded by another member
• Motions can be made to:
  • Adopt or reject a proposal
  • Amend or modify a proposal
  • Postpone or table a proposal
  • Refer a proposal to a committee
• The member who makes the motion should be prepared to explain and defend it
• Debate on a motion is limited to speaking in favor of or against the motion

Robert's Basic Rules of Order

• Developed by Henry Martyn Robert in 1876
• A set of rules to facilitate orderly and efficient meetings
• Key principles include:
  • One person speaks at a time
  • Members address the chair, not each other
  • Debate is limited to the pending question
  • Members must be recognized by the chair to speak
  • The chair decides all questions of order

Development of an Agenda

• An agenda is a list of items to be discussed or acted upon during a meeting
• The agenda should be:
  • Prepared in advance
  • Distributed to members before the meeting
  • Followed during the meeting
• The chair is responsible for:
  • Preparing the agenda
  • Sticking to the agenda
  • Allowing for additions or changes to the agenda

Amendments to Motions

• An amendment is a proposal to change or modify a pending motion
• Amendments can be:
  • Friendly (agreed to by the original mover)
  • Unfriendly (not agreed to by the original mover)
• The amendment is debated and voted on before the main motion
• If the amendment is adopted, it becomes part of the main motion

Voting

• Voting is a method of adopting or rejecting a motion
• There are different types of voting, including:
  • Voice vote (members respond verbally)
  • Show of hands vote (members raise their hands)
  • Ballot vote (members submit written votes)
• A majority vote is required for adoption, unless otherwise specified

Committees

• A committee is a group of members assigned to:
  • Research and report on a specific topic
  • Make recommendations to the larger group
  • Take action on behalf of the group
• Committee members should be:
  • Familiar with the topic
  • Willing to work together
  • Able to report back to the larger group

Bylaws

• Bylaws are the rules that govern an organization
• They should be:
  • Written and adopted by the members
  • Reviewed and updated regularly
  • Followed by all members
• Bylaws typically cover topics such as:
  • Membership and dues
  • Meetings and voting
  • Officers and duties

Virtual Setting/Meetings

• Virtual meetings are conducted remotely using technology
• They require:
  • A reliable internet connection
  • A compatible device (computer, tablet, smartphone)
  • A quiet and private workspace
• Virtual meetings can be:
  • Conducted in real-time (synchronous)
  • Conducted at different times (asynchronous)

Organizational Skills

• Organizational skills are essential for effective meetings and decision-making
• Key skills include:
  • Time management
  • Prioritization
  • Delegation
• Members should be able to:
  • Set goals and deadlines
  • Stay on track
  • Work efficiently

Working on Teams

• Working on teams is essential for effective committee work and decision-making
• Key skills include:
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Compromise
• Team members should be able to:
  • Work together towards a common goal
  • Respect each other's opinions and ideas
  • Make decisions collectively

Assess your knowledge of parliamentary procedure with this 50-question multiple-choice practice test, covering topics such as making motions, Robert's Rules of Order, agenda development, and more.