Parliamentary Glossary (A to Z) PDF

PARLIAMENTARY GLOSSARY ​ Assembly - A gathering of p with a (A to Z) common purpose, whether organized or A not; it includes mass meetings as well as Absentee voting - A practice in which forma...

PARLIAMENTARY GLOSSARY ​ Assembly - A gathering of p with a (A to Z) common purpose, whether organized or A not; it includes mass meetings as well as Absentee voting - A practice in which formally established organizations. absent members are permitted to vote Aye- An affirmative vote. It corresponds either by mail or by proxy. to "Yes" or "Yea." Abstain - To deşist voluntarily from B voting on a question. Ballot - ticket or a piece of paper used in Acclamation - An oral vote, often voting to insure secrecy. It also refers to unanimous, usually taken after the sense the method of voting, or a round of of a meeting is clear and unmistakable. voting, as being elected on the second or Adhering motion - Any motion that is third applied to the principal question, and Board of management - A principal which goes with the latter when it is group that manages the afairs of an postponed or referred to a committee. organization; it goes by different names, Adjourn – To terminate a meeting like board of directors, board of trustees, officially. board of governors, and the like. Adjourn sine die - Adjournment without Business - Any matter brought before day; it terminates a convention or the assembly for. conference, By-laws-A set of rules of an Adjourned meeting - A continuation of organization, ranking next to the a regular or special meeting; it is legally constitution in authority and above the a part of the same meeting. standing rules. Adopt - To vote to accept or approve. Affirmative vote- A "yes" vote to a C question; an agreement to its acceptance. Call for orders of the day - A demand Agenda - An official list containing the that the assembly conform to the order of items of business to be considered at a business. meeting. Call to order-To bring the assembly to Amend- To alter or modify a motion or attention for the start of business. question by due formal procedure. Candidate-One who is nominated or Annul- To cancel or to render void an who offers himself as an aspirant for action previously taken. office or membership. Appeal - An application to the assembly Caucus - A meeting of leaders of a party to decide whether the decision of the or faction to decide on policies or presiding officer on a particular question candidates for an office. is right or wrong. Carried- Approved by the necessary Committee on ways and means - A vote. committee to whom financial matters are Canvass- To review the election returns. referred. Chair - The presiding officer of the Common law- The system of law assembly. developed in England, based on customs Change in parliamentary situation - and court decisions. It is often spoken of Any development in the deliberations of as the unwritten law. the assembly that may cause it to Common parliamentary procedure - reasonably take a different position on a The system of rules developed for the question to warrant its renewal. government of deliberative, non Change vote- A request to allow a legislative bodies. member to change or alter his vote on a Conference - A meeting for consultation decided question. or discussion. Consideration Deliberation Charter - The articles or certificate of and examination of a question before incorporation taken in connection with deciding on it. the law under which a corporation is Constitution- A document containing organized; also the authorization from a fundamental principles in accordance central or parent organization to establish with which an organized body is a branch or chapter. governed and administered. Close debate-To terminate all Convene - To meet together or to cause a discussions on a question and to have it body to assemble for a meeting or a voted upon immediately. similar purpose. Commit-To refer a question to a Convention - A meeting or assembly of committee for study, delegates or representatives of associated Committee- A person or a group of groups for a common purpose. persons appointed or elected to Credential- A certificate or document investigate, report, or act for the attesting to a person's right to attend a organization. meeting or convention in representation Committee of tellers-Group appointed of a member or a group or elected to take charge. Committee of the whole-The entire D assembly sitting and acting as in a Debate - Discussion on a question or committee for the informal and subject before the assembly. preliminary consideration of a question Delegate - A member authorized to or questions. represent an organized group and empowered to act for it. Debatable- Capable of being discussed. Deliberative body- An assembly or E body which transacts business by Entertain- To admit or receive a motion discussion of questions and which makes or an amendment. decisions by Ex-officio -Authority of a person to hold Dilatory tactics - Strategic devices used an office by virtue of his official to delay, gain time, or defer decision on a position. question before the assembly. Executive Board - The principal Director - One of a body of persons committee of an organization; it usually directing the affairs of an organization. conducts business for the organization Disappearing quorum- A term used to during intervals between meetings. describe a situation where the required Expunge - To rescind and express strong number of persons present at the disapproval to an action previously taken beginning of a meeting gradually by the assembly by erasing or blotting it diminishes as some members leave. out from the records of the organization. Dispose of a question - To remove a question or business, either temporarily F or permanently, from the consideration Filibuster - To employ dilatory tactics, of the assembly. such as speaking endlessly, to obstruct or Discussion- Consideration of a question prevent action on a question. by the oral presentation of views of Filling blanks - A method of voting different members. where each item is treated and voted Discharge a committee - To release or upon independently, one after the other. excuse a committee from considering a Floor - Figuratively, the right of a question; to remove the question from its member to speak to the assembly. Once a jurisdiction. member is recognized by the Chair, he is Dissolve an organization- To terminate said to have the floor, and is the only one its official life or existence. allowed to speak. Division of the assembly- The act of counting or recounting the members G voting on a question. Gavel- A mallet used by the presiding Division of the question - Splitting up a officer to open and close meetings and to lengthy or complex question into two or maintain order. more independent parts for individual General consent- Also called consideration. "unanimous consent," it is an informal method of disposing of routine and generally favored questions by the Chair; the assembly's approval is taken for granted, and no formal vote is taken on Indecorum - Impropriety of behavior. the question, unless an objection is Speech or action that violates the rules of raised. parliamentary procedure or the Germane - Pertaining or relating conventions of civility. directly to, or having direct bearing upon Informal consideration - A method of a subject. It is applied to describe the deliberating upon questions without relationship of amendments to the observing the rules of formal debate. principal question or amendments of the In order - In conformity or in first degree. accordance with parliamentary rules. Inquiry - A question directed to the H Chair by a member. Hearing-A meeting to listen to ideas or Invariable form - Applied to arguments for the formulation of propositions which can be stated only in decisions or recommendations in one way, and are, therefore, not capable connection with a question before the of being amended or modified. assembly. Irrelevant - Not pertinent or not Honorary officer or member- One applicable to a particular question. upon whom is bestowed office or membership by reason of his eminence L or position. Lay on the table - To defer action on a question until a later but undetermined I time. Illegal vote - A vote which cannot be Legal vote - A valid vote. counted because of its failure to comply Legislative body - A representative with some rules of the organization. body with constitutional authority to Immediate pending question - When enact laws. several questions are pending, the one Limit debate - To restrict the discussion last proposed is the immediate pending on a question, either by limiting the question; it must, however, be decided number of speakers, the speaking time of ahead of the others. each, or the time allotted for discussions. In absentia- When a person is Log-rolling- A Practice by which some nominated or elected in his absence, he members agree to assist others in the is nominated or elected in absentia. passage of certain motions in Incidental motions - Motions which consideration of similar assistance from arise incidentally out of a question or them in return; used opprobriously. business pending before the assembly.  M N Main motion- A subject formally Negative vote - A vote against a proposed to the assembly for its proposition. consideration. New business - Any question brought Majority - The greater or larger part of a before the assembly other than an group or number; also the ruling party or unfinished matter or question. the group whose votes prevail in the Nomination - The formal proposal of a decision of a question. person as a candidate for an office. Majority vote - The larger part of the Notice- Formal notification of a fact or votes cast; usually, one half plus one of an intention, served on the members by the legal votes, unless otherwise defined. the organization, or by a member of the Mass meeting - A general assembly assembly. open to everyone. Meeting - An assemblage of the O members of an organization during Object to consideration - To oppose which there is unbroken deliberation discussion on or consideration of a main except for brief periods of recess; it is motion. terminated upon its adjournment. Opposition-Regularly organized party, Member in good standing - A member usually opposed to. the policies of the who has satisfactorily complied with all party in power. his obligations in the organization. Order of business- Program of business Minority - The smaller number of two for a particular meeting in which the aggregates usually less than half of the questions to be taken up are arranged in members or votes. Also the group having the order of their consideration. less than the number of votes necessary Out of order- Not in conformity with, or to control decisions of the assembly. in violation of parliamentary rules. Minutes- The official record of the motions presented to the assembly and P its actions thereon. Generally, a record of Parliamentarian - One skilled in the deliberations of the assembly. parliamentary practice; an adviser on Motion - A formal proposal in a parliamentary procedure. deliberative assembly. Parliamentary authority - A book or manual formally adopted by an organization as its official guide on parliamentary procedure, to govern all matters not covered by the constitution, by-laws, and other rules of the Postpone definitely - To defer organization. consideration of a question until a Parliamentary law - The body of rules specific time. and precedents by which deliberative Postpone indefinitely - To defer assemblies govern their proceedings. indefinitely the consideration of a Parliamentary practice - Customary question; it is tantamount to the methods of parliamentary procedure that suppression of the question. have become established as rules. Postpone temporarily- Another form of Parliamentary procedure - The manner referring to the motion to lay on the or method of conducting business in a table. deliberative assembly in accordance with Preamble - The introductory part of a parliamentary law and practices. constitution; also the introduction Pending question - Any motion or preceding a resolution, stating its question that has not yet been disposed purpose or the reason for its proposal. of by the assembly. Precedence - The priority of one motion Personal interest - Private material gain over another in proposal and which a member may derive from the consideration. decision on a question by the assembly. President - Customary title of heads of Personal privilege - The right of a organizations. person as a member of an organization. ​ Presiding officer - One who presides Plurality vote- A vote in excess of those over a meeting, like the president, for any other proposition, or candidate chairman, speaker, or moderator. The for the same office, especially over the term, however, is ascribed to any number for the next opponent; it may be member who, without being elected to less than a majority. any office, is called upon to preside over Point of order - Technically, a motion to the proceedings of the assembly. call attention to an error in the Previous question - A motion to close observance or enforcement of debate on a question and goll to have it parliamentary rules or those of the voted upon forthwith. It is also referred organization; it is, at the same time, a to as the motion to vote immediately. demand that such error be corrected. Privilege of the assembly - Any Poll - Voting or registration of votes at question involving the right of the an election; the votes thus registered or assembly. voted; also the place where they are Privileged motions or questions- The registered or voted; used in the plural. class of motions having the highest precedence or priority. Procedural motion - Any motion that R deals with parliamentary procedure as Read papers - Motion to allow one to distinguished from one involving a read a paper or document as part of a substantive proposition. speech or debate. Progress in debate - Any development Recess- A short break or brief during the consideration of a question intermission during a meeting. that would reasonably justify the renewal Recognition - Formal acknowledgment or reintroduction of a motion. A change by the Chair indicating that a member in parliamentary situation. has the floor. Proposer - One who proposes or Recommil - To refer back a question to introduces a motion for the consideration the same committee or to refer it to of the assembly. The same as the another one. Reconsider - A motion to proponent. rescind the action of the assembly on a Proposition - Any question brought previously decided question, and to have before the assembly for its consideration; it rediscussed and voted upon anew. it may be a motion, resolution, report, or Refer to a committee - To submit a other kind of proposal. question to a committee for study or Proxy- Any signed statement authorizing other action; the same as the motion to a person to vote or to act for and on commit. behalf of another; also the person so Reference committee - A standing or deputized. Putting the question- The act regular committee in a convention to of submitting a question to a vote; the which are referred all motions dealing taking of a vote on a question. with a particular subject. Regular committee - Any committee Q created by the by-laws of an organization Question - Any proposition submitted to to which questions dwelling on specific the assembly for consideration. subjects are referred for study or action. Question of privilege - A motion, Regular meetings- Meetings held at actually a request, involving the rights, regular intervals as provided in the comfort, security, or convenience of the by-laws of the organization. assembly or of any of its members. Renew a motion - To present the same Quorum - The number of numbers motion for the second or subsequent time required by the rules of an organization at the same meeting or session, and for to be present at a meeting for the valid the same purpose. transactions of business. Repeal- To annul or void a previous action or decision. Repeal by implication - A mode of Secretary- An officer of the organization repeal by which a subsequent measure or of any of its committees whose annuls a previous one if both deal with principal function is to take and keep full the same subject and contain conflicting record of the minutes of its meetings. provisions; opposite of express repeal. Sergeant-at-arms - A minor officer of Rescind - To repeal or nullify. the organization whose duty is to Resolution- A formal written proposal maintain order in an assembly, under the submitted to the assembly for direction of the presiding officer. consideration; the same as motion. Seriatim - The procedure of considering Restricted debate- Debate which is any report, resolution, document, or limited only to certain phases of a paper by sections or paragraphs. question, as distinguished from a full Special committee - A committee debate. created to perform a special task for the Resume consideration- To take up for assembly; it is automatically dissolved consideration a question which has been after the completion of its work. previously laid on the table or postponed Special meeting- A Meeting called to temporarily. It is another term for the consider certain specific business as set motion to take from the table. forth in the call. Rising vote-A Method of voting by Specific main motion- A class of main which members are asked to stand to be motions but with specific names and counted. Roll call - A part of the order of special rules, unlike general main business, consisting of the calling of a motions. list of names of the members to find out Standing committee - Another name for who are present or absent. a regular committee. Roll call vote - Another method of Standing rules - Rules formulated and voting by which members signify their adopted by an organization for its vote as each name is called. particular needs. Ruling - Decision of the Chair on a Statute - A law enacted by a legislative question or a point of order. body. Subsidiary motion - Any motion S designed to modify or dispose of a Second - An indication of approval or question, temporarily or permanently. expression of support to a motion or Substantive motion - A motion which question as a necessary preliminary to presents a concrete proposal for the further discussion of the proposition or to consideration of the assembly; it is a vote on it. the opposite of procedural motion. Suppress a motion - To cause the affirmatively, saying "Aye" and those defeat of a motion without the benefit voting negatively, saying "No." of a vote. Voluntary organization - Any Suspend the rules - Motion to set organization that is aside a rule of the organization or to non-governmental in character and make it temporarily inoperative. which members may join by choice; also known as a common T organization. Take from the table - To resume Vote immediately- Motion to close consideration of a question debate and take a vote on the previously laid on the table. question at once; also known as Tally - Anything on which the score motion for the previous question of an election is recorded, usually by the system of notches. W Teller - A member of a committee Walkout - Act of expressing disgust assigned to conduct an election by over the proceedings in a ballot. deliberative body by leaving the Tie vote- A vote in which the session hall before adjournment. affirmative and negative are equal in number; a deadlock. Y Yeas and nays- Expressions used U when voting by roll call; "yea" Unanimous vote - A decision expresses affirmation, "nay" means without any adverse or dissenting dissent. vote. Unanimous consent - An informal method of disposing of routine and generally favored motions or questions; the same as general consent. Unfinished business - Any business that has been left unterminated at, or postponed from a previous meeting. V Viva voce vote - A vote taken orally or by word of mouth with those voting