Stonehill Faculty Senate Brief Guide to Robert’s Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules are meant to help keep the meetings in good order and to allow everyone a fair chance to speak. They are not meant to be an obstacle to participation.

 General rules

  • Any community member may make a proposal, which is request for consideration by the Faculty Senate, using the form on the Senate website below. Proposals must be submitted two weeks in advance. The Senate President sets the agenda for the meeting. https://www.stonehill.edu/offices-and-services/faculty-senate/proposal-proxy-ballot-forms/
  • When a proposal is on the agenda, a motion to approve the proposal will be made and seconded; a period of debate and discussion follows; then Senators will vote. During debate, indicate that you wish to speak by raising your hand (physically when meeting in person, or using the “raise hand” function when meeting virtually). When we meet in person, the Vice President keeps a running list of who wishes to speak, and the President calls on those people in order. 
  • Both Senators and guests may speak. Those listed on the proposal in question (i.e. the makers of the motion) receive first priority, followed by Senators. 
  • No one shall speak a second time until all those wishing to speak have been called on once.
  • All comments and amendments must be germane, that is, relevant to the question at hand.
  • In the Faculty Senate, we count votes (yes, no, abstention) for all proposals. We do not record which Senators voted yes or no. We do not count votes for minutes or adjournment as long as there is a clear majority. 

Motions

Any Senator can make a motion. The most common motions are standard agenda items: motion for approval of minutes, motions to introduce and approve proposals that have been pre-submitted to the agenda, and motions to adjourn. Usually the Senate President introduces these motions. Most motions need a second and a simple majority vote to pass. Votes requiring a 2/3 majority are noted below.

To make a motion, ask to be recognized by raising your hand. A Senator may then second (the Senate President will ask whether there is a second if no one says “second”).

Motions that need the President’s recognition:

  • Move to amend the current proposal.
  • Move the previous question: if approved, ends debate immediately and proceeds to a vote. (Requires a 2/3 vote)
  • Move to postpone the question: if approved, postpones debate until the next meeting or another stated time.
  • Move to table. If approved, stops further discussion. It can be brought back at a future time or date if voted to untable it.
  • Move to suspend the rules (requires 2/3 vote). This includes changing the scheduled order of the agenda.
  • Move to limit or extend the debate (requires 2/3 vote)
  • Move to refer or commit the motion to a smaller group of people. For example, if a proposal needs more work, it could be referred back to the proposers, to an ad hoc Senate subcommittee, to the Governance Committee, etc.
  • Move that debate be limited to a certain amount of time per speaker (e.g. three minutes)

Motions that do not need the President’s recognition (i.e. you can interrupt a speaker)

  • Parliamentary inquiry: if you have a question about the rules or procedures. Example: “is a motion to adjourn now in order?”
  • Point of order: if you think the rules are being broken. The Senate President will then rule on whether the point of order is correct. An appeal may follow and the Senate will vote on whether the decision of the chair shall be sustained.
  • Point of information/Request for information: Asks a question relevant to the business before the Senate. You may interrupt to ask a question but not to provide information or make a point.

Source: Henry M. Robert, III et al, Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, In Brief. (Hachette, 2020).

 

 

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