Eugene Huang, age 14, of Kalispei, Mont., for his question:
WHAT IS 'ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER'?
A book called "Robert's Rules of Order" is an outline of parliamentary law and procedure that is used by many organizations. Parliamentary law is a term used to designate the body of rules and procedures regulating the modes of procedure and course of debate in legislative and other deliberative assemblies.
An American army engineer named Henry Robert wrote "Robert's Rule of Order" in 1876. The book was revised in 1915.
Like most other American parliamentary texts, Robert's procedure is based on the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, which are in turn derived from British parliamentary law. Many bodies throughout the world, including the Japanese diet, have procedures based upon British and American parliamentary law.
Parliamentary law is a term that has been applied to the rules governing the procedure and conduct of organizations. The basic principles of parliamentary law are majority rule, equal rights of all members to participate in the proceedings, protection of the right of the minority to be heard and the orderly consideration of matters brought before the meeting.
Parliamentary law says that a deliberative assembly must include a presiding officer who may be called the chairperson, speaker, president or moderator. There must also be a clerk or secretary. The presiding officer must be fair in the exercise of authority. He or she has the power of recognition; that is, of deciding which member is entitled to speak. He or she must be impartial and permit the presentation of opposing views.
It is the duty of the presiding officer to call the meeting to order, to see that motions are properly made, to preserve order and enforce rules of procedure and to decide questions of order subject to the right of appeal by the whole assembly. If the presiding officer is a member of the organization, he or she may participate in debate.
"Robert's Rules of order" outlines the procedure necessary to conduct a business meeting. Business is brought before an assembly by a motion, or proposal, of a member or by the presentation of a resolution.
When the motion has been stated, the question of its adoption is considered pending. While this question or matter is before the assembly, no other business of a different nature can intervene. Debate on a specific question or issue is in order after the question has been stated by the chair.
When debate has ended, or has been closed by motion and vote of the members present, the presiding officer rises and puts the debated question to a vote.
The rules of the U.S. House of Representatives require those favoring the motion to indicate their preference by saying together "aye," and those opposing it to say together "no." If the presiding officer is in doubt as to the result of the voice vote, or at the request of any member, a so called division, or standing, vote is in order.