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Cornell University

Parliamentary Procedure

Robert's Rules of Order has three guiding principles:

  1. Everyone has the right to participate in discussion if they wish, before anyone may speak a second time.
  2. Everyone has the right to know what is going on at all times; only urgent matters may interrupt a speaker.
  3. Only one thing (motion) can be discussed at a time.

 

"The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member’s opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion."

— Robert’s Rules of Order, 10th Edition