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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

Legislative Process and Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary Procedure refers to the procedures for debate and general conduct of business of the Assemblies during meetings and other operations. In all matters not specifically described in their governing documents, the assemblies follow Roberts Rules of Order, latest edition.

At its heart, Parliamentary Procedure is the rule of the majority with respect for the minority. Its object is to allow organizations to debate and reach group decisions—usually by vote—with the least possible friction.

Resolutions 101: From Concept to the Floor

Though each assembly its own unique parliamentary processes, legislative actions of the assemblies are most typically drafted as Resolutions. 

The process for developing a resolution has several steps, allowing for engaging key stakeholders and soliciting community input, and should take some time prior to coming to the assembly for a vote. A typical procedure might look like:

  1. Developing the initiative/topic that you want to address 
    • Search for any legislative history surrounding the issue
    • Review website actions archives
    • Solicit feedback from your assembly and your constituents
  2. Drafting your initial resolution
  3. Soliciting an Assembly member to sponsor your resolution if you are not a voting member
  4. Soliciting feedback on written resolution from:
    • Administrators
    • Assembly members 
    • Assembly Committees
    • Community
  5. Drafting your final resolution
  6. Submitting to EVP for inclusion on an agenda
  7. Attaching any supporting documents or information
  8. Beginning to secure support from assembly members

For an illustration of bringing a Resolution from concept to the floor, see Issue Resolution Decision Tree.

Robert's Rules of Order

Originally published in 1876 by US Army Brigadier General Henry Martyn Robert after a bad experience leading a church meeting, these procedures are loosely modeled after those used in the United States House of Representatives. The intention is not to waste time with excessive formality, rather to ensure everyone gets a fair opportunity to speak, since some issues may be contentious.

This is the fallback policy for situations not addressed or ambiguously addressed in other governing documents of the assemblies.

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.

For more information, see:

"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