Abstention/Abstain
Act of not voting, and is NOT used when determining majority.
2/3 majority, etc.
Accept, Adopt, or Approve
To adopt or approve a motion, a report, or a statement.
Addressing the Chair
Using the correct title of presiding officer when seeking recognition by the chair.
Adjourn
Act of ending the meeting.
Agenda
An Outline of the order of business
Amend
To modify the question, to insert, to strike out, to strike out and insert.
Announcing the Vote
The Declaration by the chair of the result of the vote.
Appeal from the decision of the chair
To Determine the assembly's attitude toward a rling made by the chair.
Debate
Discussion of the merits of a motion.
Division of the Assembly
Used when a member doubts the results of a voice vote or a vote by show of hands, thereby requiring vote to be taken again by rising.
Ex-Officio
By virtue of office. A person with the rights of a non-voting member. They can make motions and debate, but cannot vote.
General Consent/Unanimous Consent
Silent consent without a single objection.
Germane
Closely related to or used in relation to amendments.
Lay on the Table
To delay a motion and clear the floor for more urgent business
Limit or Extend Limits of Debate
To provide more or less time for discussion
Minutes
Written record of the proceedings of a meeting.
Bylaws
A document, adopted by society, which contains the basic rules for governing the society.
Call to Order
An announcement by the presiding officer convening the meeting.
Caucus
A meeting to plan strategy toward a desired result within the assembly
Chair
applies to the person presiding and his/her station in the hall from which he/she presides
Commit
To refer to a new committee
Constitution
A document, which contains the important rules of the organization.
Convene
To Meet together.
Motion
A proposal that certain action be taken or certain view be expressed by the assembly.
Obtaining the Floor
To obtain the floor, the member must be recognized by the chair as having the exclusive right to be heard at that time.
Parliamentary Inquiry
A question directed to the presiding officer to obtain information on parliamentary law or the rules of the organization bearing on the business at hand.
Pending Question
The motion that has been stated by the chair and is under consideration by the assembly.
Point of Order
Calls attention to violation of parliamentary procedre
Preamble
Introduction of a resolution including reasons for adoption.
Precedence
Rank of order of priority of motions.
Previous Question
Requires a 2/3 vote to secure an immediate vote on one or more pending questions; ends debate.
Pro Tem
Temporarily, for the time being. Usually used in connection with a temporary officer (chairman pro tem)
Question
A motion or proposal, which introduces a subject to the assembly for discussion and action.
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present in order to legally transact business.
Raise question of privilege
permits a motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly or its members to be brought up for possible immediate consideration because of its urgency.
Ratify
Approves action previously taken.
Recess
An Intermission in the proceedings.
Reconsider
To secure further consideration and another vote on the question. The member moving to reconsider must have voted on the prevailing side.
Refer
To appoint to an existing committee
Rescind
to repeal action previously taken
Resolution
A formal motion, preferably written, which may include reasons for making the motion.
Second
An indication by a second member of willingness to have a proposed motion considered.
Special Order
A motion or subject proposed for a certain time
Standing Rules
Temporary or semi-permanent rules relating to the details of administration rather than parliamentary procedure.
Stating the Question
Restatement by the chair of a motion in order to place the motion before the assembly for debate and/or action.
Subsidiary Motion
A motion that helps to treat or dispose of a main motion either temporarily or permanently
Suspend the Rules
A motion requiring a 2/3 vote that permits action otherwise prohibited
Sustain
Uphold a ruling