Parlimentary Procedure Vocabulary

adjourn

close the meeting

adopt

accept/agree

agenda

order of business

amend

modify wording or meaning

appeal

members question chair's ruling

aye

affirmative voice vote

board

administrative body

bylaws

basic rules of a society

commit

send to a committee; refer

refer

send to a committee; commit

convention

assembly of delegates

debate

discussion of merits of pending question

executive session

proceedings are secret

incidental motions

deal with questions of procedure

lay on the table

set main motion aside temporarily

main motion

introduces business to the assembly

majority vote

more than half of votes cast

mass meeting

unorganized group

meeting

single official gathering

minutes

written record of the proceedings

motion

formal proposal to take action

request for information

inquiry as to facts

point of order

call for enforcement of rules

postpone definitely

postpone to a certain time

postpone indefinitely

dispose of the question without a direct vote

precedence

rank

previous question

close debate

pro tem

temporary

quorum

members required to transact business

ratify

make valid action already taken

recess

short intermission

regular meeting

periodic business meeting

rescind

repeal

second

agreement that motion be considered

secretary

recording officer of an assembly

state the question

place the motion before the assembly

standing committee

constituted to perform a continuing function

take from the table

resume consideration of a main motion

the chair

person presiding

unanimous consent

no opposition

viva vote

voice vote