Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty. Henry M.
Robert’s Rules of Order Revised for Deliberative Assemblies General Henry M. Robert, U.S. Army In 1876 General Henry M. Robert set out to bring the rules of the American Congress to members of ordinary societies with the publication of Pocket Manual of Rules of Order. It sold half a million copies before this revision of 1915 and made Robert’s name synonymous with the orderly rule of reason in deliberative societies.
C ONTENTSBibliographic Record Order of Precedence of Motions Table of Rules Relating to Motions Preface Introduction Subject Index
CHICAGO: SCOTT, FORESMAN, 1915
Part I.—Rules of Order.
Art. I.—How Business Is Conducted in Deliberative Assemblies.
Introduction of Business What Precedes Debate Obtaining the Floor Motions and Resolutions Seconding Motions Stating the Question Debate Secondary Motions Putting the Question and Announcing the Vote Proper Motions to Use to Accomplish Certain Objects
Art. II.—General Classification of Motions.
Main or Principal Motions Subsidiary Motions Incidental Motions Privileged Motions Some Main and Unclassified Motions
Art. III.—Privileged Motions.
Fix the Time to which the Assembly shall Adjourn Adjourn Take a Recess Questions of Privilege General and Special Orders and a Call for the Orders of the Day
Art. IV.—Incidental Motions.
Questions of Order and Appeal Suspension of the Rules Objection to the Consideration of a Question Division of a Question, and Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim Division of the Assembly, and Motions relating to Methods of Voting, or to Closing or Reopening the Polls Motions relating to Methods of Making, or to Closing or to Reopening Nominations Requests growing out of Business Pending or that has just been pending, as, a Parliamentary Inquiry, a Request for Information, for Leave to Withdraw a Motion, to Read Papers, to be Excused from a Duty, or for any other Privilege
Art. V.—Subsidiary Motions.
Lay on the Table The Previous Question Limit or Extend Limits of Debate Postpone Definitely, or to a Certain Time Commit or Refer, or Recommit Amend Postpone Indefinitely
Art. VI.—Some Main and Unclassified Motions.
Take from the Table Reconsider Rescind Renewal of a Motion Ratify Dilatory, Absurd, or Frivolous Motions Call of the House
Art. VII.—Debate.
Debate Decorum in Debate Closing and Preventing Debate Principles of Debate and Undebatable Motions
Art. VIII.—Vote.
Voting Votes that are Null and Void even if Unanimous Motions requiring more than a Majority Vote
Art. IX.—Committees and Boards.
Committees Classified Boards of Managers, etc., and Executive Committees Ex-Officio Members of Boards and Committees Committees, Special and Standing Reception of Reports Adoption or Acceptance of Reports Committee of the Whole As if in Committee of the Whole Informal Consideration
Art. X.—The Officers and the Minutes.
Chairman or President Secretary or Clerk The Minutes Executive Secretary Treasurer
Art. XI.—Miscellaneous.
Session Quorum Order of Business Nominations and Elections Constitutions, By-laws, Rules of Order, and Standing Rules Amendments of Constitutions, By-laws, and Rules of Order
Part II.—Organization, Meetings, and Legal Rights of Assemblies.
Art. XII.—Organization and Meetings.
An Occasional or Mass Meeting .
Organization Adoption of Resolutions Committee to draft Resolutions Semi-Permanent Mass Meeting
A Permanent Society .
First Meeting Second Meeting Regular Meeting
Meeting of a Convention .
An Organized Convention A Convention not yet Organized
Art. XIII.—Legal Rights of Assemblies and Trial of Their Members.
Right of an Assembly to Punish its Members Right of an Assembly to Eject any one from its Place of Meeting Rights of Ecclesiastical Tribunals Trial of Members of Societies
Plan for Study of Parliamentary Law.
Introduction Lesson Outlines
