Student Activities
Robert's Rules of Order
To help our student government to become more efficient and effective, we have included in our handbook some very basic parts of Robert's Rules of Order.
Robert's Rules of Order is a set group of procedures used by organizations and assemblies to provide its members with organized and orderly ways in which to debate or make decisions in accordance with the entire group.
Making Motions
A motion is a response, suggestion, or idea from any member of the assembly. There are three steps involved in making a motion. They are as follows:
- A member must bring forth the motion.
- Another member must second the motion.
- The chairman or presiding person puts the motion to question before the entire assembly to discuss. After discussion, the assembly votes to pass or reject the motion.
Amendments
An amendment is the changing or modifying of the working of the constitution or other written material in the handbook. Homeroom representatives must vote according to the majority vote of their homerooms. A two-thirds majority vote is needed in the council to amend the constitution.
Lay on the Table
To "lay on the table" is a motion that allows the assembly to lay the pending question aside temporarily when something more urgent has risen.
Division of the Assembly
The division of the Assembly is when a member is in doubt of a voice vote: thus, a standing vote is called for a precise count. The raising of a hand is usually acceptable in small assemblies.