Talk about Rules

Now you can learn more about parliamentary procedure in easy to use online courses.  The National Association of Parliamentarians just launched its first course:  Minutes Made Easy.  This course, designed for new secretaries or those who may become secretary for an organization, provides a wealth of practical information about what goes in minutes, how to correct minutes, and much more.

I thought the course was colorful, interesting, and best of all you can log on for a part of it, leave, and when you come back you get to pick up right where you left off.  It has easy navigation and allows you to go forward or back as much as you want.

There is an easy quiz at the end with a certificate awarded to those who can answer 7 out of the 10 questions correctly.

Give it a try and learn what you need to know about minutes.

They say:  The president or the chairman can't speak during debate and can't vote. 

But we say:  In small boards or committees, the rules are less formal and the presiding officer (president, chairman) can both speak during debate and can vote on all matters.  Small boards are defined as having twelve or less members. 

Even in a large board the presiding officer can vote to make a tie or to break a tie.  (A tie vote means the motion is lost.) This right should be used very carefully though because the presiding officer does not want to lose the trust of the assembly.

The presiding officer can always vote when the vote is by ballot.  A ballot vote maintains privacy and is less likely to impair the presiding officer's impartiality in conducting the meeting.