Parliamentary Procedure Vocabulary

A coordinated system used to conduct business when working in a group; allows everyone to be heard and make decisions without confusion

• Vice chairman or chairwoman

• secretary

• motion

• Parliamentary procedure

This person will call the meeting to order, recognize members to the floor, state motions, announce the vote and maintain order; a neutral body, that cannot offer debate on a motion or make motions and can only vote if it is to make or break a tie.

• Vice chairman or chairwoman

• Chairman or chairwoman

• Secretary

• Treasurer

The main role is to be familiar with the duties of the chair so that, if the chair becomes unable to serve, they can step in and take over

• Secretary

• Chairman or chairwoman

• Vice chairman or chairwoman

• historian

Serves as the official record keeper of the organization, keeps the roll of members and minutes of the meeting and record of proceedings of the previous meeting as well as take notes to report at the next meeting

• Pending

• Treasurer

• Motion

• Secretary

The custodian of the funds for the organization; receives all of the incoming money and disburses the money according to instructions specified by the organization; common tasks include preparing the organization’s budget, making sure the books are audited and filling out appropriate tax forms; gives a report at the meeting.

• President

• Historian

• Treasurer

• Advisor

• Secretary

Brings a proposal or item of business on which the group is to make a decision; sometimes referred to as the question

• Main motion

• motion

• Privileged motions

• Ballot vote

Brings a new item of business before the group; can be further subdivided into two categories: original main motions Aja incidental main motions

• Main motion

• motion

• General consent

• Roll-call vote

A motion which brings an item of business before the meeting

• Original main motion

• Unclassified motion

• Pending majority vote

• Secondary motion

A main motion that is related to the business of the assembly or its past or future action

• Pertinent facts

• incidental main motion

• Pending

• Two-thirds vote

Is made while a main motion is pending

• Motion

• Main motion

• Pending

• Secondary motion