Parliamentary Procedure Flashcards
(177 cards)
1
Q
A practice in which absent members are permitted to vote either by mail or by proxy.
A
Absentee voting
2
Q
To desist voluntarily from voting on a question.
A
Abstain
3
Q
An oral vote, often unanimous, usually taken after the sense of a meeting is clear and unmistakable.
A
Acclamation
4
Q
Any motion that is applied to the principal question, and which goes with the latter when it is postponed or referred to a committee.
A
Adhering motion
5
Q
To terminate a meeting officially.
A
Adjourn
6
Q
Adjournment without day; it terminates a convention or conference.
A
Adjourn sine die
7
Q
A continuation of a regular or special meeting; it is legally a part of the same meeting.
A
Adjourned meeting
8
Q
To vote to accept or approve.
A
Adopt
9
Q
A “yes” vote to a question; an agreement to its acceptance.
A
Affirmative vote
10
Q
An official list containing the items of business to be considered at a meeting.
A
Agenda
11
Q
To alter or modify a motion or question by due formal procedure.
A
Amend
12
Q
To cancel or to render void an action previously taken.
A
Annul
13
Q
An application to the assembly to decide whether the decision of the presiding officer on a particular question is right or wrong.
A
Appeal
14
Q
A gathering of persons with a common purpose,; whether organized or not; it includes mass meetings as well as formally established organizations.
A
Assembly
15
Q
An affirmative vote. It corresponds to “Yes” or “Yea.”
A
Aye
16
Q
A ticket or a piece of paper used in voting secrecy. It also refers to the method of voting, or a round of voting, as being elected on the second or third ballot.
A
Ballot
17
Q
A principal group that manages the affairs of an organization; it goes by different names, like board of directors, board of trustees, board of governors, and the like.
A
Board of management
18
Q
Any matter brought before the assembly for consideration.
A
Business
19
Q
A set of rules of an organization, ranking next to the constitution in authority and above the standing rules.
A
By-laws
20
Q
same as agenda
A
Calendar of Business
21
Q
A demand that the assembly conform to the order of business.
A
Call for orders of the day
22
Q
To bring the assembly to attention for the start of business.
A
Call to order
23
Q
One who is nominated or who offers himself as an aspirant for office or membership.
A
Candidate
24
Q
To review the election returns.
A
Canvass
25
Approved by the necessary vote.
Carried
26
A meeting of leaders of a party or faction to decide on policies or candidates for an office.
Caucus
27
The presiding officer of the assembly.
Chair
28
Any development in the deliberations of the assembly that may cause it to reasonably take a different position on a question to warrant its renewal.
Change in parliamentary situation
29
A request to allow a member to change or alter his vote on a decided question.
Change vote
30
The articles or certificate of incorporation taken in connection with the law under which a corporation is organized; also the authorization from a central or parent organization to establish a branch or chapter.
Charter
31
To terminate all discussions on a question and to have it voted upon immediately.
Close debate
32
To refer a question to a committee for study, investigation, or some other purpose.
Commit
33
A person or a group of persons appointed or elected to investigate, report, or act for the organization.
Committee
34
Group appointed or elected to take charge of elections in an organization.
Committee of tellers
35
The entire assembly sitting and acting as in a committee for the informal and preliminary consideration of a question or questions.
Committee of the whole
36
A committee to whom financial matters are referred.
Committee on ways and means
37
The system of law developed in England, based on customs and court decisions. It is often spoken of as the unwritten law.
Common law
38
The system of rules developed for the government of deliberative, non-legislative bodies.
Common parliamentary procedure
39
A meeting for consultation or discussion.
Conference
40
Deliberation and examination of a question before deciding on it.
Consideration
41
A document containing fundamental principles in accordance with which an organized body is governed and administered.
Constitution
42
To meet together or to cause a body to assemble for a meeting or a similar purpose.
Convene
43
A meeting or assembly of delegates or representatives of associated groups for a common purpose.
Convention
44
A certificate or document attesting to a person's right to attend a meeting or convention in representation of a member or a group.
Credential
45
Capable of being discussed.
Debatable
46
Discussion on a question or subject before the assembly.
Debate
47
A member authorized to represent an organized group and empowered to act for it.
Delegate
48
An assembly or body which transacts business by discussion of questions and which makes decisions by vote.
Deliberative body
49
Strategic devices used to delay, gain time, defer decision on a question before the assembly.
Dilatory tactics
50
One of a body of persons directing the affairs of an organization.
Director
51
A term used to describe a situation where the required number of persons present at the beginning of a meeting gradually diminishes as some members leave.
Disappearing quorum
52
To release or excuse a committee from considering a question; to remove the question from its jurisdiction.
Discharge a committee
53
Consideration of a question by the oral presentation of views of different members.
Discussion
54
To remove a question or business, either temporarily or permanently, from the consideration of the assembly.
Dispose of a question
55
To terminate its official life or existence.
Dissolve an organization
56
The act of counting or recounting the members voting on a question.
Division of the assembly
57
Splitting up of a lengthy or complex question into two or more independent parts for individual consideration.
Division of the question
58
To admit or receive a motion or an amendment.
Entertain
59
Authority of a person to hold an office by virtue of his official position.
Ex-officio
60
The principal committee of an organization; it usually conducts business for the organization during intervals between meetings.
Executive Board
61
To rescind and express strong disapproval to an action previously taken by the assembly by erasing or blotting it out from the records of the organization.
Expunge
62
To employ dilatory tactics, such as speaking endlessly, to obstruct or prevent action on a question.
Filibuster
63
A method of voting where each item is treated and voted upon independently, one after the other.
Filling blanks
64
Figuratively, the right of a member to speak to the assembly. Once a member is recognized by the Chair, he is said to have the floor, and is the only one allowed to speak.
Floor
65
A mallet used by the presiding officer to open and close meetings and to maintain order.
Gavel
66
Also called "unanimous consent," it is an informal method of disposing of routine and generally favored questions by the Chair; the assembly's approval is taken for granted, and no formal vote is taken on the question, unless an objection is raised.
General consent
67
Pertaining or relating directly to, or having direct bearing upon a subject. It is applied to describe the relationship of amendments to the principal question or amendments of the first degree.
Germane
68
A meeting to listen to ideas or arguments for the formulation of decisions or recommendations in connection with a question before the assembly.
Hearing
69
One upon whom is bestowed office or membership by reason of his eminence or position.
Honorary officer or member
70
A vote which cannot be counted because of its failure to comply with some rules of the organization.
Illegal vote
71
When several questions are pending, the one last proposed is the immediate pending question; it must, however, be decided ahead of the others.
Immediate pending question
72
When a person is nominated or elected in his :,absence, he is nominated or elected in absentia.
In absentia
73
Motions which arise incidentally out of a question or business pending before the assembly.
Incidental motions
74
Impropriety of behavior. Speech or action that violates the rules of parliamentary procedure or the conventions of civility.
Indecorum
75
A method of deliberating upon questions without observing the rules of formal debate.
Informal consideration
76
In conformity or in accordance with parliamentary rules.
In order
77
A question directed to the Chair by a member.
Inquiry
78
Applied to propositions which can be stated only in one way, and are, therefore, not capable of being amended or modified.
Invariable form
79
Not pertinent or not applicable to a particular question.
Irrelevant
80
To defer action on a question until a later but undetermined time.
Lay on the table
81
A valid vote.
Legal vote
82
A representative body with constitutional authority to enact laws.
Legislative body
83
restrict the discussion on a question, either by limiting the number of speakers, the speaking time of each, or the time allotted for discussions.
Limit debate
84
A practice by which some members agree to assist others in the passage of certain motions in consideration of similar assistance from them in return; used opprobriously.
Log-rolling
85
A subject formally proposed to the assembly for its consideration.
Main motion
86
The greater or larger part of a group or number; also the ruling party or the group whose votes prevail in the decision of a question
Majority
87
The larger part of the votes cast; usually, one-half plus one of the legal votes, unless otherwise defined,
Majority vote
88
A general assembly open to everyone.
Mass meeting
89
An assemblage of the members of an organization during which there is unbroken deliberation except for brief periods of recess; it is terminated upon it's adjournment.
Meeting
90
A member who has satisfactorily complied with all his obligations in the organization.
Member in good standing
91
The smaller number of two aggregates usually less than half of the members or votes. Also the group having less than the number of votes necessary to control decisions of the assembly.
Minority
92
The official record of the motions presented to the assembly and its actions thereon. Generally, a record of the deliberations of the assembly.
Minutes
93
A formal proposal in a deliberative assembly.
Motion
94
A vote against a proposition.
Negative vote
95
Any question brought before the assembly other than an unfinished matter or question.
New business
96
The formal proposal of a person as a candidate for an office.
Nomination
97
Formal notification of a fact or an intention, served on the members by the organization, or by a member on the assembly.
Notice
98
To oppose discussion on or consideration of a main motion.
Object to consideration
99
A regularly organized party, usually opposed to the policies of the party in power.
Opposition
100
Program of business for a particular meeting in which the questions to be taken up are arranged in the order of their consideration.
Order of business
101
Not in conformity with, or in violation of parliamentary rules.
Out of order
102
One skilled in parliamentary practice; an adviser on parliamentary procedure.
Parliamentarian
103
A book or manual formally adopted by an organization as its official guide on parliamentary procedure, to govern all matters not covered by the Constitution, by-laws, and other rules of the organization.
Parliamentary authority
104
The body of rules and precedents by which deliberative assemblies govern their proceedings
Parliamentary law
105
Customary methods of parliamentary procedure that have become established as rules.
Parliamentary practice
106
The manner or method of conducting business in a deliberative assembly in accordance with parliamentary law and practices.
Parliamentary procedure
107
Any motion or question that has not yet been disposed of by the assembly.
Pending question
108
Private material gain which a member may derive from the decision on a question by the assembly.
Personal interest
109
The right of a person as a member of an organization.
Personal privilege
110
A vote in excess of those for any other proposition, or candidate for the same office, especially over the number for the next opponent; it may be less than a majority.
Plurality vote
111
Technically, a motion to call attention to an error in the observance or enforcement of parliamentary rules or those of the organization it is, at the same time, a demand that such error be corrected.
Point of order
112
Voting or registration of votes at an election; the votes thus registered or voted; also the place where they are registered or voted; used in the plural.
Poll
113
To defer consideration of a question until a specific time.
Postpone definitely
114
To defer indefinitely the consideration of a question; it is tantamount to the suppression of the question.
Postpone indefinitely
115
Another form of referring to the motion to lay on the table.
Postpone temporarily
116
The introductory part of a constitution; also the introduction preceding a resolution, stating its purpose or the reason for its proposal.
Preamble
117
The priority of one motion over another in proposal and consideration.
Precedence
118
Customary title of heads of organizations.
President
119
One who presides over a meeting, like the president, chairman, speaker, or moderator. The term, however, is ascribed to any member who, without being elected to any office, is called upon to preside over the proceedings of the assembly.
Presiding officer
120
A motion to close debate on a question and to have it voted upon forthwith. It is also referred to as the motion to vote immediately.
Previous question
121
Any question involving the right of the assembly.
Privilege of the assembly
122
The class of motions having the highest precedence or priority.
Privileged motions or questions
123
Any motion that deals with parliamentary procedure as distinguished from one involving a substantive proposition.
Procedural motion
124
Any development during the consideration of a question that would reasonably justify the renewal or reintroduction of a motion. A change in parliamentary situation.
Progress in debate
125
One who proposes or introduces a motion for the consideration of the assembly. The same as proponent.
Proposer
126
Any question brought before the assembly for its consideration; it may be a motion, resolution, report, or other kind of proposal.
Proposition
127
Any signed statement authorizing a person to vote or to act for and in behalf of another; also the person so deputized.
Proxy
128
The act of submitting a question to a vote; the taking of a vote on a question.
Putting the question
129
Any proposition submitted to the assembly for consideration.
Question
130
A motion, actually a request, involving the rights, comfort, security, or convenience of the assembly or of any of its members.
Question of privilege
131
The number of members required by the rules of an organization to be resent at a meeting for the valid transaction of business.
Quorum
132
Motion to allow one to read a paper or of document as part of a speech or debate.
Read papers
133
A short break or brief intermission during a meeting.
Recess
134
Formal acknowledgment by the Chair indicating that a member has the floor.
Recognition
135
To refer back a question to the same committee or to refer it to another one.
Recommit
136
A motion to rescind the action of the assembly on a previously decided question, and to have it rediscussed and voted upon anew.
Reconsider
137
To submit a question to a committee for study or other action; the same as the motion to commit.
Refer to a committee
138
A standing or regular committee in a convention to which are referred all motions dealing with a particular subject.
Reference committee
139
Any committee created by the by-laws of an organization to which questions dwelling on specific subjects are referred for study or action.
Regular committee
140
Meetings held at regular intervals as provided in the by-laws of the organization.
Regular meetings
141
To present the same motion for the second or subsequent time at the same meeting or session, and for the same purpose.
Renew a motion
142
To annul or void a previous action or decision.
Repeal
143
A mode of repeal by which a subsequent measure annuls a previous one if both deal with the same subject and contain conflicting provisions; opposite of express repeal.
Repeal by implication
144
To repeal or nullify.
Rescind
145
A formal written proposal submitted to the assembly for consideration; the same as motion.
Resolution
146
Debate which is limited only to certain phases of a question, as distinguished from a full debate.
Restricted debate
147
To take up for consideration a question which has been previously laid on the table or postponed temporarily. It is another term for the motion to take from the table.
Resume consideration
148
A method of voting by which members are asked to stand to be counted.
Rising vote
149
A part of the order of business, consisting of the calling of a list of names of the members to find out who are present or absent.
Roll call
150
Another method of voting by which members signify their vote as each name is called.
Roll call vote
151
Decision of the Chair on a question or a point of order.
Ruling
152
An indication of approval or expression of support to a motion or question as a necessary preliminary to further discussion of the proposition or to a vote on it.
Second
153
An officer of the organization or of any of its committee whose principal function is to take and keep full record of the minutes of its meetings.
Secretary
154
A minor officer of the organization whose duty is to maintain order in an assembly, under the direction of the presiding officer.
Sergeat-at-arms
155
The procedure of considering any report, resolution, document, or paper by sections or paragraphs.
Seriatim
156
A committee created to perform a special task for the assembly; it is automatically dissolved after the completion of its work.
Special committee
157
A meeting called to consider certain specific business as set forth in the call.
Special meeting
158
A class of main motions but with specific names and special rules, unlike general main motions.
Specific main motion
159
Another name for a regular committee.
Standing committee
160
Rules formulated and adopted by an organization for its particular needs.
Standing rules
161
A law enacted by a legislative body.
Statute
162
Any motion designed to modify or dispose of a question, temporarily or permanently.
Subsidiary motion
163
A motion which presents a concrete proposal for the consideration of the assembly; it is the opposite of procedural motion.
Substantive motion
164
To cause the defeat of a motion without the benefit of a vote.
Suppress a motion
165
Motion to set aside a rule of the organization or to make it temporarily inoperative.
Suspend the rules
166
To resume consideration of a question previously laid on the table.
Take from the table
167
Anything´ on which the score of an election is recorded, usually by the system of notches.
Tally
168
A member of a committee assigned to conduct an election by ballot.
Teller
169
A vote in which the affirmative and negative are equal in number; a deadlock.
Tie vote
170
A decision without any adverse or dissenting vote.
Unanimous vote
171
An informal method of disposing of routine and generally favored motions or questions; the same as general consent.
Unanimous consent
172
Any business that has been left unterminated at, or postponed from a previous meeting
Unfinished business
173
A vote taken orally or by word of mouth with those voting affirmatively, saying “Aye" and those voting negatively, saying "No."
Viva voce vote
174
Any organization that is nongovernmental in character and which members may join by choice; also known as common organization.
Voluntary organization
175
Motion to close debate and take a vote on the question at once; also known as motion for the previous question.
Vote immediately
176
Act of expressing disgust over the proceedings in a deliberative body by leaving the session hall before adjournment.
Walkout
177
Expressions used when voting by roll call; "yea" expresses affirmation, "nay" means dissent.
Yeas and nays
