Parliamentary Procedure Simplified
Marjorie Mitchell Cann
Bibliographic record and links to related information available from the Library of Congress catalog
1. Voluntary Organizations 1
A Brief History of Rules of Procedure 1
Fundamental Rules of Procedure 2
"Jim and Mac" on Meetings 3
Some Reasons for joining Organizations 4
Before You join 5
Rights and Responsibilities of a Member 5
Recommended Innovations in Procedure 6
2. Forming New Organizations 9
The First Meeting 9
The Constitution, Bylaws,
and Standing Rules 11
The Second Meeting 13
Procedure for Election of Officers 13
Installation of Officers 14
Nominating Committees 14
Report of the Nominating Committee 15
Voting 15
Amending the Constitution
and the Bylaws 16
A Parliamentary Authority 17
3. Officers 19
The Executive Committee 19
The Chairman 20
The Vice-Chairman 22
The Secretary 22
The Treasurer 24
The Publicity Representative 25
4. Meetings 27
Kinds of Meetings 27
Preparing the Agenda 27
Procedures for Business, General,
and Special Meetings 28
Procedure for the Annual Meeting 29
Annual Dinner Meetings 30
Adjourned Meetings 31
General to All Meetings 31
5. Committees
and Committee Reports 35
Forming Committees 36
Types of Committees 36
Size of Committees 37
Selection of Committee Members 37
Term of Office 37
Assignments to Committees 38
Reports of Committees 38
Resignation of a Committee Member 39
The Committee Chairman 39
A Minority Report 40
6. Motions 41
Classes of Motions 41
Subsidiary Motions 42
Privileged Motions 44
Incidental Motions 46
Special Motions 50
A Resolution 52
Getting a Motion Underway 52
Completing the Motion 53
Simplifying the Study of Motions 54
7. Participation 57
Why Participate; 57
How to Participate 58
Group Discussion Techniques 59
Committee of the Whole 59
The Six-and-Six Group Discussion 60
The Panel 62
The Symposium 62
The Roundtable Discussion 63
Glossary 65