Robert's rules of disorder
When you're on a board that is as divisive as the Greensboro city council, sticking to strict rules of parlimentary procedure might just save you from total choas.
This week council had a debate about debate. Or, more specifically, how to end debate.
About 25 minutes into a dicussion about City Manager Mitchell Johnson, Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small "called the question." In other words, she moved that the board vote on her motion to take the discussion back into council's closed session.
Debate continued anyhow. City attorney Becky Jo Peterson-Buie interrupted to remind council that a call for the question ends debate. She told them it was time to vote.
Councilman Mike Barber objected to her objection, arguing that a call for the question is just like any other motion. It must have a second and a vote before it is adopted to end the debate.
The city attorney persisted, and eventually council voteed and moved on with the meeting.
But the question still lingered. The city attorney promised to research the issue.
Apparently, the belief that calling the question immediately ends debate is "a fairly common misconception," according to the Robert's Rules of Order Web site.
According to the site's FAQs:
"This is simply not the case. Any member who wishes to force an end to debate must first obtain the floor by being duly recognized to speak by the chair, and must then move the Previous Question. Such a motion must be seconded, and then adopted by a two-thirds vote, or by unanimous consent. It is not in order to interrupt a speaker with cries of "Question" or "Call the Question," and even if no one is speaking, it is still necessary to seek recognition."
It should be duly noted that any local rules of procedure would supersede Roger's Rules. So we'll see what the city attorney turns up in her research.
Comments (1)
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If Robert's Rules of Order are not followed, does that render decisions of Greensboro City Council made during such departure invalid?
Ms. Bellamy Small will do us all a service by reading up of the rules of order and following them to the letter.
The mayor can improved her performance by making sure she controls the meeting and speaks up forcefully when any council member fails to follow correct procedure. She's been on the City Council too long not to understand procedural rules.
Posted on April 19, 2008 9:42 PM