Legal Definitions - rule of order

A rule of order is a procedural guideline that dictates how meetings, discussions, and decision-making processes are conducted within a group or organization. These rules are designed to ensure fairness, efficiency, and respectful communication among participants, allowing for orderly debate and resolution. They often cover aspects like how motions are introduced, debated, and voted upon, as well as how individuals can speak or raise points.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of rules of order:

• Imagine a company's board of directors meeting to discuss a new product launch. One of their established rules of order might state that "all motions must be seconded by another board member before discussion can begin." This rule ensures that a proposal has at least two individuals supporting it before the board invests time debating it, promoting efficiency and preventing a single individual from monopolizing the agenda with unpopular ideas. It helps maintain a structured and productive discussion.

• Consider a local community association meeting where residents are debating a proposal to build a new playground. A rule of order for this association might specify that "each speaker is limited to three minutes during the open discussion period, and no individual may speak twice until everyone who wishes to has spoken once." This rule ensures that all residents who wish to voice their opinions have an opportunity, prevents any single person from dominating the conversation, and helps the meeting progress efficiently through its agenda items.

• In a university student government meeting, students are voting on a budget allocation for various campus clubs. A rule of order might dictate that "amendments to a motion must be proposed and voted upon before the main motion is put to a final vote." This ensures that any proposed changes or modifications to the original budget plan are considered and decided upon in an organized manner, preventing confusion and ensuring that the final vote reflects the most refined proposal.