Chapter XXV: Rules of Order for Clubs

An important element in club life is the training it gives in the management of business in committees and public meetings. It is indispensable that every club should learn how to work under regular rules. Jefferson said that they secure "accuracy in business, economy in time, order, uniformity and impartiality."

I--BOOK OF RULES

As a guide, every club should possess a copy of some accepted book of order, to which to refer in cases of difference of opinion as to proper procedure, and the law of the book should be received as final. Officers and members should familiarize themselves thoroughly with the details of such a manual. "Parliamentary Usage for Woman's Clubs" by Emma A. Fox (Doubleday, Page) is satisfactory and up to date.

II--ORGANIZING

A small preliminary difficulty to some is how to organize an as yet unorganized club. The first step is for any one present to rise and nominate some body for temporary chairman, and when this is seconded, to ask those in favor of the person named to say "aye" and the opposed "no" and to turn over the meeting then to the person named. As it is only a temporary office there is not likely to be any negative vote.

III--VOTING

Persons unfamiliar with club methods sometimes are puzzled as to ways of voting. There are several. The simplest is for the President to put a motion by saying "Will those in favor of the motion say aye," and later, "Will those opposed say no." Then she judges which of the two classes is most numerous. If she cannot decide, she may ask to have the vote repeated by raising the hand or by rising, in which case she puts the motion as before, asking those who favor the motion to raise the right hand or to rise. After having the Secretary or tellers count them, she asks those opposed to do the same and has them counted. In case the vote is taken by voice and a member differs from the President's decision as to which side prevailed, she may request a rising vote. In case of every vote the President should declare the result by saying either "the motion is carried," or "the motion is lost." The President herself does not vote, except when the number of the ayes and that of the noes are even, when she casts the deciding vote. If the vote is by ballot, tellers are appointed who distribute slips of paper upon which the members write yes or no, and the ballots are counted by the Secretary or the tellers, and the result is handed in writing to the President who reads it aloud and declares the result. In voting for new members some clubs use a box with white balls for the affirmative and black balls for the negative. After being placed in the box, these are counted by the Secretary and the result is declared by the President as before.

IV--THE PRESIDENT

At every meeting the President shall have before her a written outline of the business to be considered.

It should be understood that the function of the presiding officer is simply to keep the meeting going in an orderly way. She cannot make motions, and ought not to make remarks on any motion. If she desires to do so, she should call upon some one else to preside temporarily.

V--MOTIONS

The only proper way to carry on business is to "have a motion before the house." No subject can be discussed unless two persons agree to bring it up, one making the motion and the other seconding it. After that the President calls for remarks and "gives the floor" to one person, calling her name. While she "has the floor" she is the only person entitled to speak. Interruptions, remarks or questions are out of order, unless with the speaker's permission, which should be asked for only through the President. Much disorder is caused by two or more persons trying to speak at the same time, and it is the duty of the President to prevent this by rapping with her gavel (if this should be necessary) and saying "Will the club please come to order."

VI--SPEAKING

It is considered bad form for any one person to speak twice on the same motion. It is supposed that when the speaker has the floor she will say what she has to say and then give way to others. But if a member wishes to speak a second time on a subject, because some new phase of it may have come up in remarks made after her first speaking, she should ask the President if she may be allowed to speak again, and, if no one objects, it is proper for her to do so. The value of such rules is that they prevent the discussion from becoming a mere general conversation. Also they train speakers to get their ideas well in hand before speaking and to be brief.

VII--CLOSING DEBATE

Sometimes a discussion threatens to run on interminably, and in that case there are ways by which the club can limit it. This may be done by setting an hour at which the debate shall close and the motion be put. When that time arrives the person speaking must be interrupted by the President and the vote taken. In such cases it is sometimes voted that each speaker shall be limited say to five minutes, and when the five minutes are up the President must interrupt the speaker and give the floor to the next one.

Or debate may be ended by somebody moving "the previous question," and if this is seconded, the President, without permitting any discussion whatever, must put it to vote, and if two-thirds favor "the previous question" that means that the original motion must now be put without any further remarks.

Still another way of ending a debate is to move to lay the motion under discussion "on the table." If this is seconded, it must be put by the President without allowing any discussion. If the majority vote to lay the matter on the table, that means that consideration of it is postponed to some future meeting. If no one at a later meeting moves to have it taken from the table, it remains there indefinitely, which means that it is practically dead.

Still another way to end a debate is to move to adjourn. This is always in order and takes precedence of every other motion, and, if carried, ends the session. The business left unfinished must be taken up at the next meeting.

The President should familiarize herself thoroughly with the rules of order and be able to decide on the moment which motions take precedence of others.

VIII--APPEALS

A President may take a position sometimes, in controlling the meeting, which seems unwise or unfair to some. In that case it is always in order for one of those differing with her to say "I move an appeal to the club," and if another says "I second the appeal," the President is bound to put the motion saying "Those in favor of the appeal will say aye"; and then "Those opposed will say no," and if "the ayes have it" the President's decision is reversed and she must abide by the action of the club without remark.

IX--COMMITTEES

In organizations that have much business to transact, it is customary to turn over many of its details to committees, regular or special. It is their duty to confer on these matters, to ask the opinions of other members privately if they are so inclined and having digested the business in point thoroughly to present a definite report upon it at a meeting of the club. If the committee has the full confidence of the club, its report is likely to be accepted without any, or at least much, debate and so time is saved in the club meetings.

In meetings of committees the Chairman occupies the same position as the President in the larger club meetings and the committee business may be carried on in the same orderly manner. However, most committee meetings are likely to be more like a conference or informal conversation and strict rules of order are often a hindrance rather than a help under such circumstances. But, in any case, when the members of the committee have discussed the subject as fully as they wish, the result should be carried out by a formal motion, seconded and carried by vote. To save controversy it is best to have this final motion put into writing. It then becomes the report of the committee to the club.

X--ELECTIONS

In an election of officers and committees it is usual to have a Nominating Committee bring in a complete "slate" or list of nominations. To save time, frequently some one moves that "the Secretary cast a ballot for the persons named." If this is seconded and unanimously carried, the Secretary takes the "slate" just read, and laying it on the table says "I hereby cast a ballot for the persons nominated." But if one person dissents from this motion, ballots must be passed and the vote taken with them.

The nominations made by a Nominating Committee, it should be understood always, do not exclude any member of the club (when seconded, of course) from making other nominations if she wishes, and opportunity should be given to do so. In case two or more nominations are made for any office, voting must be by ballot.

XI--EXECUTIVE SESSION

Sometimes a matter may come up to which it is not wise to give publicity. In that case by motion the club may "go into executive session," which means that all persons not members of the club should retire from the room (unless exceptions are made by special vote) and then the club business is carried on in secret. It is supposed to be a point of honor that no member of the club should give out information concerning anything said or done in executive session.

To persons unused to orderly business in assemblies, such rules as have been described may seem at first to be unnecessary and an annoying limitation on freedom of speech. But really they are not so. They tend to prevent excited controversy, secure justice to everybody in the end, and assist in getting the business of a club done.

THE END

INDEX

Africa, Islands of, 43

America
Central, 104
Costa Rica, 107
Guatemala, 106
Honduras, 107
Nicaragua, 107
Salvador, 107
Latin, 116
North
Books, Famous, 94
Colonies, 14
Government, 244
Nature Writers, 102
Songs, 72
South, 109
Argentina, 111
Bolivia, 113
Brazil, 115
Chili, 114
Colombia, 114
Ecuador, 113
Peru, 112
Venezuela, 114

Amundsen, 168

Andersen, Hans Christian, 220

Anne, Queen
Age of, 187
Literature, 191
Marlboroughs, The, 188
Novel, Rise of the English, 192
Queen, The, and Her Court, 188
Wars under, 189

Appeals in Club Meetings, 291

Architecture
British, 87
Buildings, Famous, 76
Egyptian, 177
German, 81
Greek, 78
Michelangelo, 218
Moorish, 83
Notre Dame, 86
Roman, 79
Russian, 85
Saint Sophia, 82
Taj Mahal, 89
Wren, 212

Argentina, 111

Arnold, Thomas, 222

Art, Madonna in, 250

Arthur and the Round Table, 261

Artists, 224

Audubon, 221

Authors, see _Writers_

Azores, 51

Bermuda, 51

Birds, 251

Bolivia, 113

Books
Famous, 91
French, German, Russian, Spanish, 91
English and American, 94

Booth, William, 161

Borneo, 46

Brahms, 221

Brazil, 115

Bronte, Charlotte, 220

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 218
Robert, 221

Burns, 249

Canal, Panama, 108

Carolina, North and South, Colonies, 18

Celtic England, 131, 264

Central America, 104

Children
Home, in the, 259
Labor of, 90, 151
Mother and Daughter, 259
Physical Side of, 263

Chili, 114

Christmas, 214, 260

Clothing, 60

Colleges
North American Colonies, in, 196
Postgraduate Work, 208
Universities, and, 206
Women's, 207

Colombia, 114

Colonies
Colleges in, 196
Colonial Meeting, 261
North American, 14

Committees, Club, 291

Community Improvement, 6
Country, in the, 124
Subjects to Investigate, 7

Composers, see _Musicians_

Conservation, 239

Constitution, Model, for Clubs, 280

Cooking, 57

Costa Rica, 107

Cromwell, 134, 272

Dante, 221

Debate in Clubs, Closing, 289

Delaware, Colony, 24

Dickens, 216

Divorce and Marriage, 95

Domestic Science, 54, 226, 230

Drama, Writers of
Browning, 221
Goldsmith, 213
Moliere, 215
Schiller, 213
Sheridan, 212

Druid England, 131, 264

Economy
False, 63
Waste and, 61

Ecuador, 113

Edison, 164

Education
Colleges
Colonial, 106
Postgraduate Work, 208
Universities and, 206
Women's, 207
Meeting on, 255
Schools
High, 202
Kindergartens, 198
Public, 200
Country, in the, 126
Private, 204
Special, 203
System, Our, 195

England
Architecture, 87
Books, Famous, 94
History, 131
Cromwell, 134, 272
Druids, Celts, Romans, Saxons, 131, 265
Georges, 136, 275
Norman and Plantagenet, 132, 266
Present, 137, 278
Stuarts, 134, 271, 272
Tudors, 133, 210, 269
Victoria, 136, 276, 277
Islands of, 42
London, 250
Songs of, 70
Year Book on, 264
Commonwealth, 272
Country and Races, 264
Edward III, 268
Elizabeth, 270
George III, 275
Henry III and Two Edwards, 267
James I and Charles I, 271
Normans and Angevins, 266
Restoration, The, 272
Revolution, The, 273
Richard II and III, 268
Roman and Early, 265
To-day, 278
Tudors, 269
Victoria, 276, 277

Egypt, Architecture, 77

Elections, Club, Rules for, 292

Eliot, George, 213

Elizabeth, Queen, 134, 211, 270

Executive Session, in Clubs, 293

Fiction, see _Novel_

Field, Eugene, 210

Food, Economy in, 56

France
Books, Famous of, 91
Songs of, 70

Franz, Songs of, 68

Georges, The Four, 136, 273, 275

Georgia, Colony, 19

Germany
Architecture, 81
Books, Famous, 91
Songs, 67

Goethals, 170

Goldsmith, 213

Gounod, 222

Great Men of Our Time, 158
Amundsen, 168
Booth, William, 161
Edison, 164
Goethals, 170
James, William, 160
Kelvin, 167
Morgan, J. Pierpont, 165
Peary, 168
Rodin, 158
Rostand, 159
Toynbee, 162
and Women
Andersen, Hans Christian, 220
Arnold, Thomas, 222
Audubon, 221
Brahms, 221
Bronte, Charlotte, 220
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 218
Robert, 221
Dante, 221
Dvorak, 210
Eliot, George, 213
Elizabeth, Queen, 210
Field, Eugene, 210
Goldsmith, 213
Gounod, 222
Hale, Nathan, 222
Hardy, Thomas, 222
Howells, 218
Joan of Arc, 215
Lamb, 216
Lafayette, 210
Luther, 213
Mendelssohn, 216
Michelangelo, 218
Moliere, 215
Mozart, 215
Murillo, 220
Schiller, 213
Schumann, 222
Sevigne, 216
Sheridan, 212
Tennyson, 215
Verdi, 212
Wordsworth, 220

Greece
Architecture, 78
Islands, 39

Grieg, Songs of, 68

Guatemala, 106

Hale, Nathan, 222

Hardy, Thomas, 222

Hebrew
Bible, 172
Heroes, 176
Nation, Making the, 174
Philosophy, 182
Poetry, 179
Prophecy, 181

Heroes, Bible, 176

Home
Purposes of, 63
Woman's Work for Pay in, 149

Honduras, 107

Horse, The, 229

Housekeeping
Business of, 54
High Cost of Living, 248
Sanitation and Hygiene, 253
Systematic, 55

Ireland, 248

Islands
African, 43
Azores, 51
Bermuda, 51
Borneo, 46
English, 42
Grecian, 39
Japanese, 49
Java, 46
Mediterranean, 41
New Zealand, 48
Oceanica, 45
Program on the World's, 39
Scotland, 42
Sumatra, 46
Tasmania, 48
West Indies, 39

Italy
Program on, 233
Songs, 70

James, William, 160

Japanese Islands, 49

Java, 46

Jewish, see _Hebrew_

Joan of Arc, 215

Kelvin, 167

Kindergartens, 198

Lafayette, 210

Lamb, 216

Laundry, The, 58

Literature, see _Books_, _Novel_, _Poetry_, _Writers_
Anne, under Queen, 191
Bible, 172
Beginnings, 172
Divided Kingdom and Exile, 178
Heroes, 173
Nation, Making a, 174
New Testament, 183
Philosophy, 182
Poetry, 179
Prophecy, 181
Related Subjects, 185
Undivided Kingdom, 177

Living, High Cost of, 248

London, 250

Longfellow, 254

Louisiana, 236

Luther, 213

Madonna in Art, 250

Magazine Meeting, A, 256

Marlboroughs, The, 188

Marriage and Divorce, 95

Maryland, Colony, 17

Mediterranean Islands, 41

Mendelssohn, 216

Michelangelo, 218

Mills, Women Workers in, 150

Moliere, 215

Moorish Architecture, 83

Morgan, J. Pierpont, 165

Mother and Daughter, 259

Motions in Clubs, Rules for, 288

Mozart, 215

Murillo, 220

Musicians
Brahms, 221
Dvorak, 210
Gounod, 222
Grieg, 68
Mendelssohn, 216
Mozart, 215
Schumann, 222
Verdi, 212

Nature Writers, 102

New Amsterdam, Colony, 22

New England Colonies, 20

New Jersey, Colony, 24

New Testament, 183

New Zealand, 48

Nicaragua, 107

Norman England, 132, 266

Notre Dame, 86

Novel, Beginnings of English, 192

Ocean, The, 231

Oceanica, 45

Order, Rules of, for Clubs, 285

Organizing Clubs, 286

Panama and the Canal, 108

Peary, 168

Pennsylvania, Colony, 26

Peru, 112

Philosophy, Hebrew, 182

Poetry
Celtic, 37
Classical and Romantic Themes, with, 31
Dialect and Humorous, 36
Dramatic, 29
Little Plays, 38
Hebrew, 179
Lyrics, 34
Nature, 34
Philosophical and Mystical, 33
Protest, of, 32

Poets, see _Writers_
To-day, Some, of, 27

Poverty, The Sick Poor, 147

President of a Club, Duties, 287

Prophecy, Hebrew, 181

Programs from Clubs, 224

Public Schools, 200
Country, in the, 126

Rodin, 158

Rome
Architecture, 79
Roman England, 131, 265

Rostand, 159

Rules of Order for Clubs, 285

Rural
Clubs, 118
Club Talks by Experts, 127
Community Work, 124
Public School, 126
Starting Rural Clubs, 119

Saint Sophia, Mosque of, 82

Salvador, 107

Sanitation, Household, 253

Schiller, 213

Schumann, 222

Scotland, Islands of, 42

Schools, see _Education_
Country, 126
High, 202
Kindergartens, 198
Private, 204
Public, 200
Special, 203

Service, Domestic, 59

Settlements
Social, 247
Toynbee, 162

Sevigne, Madame de, 216

Sheridan, 212

Slavic Songs, 69

Social Service, 10
Settlements, 247

Songs, Study of, 66
American, 72
English, 70
Franz, 68
French, 70
German, 67
Grieg, 68
Italian, 70
Old, 74
Slavic, 69

Southern Writers, 258

Spain, 239
Books of, 91

Speaking in Clubs, Rules, 289

State and Woman, 156

Stuart England, 134, 271

Sumatra, 46

Taj Mahal, 89

Tasmania, 48

Tennyson, 215

Thanksgiving Meeting, 257

Toynbee, 162

Tudor England, 133, 269

Universities and Colleges, 206
Postgraduate Work, 208

Venezuela, 114

Victoria, Queen, 136, 276, 277

Virginia, Colony, 15

Voting in Clubs, 286

Wars under Queen Anne, 189

West Indies, 50

Woman
Business, The, 155
Colleges for, 207
Great Women, 210
Home, Work for Pay at, 149
Mill Workers, 150
Problems
History of Her, 139
Work, of Her, 139, 145
To-day, 145
Professional, The, 156
Shop Girls, 153
Sick Poor, 147
Social Relations, 250
State, and the, 156

Wordsworth, 220

Work, see _Woman_, _Children_

Wren, 212

Writers, see _Books_, _Literature_, _Novel_, _Poetry_, _Poets_,
_Southern_
Andersen, Hans Christian, 220
Audubon, 221
Bronte, Charlotte, 220
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 218
Robert, 221
Burns, 249
Dante, 221
Dickens, 216
Eliot, George, 213
Field, Eugene, 210
Goldsmith, 213
Hardy, Thomas, 222
Howells, 218
Lamb, 216
Longfellow, 254
Moliere, 216
Schiller, 213
Sevigne, Madame de, 216
Sheridan, 212
Tennyson, 215
Wordsworth, 220

Year Book, How to Make a, 263