Chances are, that the reason you are looking for information on parliamentary procedures or specifically, Robert's Rules, is because you were at some meeting and came away with a "They can't do that!" exasperation. At the time you had no idea on how to correct the course of the meeting.

After the meeting, you looked up the rules and realized that, in fact, "They can't do that!" but some motion was passed that allowed them to do that. Your next question is "How can we undo that?"

With these situations in mind, here is how parliamentary procedure works.

There are motions that stop a play, much like a basketball referee blowing a whistle to stop a play because a player fouls another player.

There are motions that undo previously adopted motions, much like a football referee throwing a flag that rescinds an apparent touchdown because of clipping or off-sides.

There are fundamental rights that allow a member to make motions, debate and vote, much like every baseball player gets a turn at bat, except for a pitcher using a designated hitter.

There are plenty of rules written on basketball, baseball and football. Players and observers demand that these rules be followed. If the referee or umpire makes a bad call, you can read all about it in the subsequent days. In the world of meetings, there are rules written, but unfortunately many people do not know the rules and they do not demand that the rules be followed. If a chair makes a bad call, there may be gossip about the chair, the motion maker and politics.

This situation results in conflict, hurt feelings and notorious cases of abuse.

The way to fix this unpleasant situation is to learn the rules of parliamentary procedure. Robert's Rules is a widely adopted book on parliamentary procedure. Robert's Rules are based on extensive research and experience by persons that preside over meetings.

Blow the Whistle

This is a situation that is similar to a basketball referee blowing the whistle when he sees one player commit a foul on another player. You need to stop the motion or at least get it rephrased in order to make the play valid.

An example of this would be when one member shouts out "Call the Question" and then the chair entertains that motion. You need to blow the whistle by stating that the motion requires that the member have the floor. You cannot just shout out "Call the question." The member shouting out the motion is out of order and the chair cannot entertain that motion. You have to 'blow the whistle' by interrupting and stating that the member needs to first obtain the floor.

The way you do that is to call a 'Point of Order'. You say 'Point of Order'. You do not need to obtain the floor. The chair asks you to state your point of order. You say that the motion and the member are out of order because the motion of 'previous question' requires that the maker FIRST obtain the floor. And for good measure you can add in that if the chair entertains this motion it violates a fundamental right of the members to participate in debate.

Throw a Flag

This situation is similar to a football referee throwing a flag for clipping or off-sides. The play continues, but can be amended or rescinded or declared null and void because of some rule transgression.

An example of this would be a motion that was made did not have the requisite previous notice. The motion passes at the first meeting. Then someone raises a continuing point of order stating that the absentees were not notified of the pending motion that required previous notice. The motion is null and void. In essence, the motion is taken back, similar to a touchdown being called back because someone was off-sides.

Demand Your Rights

Every member of an assembly has the fundamental rights to make motions, debate and vote. If the chair denies these rights, you can demand that you be heard by making a point of order. It may be that you want to make a motion, speak in the debate or vote. You can appeal the ruling of the chair and have the assembly decide.

Robert's Rules

Given that the primary reason people learn about Robert's Rules is because their rights have been trampled upon, you need to learn the big picture of Robert's Rules.

Robert's Rules protect the individual, absentees and the minority voice, as well as the majority.

Meetings that abide by a parliamentary authority run smoothly and have very little controversy. Everyone has their say and vote. It is to your benefit and the benefit of the assembly to learn Robert's Rules or your organization's parliamentary authority. In addition you must learn the constitution, bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules and customs of your organization. These rules have a certain precedence over each other.

This daunting task of reading and learning the rule books can be made easy. Parliamentary law has a big picture. That is to protect the rights of the majority, minority, the individual, absentees and all these together. When you keep this in mind, you will understand the reason some motions require a second and can be debated and amended and others cannot. You will understand why some motions may pass with a majority vote and others require a 2/3 vote.

Suppose you are at a meeting and you believe that something is happening that does not seem quite right, but you do not know what rule applies to the situation. The hot tip is to make a motion called a parliamentary inquiry. This is essentially a timeout that is used to explain the rules. If the chair cannot state the applicable rule then the assembly can be asked to stand at ease while the appropriate reference is determined. Many times someone besides the chair may provide the proper citation.

Of course, it is better if you know what the rules are and can provide the citation. You can blow the whistle and stop the abuse.