Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition

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This Twelfth Edition supersedes all previous editions and is intended automatically to become the parliamentary authority in organizations whose bylaws prescribe “Robert’s Rules of Order,” “Robert’s Rules of Order Revised,” “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised,” or “the current edition of” any of these titles, or the like, without specifying a particular edition. If the bylaws specifically identify one of the eleven previous editions of the work as parliamentary authority, the bylaws should be amended to prescribe “the current edition of ‘Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised’” (see 56:66).

SECTION AND PARAGRAPH NUMBERING

ABBREVIATIONS IN THIS BOOK

Also see 10:37, “Notes on Example Format Throughout the Book.”

PREFACE

to the Twelfth Edition

This Twelfth Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) is issued one hundred forty-four years after the 1876 publication, by then-Major (later Brigadier General) Henry M. Robert, of the first in the series of books familiarly known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.” A complete list of the editions is shown on page vi, and their history is told in the Introduction.

This Twelfth Edition in the entire series is the sixth edition of the second complete reworking of the subject matter first published in 1970. It is the only book in print containing the completely developed body of rules understood as “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

Users of this work should be aware of three important resources that supplement RONR.

First, for some time there had been a felt tension between the need for a parliamentary manual lengthy enough to provide rules as comprehensive and unambiguous as possible so as to cover the great number and variety of parliamentary issues that may arise in a deliberative assembly, on the one hand, and the desirability of a book simple and straightforward enough to allow the ordinary meeting-goer easily to learn and use the basic rules that are sufficient for most meetings, on the other hand.

When this book last underwent complete revision in 1970, a concerted effort was made to enhance the value of the work for the study of parliamentary law—to the extent consistent with its primary purpose as a reference manual. For those who will brave it, it is written to serve as a self-explanatory text that can be read through, with topics presented in an order that will best convey an overall understanding of the subject matter. Nevertheless, it is recognized that this project may be a bigger challenge than many newcomers to parliamentary procedure will find themselves at first able or willing to take on.

In 2005, to meet the need for a simple and short book, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief was first published. A new edition of In Brief, updated and revised so as to mesh with this Twelfth Edition, has now been published. This Twelfth Edition of RONR, the complete rule book, now contains 633 pages of text, plus tables and charts. All of its content has to be included because it may be needed and has at some time come up as a question of procedure somewhere. This book is designed as a reference providing, as nearly as possible, an answer to any question of parliamentary procedure that may arise.

To gain an introductory familiarity with meeting rules, however, many people will find it useful to start with the In Brief book. In only thirty minutes, the average reader can learn the bare essentials, and with about ninety minutes’ reading can cover all the basics. Additional chapters give suggestions on how most efficiently to use this Twelfth Edition of RONR as a reference manual and guidance to those chosen as convention delegates or alternates, or as president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer of an organization. Helpful tables at the end give both the chair and the ordinary member the proper wording to use in handling the most common motions and conducting a meeting.

It cannot be stressed too strongly, however, that In Brief is an introductory supplement to, not a replacement for, this book. Only this book is comprehensive enough to be suitable for adoption as the rule book governing an assembly, and it covers many essential matters—from the content of bylaws to disciplinary procedures—that are hardly touched on in the shorter work.

Second, the current edition is, for the first time, being published as an e-book as well as in the traditional print format. Rapid search ability and hyperlinked cross-references are particularly useful features of the e-book. Several previous editions had been formatted to facilitate citations to the rules in them by page and line number. Largely motivated by an attempt to maximize the utility of the e-book, this edition inaugurates a system of reference by paragraph number, with consecutive numbers within each section shown in the margins. Users are encouraged to cite rules in this edition by these numbers, as shown in the “Cite This Book” box on page vii.

In addition, the new editions of both RONR and In Brief are again being made available through American Legal Publishing as a PC-based software application with powerfully sophisticated search and browsing features as well as helpful bonus material, such as instructions for tellers and timekeepers, sample forms, and step-by-step explanations of secondary amendments.

Third, the Robert’s Rules Association—the organization of the original author’s descendants that oversees the management and regular updating of the work—sponsors a website at www.robertsrules.com. On its “Question and Answer Forum,” one may post queries and conduct discussion about any aspect of parliamentary procedure.

Since the publication of the first edition of Robert’s Rules in 1876, General Robert and, since his death, his successors have been receiving and replying to questions of parliamentary law. As the Introduction notes concerning the 1915 revision, “The reorganization, expansion, and clarification represented by Robert’s Rules of Order Revised was largely the outgrowth of hundreds of letters received by the author over the years, submitting questions of parliamentary law arising in organizations and not covered in the earlier editions.” Questions asked on the Question and Answer Forum have made an integral contribution to the authors’ continuing task of identifying matters in need of clarification while preparing this new edition.

The website also includes “RONR Official Interpretations” on issues of parliamentary law arising between editions that RONR’s authors deem useful to address. These interpretations are not technically binding on an organization that has adopted Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised as its parliamentary authority, but they are nonetheless definitive interpretations of the work by the current authors and should therefore be treated as highly persuasive. It is thus advisable for presiding officers, or the parliamentarians who advise them, to consult them for guidance on matters they address.

This Twelfth Edition of RONR clarifies, modifies, and expands upon the rules in previous editions, as situations occurring in assemblies point to a need for more fully developed rules to go by in particular cases.

In this edition, a number of sections or subsections have been substantially revised, most notably in the following respects:

Some of the other more important points of revision include the following:

For a more extensive list of changes in the Twelfth Edition, see www.robertsrules.com.

The authors wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to Mark Corsey of Eclipse Publishing Services, and for the editorial assistance of Robert Pigeon, editor; Melissa Raymond, managing editor; and Clive Priddle, publisher of PublicAffairs Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Henry M. Robert III

Daniel H. Honemann

Thomas J. Balch

Daniel E. Seabold

Shmuel Gerber

PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING PARLIAMENTARY LAW

The rules of parliamentary law found in this book will, on analysis, be seen to be constructed upon a careful balance of the rights of persons or subgroups within an organization’s or an assembly’s total membership. That is, these rules are based on a regard for the rights:

The means of protecting all of these rights in appropriate measure forms much of the substance of parliamentary law, and the need for this protection dictates the degree of development that the subject has undergone.

Parliamentary procedure enables the overall membership of an organization—expressing its general will through the assembly of its members—both to establish and empower an effective leadership as it wishes, and at the same time to retain exactly the degree of direct control over its affairs that it chooses to reserve to itself.

Ultimately, it is the majority taking part in the assembly who decide the general will, but only following upon the opportunity for a deliberative process of full and free discussion. Only two thirds or more of those present and voting may deny a minority or any member the right of such discussion.

In this connection, there is an underlying assumption of a right that exists even though it may not always be prudent or helpful for it to be exercised. Each individual or subgroup has the right to make the maximum effort to have his, her, or its position declared the will of the assembly to the extent that can be tolerated in the interests of the entire body.

Another important principle is that, as a protection against instability—arising, for example, from such factors as slight variations in attendance—the requirements for changing a previous action are greater than those for taking the action in the first place.

Fundamentally, under the rules of parliamentary law, a deliberative body is a free agent—free to do what it wants to do with the greatest measure of protection to itself and of consideration for the rights of its members.

The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member’s opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion.