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