Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/Need of Rules

by Orson B. Felt

Layout 2

NEED OF RULES.

2. It is important that all deliberative assemblies should have certain rules for their government in debate and for directing their method of transacting business, since without rules any large assembly might become unmanageable and therefore unable to accomplish its purpose. It is therefore necessary that any deliberative assembly, to command respect, and proceed with as little discord as possible, should adopt certain rules, and conduct its business with a regard for certain forms and rules of procedure in order that the will of the majority may be carried out with due regard to the rights of the minority, and that the will of the assembly be ascertained with fair dealing.

It is not of so much importance whose or what set of rules is adopted, as that the assembly recognize and govern itself by some rule or system in conducting its business so that there may be uniformity of proceeding, decorum and regularity, and that the dignity of the body be preserved. It is therefore customary for societies to adopt some authority as a guide in its procedure. When such authority as adopted it should be closely adhered to in all cases to which it is applicable, and is not inconsistent with the organic law or special rules of the society. Any assembly may, however, modify the rules or make for its government special rules which supersede the adopted authority and common parliamentary usage in all points to which they relate, and are binding on its members so long as in force, but have no force in any assembly except that which created them. If, however, the assembly or society be a branch of a superior body, or parent organization, it cannot make a rule which conflicts with the constitution, by-laws, or rules of the parent organization, since the constitution, by-laws, etc., form the organic law of the organization, and cannot be suspended by the subordinate body. When a society has such special rules, and an adopted authority, the order of precedence is as follows:

1st. The organic law.

2nd. The special rules.

3rd. The adopted authority.

4th. Parliamentary usage.

The student should bear in mind that great care should be taken to keep the distinction clear between the organic law, special rules, and principles which are of general application, and adopted to meet the requirements of certain assemblies. In the absence of such special rules or adopted authority the common parliamentary usage governs.