Robert's Parliamentary Practice/Preface
PREFACE
Robert's Rules of Order was published forty-five years ago with a view to furnishing a set of rules of order that any assembly might adopt, and thus avoid waste of time in constant discussion of what is parliamentary law in particular cases. When its circulation had reached a half million copies, six years ago, a revised and greatly enlarged edition was published under the title of Rules of Order Revised. The object of this book being to furnish a set of rules of order to be adopted by societies, it is necessary that the rules should be exhaustive and very brief. This prevents explanations and illustrations that are necessary for one unfamiliar with the subject. If the book were adapted to the needs of the novice it would not be suitable for adoption as the rules of order of a society.
Therefore, while revising the Rules of Order, the author decided to write a work on parliamentary law solely for the reader, using all the space necessary to make each subject simple and clear. This made the book, entitled "Parliamentary Law," a large work, and no way was seen to reduce its size without sacrificing either clearness or important subjects. It is almost complete and will be published in the near future. Since the resulting cost will prevent this work from reaching the masses, the author decided to write a book for beginners, whether they are simply readers or students in classes.
The result is this volume, "Parliamentary Practice: An Introduction to Parliamentary Law," which is designed as an introduction to the two other books. Its characteristic feature is the illustration of nearly every point in common parliamentary practice by giving the exact words of both the chairman and the member through the procedure. Neither this book nor Parliamentary Law should be adopted by organizations as their parliamentary authority or their rules of order. Rules of Order is designed for that particular purpose, and it is the author's opinion that every owner of Rules of Order Revised will find its value greatly enhanced if this introductory book is first mastered
Henry M. Robert.
May 2, 1921.