Brief summary – not comprehensive, not exhaustive
See Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th Edition
for complete information
1. Authority Precedence: State Law, Town Charter, By-Laws, Parliamentary Rules, Custom.
2. The State permits Towns to choose the form of Government (Open Town Meeting – Selectmen form in our case) and the type of rules with which to conduct Town Meeting. Our Lynnfield Town Charter mandates Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revision (10th Edition for 2009).
3. The purpose of Town Meeting, using rules of order, is for members to freely make decisions concerning their local government. Decorum and respect for neighbors and opposing views are essential to a fair and orderly meeting.
4. All members, with respect to Warrant Articles, have the equal right to bring up ideas, discuss them and come to a conclusion.
5. The majority rules, but the rights of the minority are protected by assuring them the right to freely speak and vote.
6. The Moderator has control of the floor, facilitates and directs the discussion, keeps order.
7. All debate/questions go to, and through, the Moderator.
8. Complex motions have to be in writing and submitted to the Moderator.
9. Speakers must be recognized by the Moderator before speaking. Speakers must stand, identify themselves and remain standing while speaking.
10. The Moderator alternates between pro and con speakers whenever possible and practical.
11. Only one issue at a time – only one Speaker at a time.
12. Amendments must be germane to the main motion. Amendments to amendments cannot be amended.
13. Debate must be germane to the pending motion.
14. Each Speaker can speak twice on the same day on a debatable pending motion for up to 10 minutes each time, however, that Speaker cannot speak for the second time until all those wishing to speak for the first time have done so.
15. Debate rules can be altered by 2/3 vote of the assembly.
16. Question and mandatory reporting (FinCom, Planning Board, etc.) are not debate. Questions cannot be used as debate in disguise.
17. Dilatory motions are out of order.
18. Use of the third person/title is proper form; use of names is not (i.e., “the previous speaker”, the “Selectman”, etc., not “Joe Jones”).
19. A “majority” motion fails when there is a tie vote – the vote must be more than 1/2. In a “super-majority” vote, where there is exactly a 2/3 to 1/3 split he 2/3 vote prevails.
20. Reconsideration is a parliamentary maneuver to “lock-in” a decided motion. Reconsideration cannot be reconsidered. Adjournment also “locks-in” voted motions.
21. The Moderator cannot stop debate while members wish to speak on a pending motion. Only the members, by a 2/3 vote, can stop debate.
22. While presiding, the Moderator does not vote unless there is a tie vote and the Moderator wants to affect the result.
23. Absence or loss of a Quorum forces adjournment of the meeting.
24. Visitors/Guests can only be admitted and can only speak with the approval of Town Meeting Members.
DEM - 2009
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