Oral Communication Units and Activities
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE SCRIPTS
Unit(s): Parliamentary Procedure
Purpose:
To allow students to recognize correct and incorrect usage of parliamentary procedure
Objective:
Students will read their "parts" from a script of a meeting using parliamentary procedure.
Students will identify incorrect procedure.
Materials:
- Parliamentary Procedure Script 1 - correct usage
- Parliamentary Procedure Script 2 - incorrect usage
- Parliamentary Procedure Script 3 - correct usage
Procedure:
- Introduce "Order of Business."
- Pass out script 1 and script 3 as examples of correct usage.
- Assign parts to students and read aloud. (This can also be done in small groups so
that everyone in the class has a part to read.)
- After the script is read, the teacher leads a classroom discussion concerning
which motions were used, etc.
- Next, the "incorrect" script is used in the same way with the discussion
focusing on the parliamentary procedure errors.
Parliamentary Procedure Script 1
This script will help you to fix in mind proper parliamentary procedure. It primarily concerns the
point of order and whom the chair should recognize. Chairman and 6 members
- Chairman:
- This meeting will please come to order. Will the secretary read
the minutes of the previous meeting?
- Secretary:
- (stands and reads minutes)
- Chairman:
- Are there any corrections or additions to the minutes? If not,
they stand approved as read. Is there any unfinished business to come
before the house?
- Member 1:
- (stands) Mr. Chairman.
- Member 2:
- (remaining seated) Mr. Chairman, I move that the class. . .
- Chairman:
- Point of order, Bill. The chair recognizes Lawrence for two
reasons: first, he was first to speak after rising in an orderly way, and
secondly, Bill, you did not wait for recognition from the chair.
Lawrence, you have the floor.
- Member 1:
- Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this class study and
practice the procedure for conducting a meeting every Wednesday.
- Member 3:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that this class study and practice the
procedure of conducting a meeting every Wednesday. Is there any discussion?
- Member 4:
- (stands) Mr. Chairman.
- Member 2:
- (stands) Mr. Chairman, I think it's a great...
- Chairman:
- Point of order, Bill. You MUST be recognized by the chair
before speaking. A violation of a rule of procedure disqualifies you in
favor of another speaker. The chair recognized Adrienne.
- Member 2:
- I stand corrected.
- Member 4:
- Mr. Chairman, I think the study of the procedure of conducting
a meeting on Wednesdays is a good idea, for then we'll feel more
comfortable when we attend meetings. We'll know how to act.
- Member 5:
- (stands) Mr. Chairman.
- Member 2:
- Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Bill
- Member 6:
- Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order.
- Chairman:
- State your point of order.
- Member 6:
- Mr. Chairman, I believe you should call on John, because he
hasn't asked for the floor before.
- Chairman:
- Your point in not well taken. In case two persons stand and
address the chair at the same time, the chair should recognize the
person who has tried to speak before but has not yet been given the
opportunity. You may speak, Bill.
- Member 2:
- Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that I like the idea and think
we should pass the motion.
- Chairman:
- Is there further discussion? (silence) All of those in favor of
conducting a meeting every Wednesday say "Aye" (Ayes vote) Those
opposed say "No." (Silence) Motion is carried.
Parliamentary Procedure Script 2
Study the following account of a meeting and discover the errors in procedure.
Chairman and 6 members.
- Chairman:
- The meeting will please come to order. Does anyone have any
business to bring before the group?
- Member 1:
- Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Tom.
- Member 1:
- I make a motion that we have a debate or something in this club.
- Member 2:
- Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Barbara.
- Member 2:
- I think that's a good idea, too, but it's too indefinite. I move that
the motion be amended to add "on January 18."
- Member 3:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It has been moved and seconded that we have a debate on
January 18. Personally, I don't think we're going to have time to work
up a debate as soon as that, but it's up to you.
- Member 4:
- Mr. Chairman, I agree with you. Semester exams come at that
time, and I think we'll be too busy. I move that we amend the motion
to add "on February 15" instead of January 18.
- Member 5:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that we have a debate on February 15.
Are you ready to vote on it?
- Member 6:
- Mr. Chairman, I think that....
- Chairman:
- Yes, Don.
- Member 6:
- ...that debates are dry. Let's face the facts. We'll never get that
debate completed. Last year we tried debate, and you remember what
happened. A mock trial is much more fun. I make the amendment that
we substitute "mock trial" for "debate."
- Member 5:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It has been moved and seconded that we have a mock trial on
February 15. Are there any objections?
- Member 1:
- Yes, Mr. Chairman, I object. I want a debate, and since my
motion is being changed so much, I withdraw it.
- Chairman:
- Well, I guess you have that right. If there's so other business,
this meeting is adjourned.
Parliamentary Procedure Script 3
A Sample Meeting
This model will show you procedure under parliamentary law with reference to the more common
motions.
- Chairman:
- The meeting will please come to order. The secretary will read
the minutes of the previous meeting.
- Secretary:
- The regular meeting of the Junior Toastmasters was called to
order by the chairman at 3:15 p.m. on September 18. The minutes of
the previous meeting were read and approved.
(secretary reads the rest of the
minutes)
Respectfully submitted,
Christina
Angle, Secretary
- Chairman:
- Are there any corrections or additions to theminutes? (Pause)
if not, the minutes stand approved as read. Is there any old business
to come before this group?
- Darrell:
- Mr. Chairman. (rising)
- Chairman:
- Darrell.
- Darrell:
- Have we had any report of the action taken by the Student
Council on our request to use the Council Room for our meetings?
- Chairman:
- No, we haven't Darrell. I understand unofficially, that the
Council had to wait until this week's meeting before a final decision
could be made. I think I should hear by tomorrow. Is there any other
old business? If not, are there any committee reports read?
- Tamara:
- Mr. Chairman (rising)
- Chairman:
- Tamara.
- Tamara:
- I'd just like to remind everyone that the mimeographed copies
of the semester's programs are ready and that I'll distribute them right
after the meeting.
- Chairman:
- Thank you, Tamara. It looks as though our club is off to a
good start this year. Are there other reports? (Pause) This
meeting is now open for new business.
- Gordon:
- (rising) Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Gordon.
- Gordon:
- I move that we enter the speech contests sponsored this fall
by the Kiwanis Club and the PTA.
- Robert:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that Junior Toastmasters enter
the speech contests sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the PTA
is there discussion?
- Bill:
- Mr. Chairman. (rising)
- Chairman:
- Bill.
- Bill:
- I don't think I understand that motion. Does it mean that
this club enters a contestant, or that everyone in the club enters, or what?
- Gordon:
- Mr. Chairman. (rising)
- Gordon:
- I admit my motion is a little vague. I had in mind, however,
that we wanted enter one or two representatives, unless everyone wanted to enter.
- Bill:
- (rising) Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Bill.
- Bill:
- I move to amend the motion to read that Junior
Toastmasters enter two contestants in each of the contests
sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the PTA.
- Don:
- I second the amendment.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that the main motion be amended
to read that Junior Toastmasters enter two contestants in each of
the contests sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the PTA. Is there
discussion on the amendment?
- Several Members:
- Question! Question!
- Chairman:
- The question has been called for. All those in favor of the
amendment say "Aye." (response) Those opposed say "No." The
"Ayes" have it, and the amendment is carried. Is there discussion
on the main motion as amended?
- Ginny:
- Mr. Chairman. (rising)
- Chairman:
- Ginny.
- Ginny:
- These contests seem like a good idea to me, but I'd like to know
more about them, so I move that Gene Kopecky be appointed to get all
the information he can and bring it back to the club.
- Greg:
- Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order.
- Chairman:
- State your point of order.
- Greg:
- Ginny's motion is out of order because there's a main
motion already pending, and her motion is obviously not an amendment.
- Chairman:
- Your point of order is well taken. Ginny's motion is out of order.
Is there further discussion?
- Ginny:
- (rising) Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Ginny.
- Ginny:
- I still want more time to think over the action we're about the take.
I feel we're not ready to vote, so- I move that the motion as amended by laid on the table.
- Jim:
- Second.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that the motion as amended be
laid on the table. All those in favor say "Aye." (response) Those
opposed, "No." The "ayes" have it, and the motion to lay on the table is passed.
- Don:
- Mr. Chairman, I rise for parliamentary inquiry. (rising)
- Chairman:
- State your question, Don.
- Don:
- Why didn't we get a chance to discuss Ginny's motion? Did you forget?
- Chairman:
- According to parliamentary law the motion to lay on the
table is not debatable. Once it has been seconded, the vote must be taken.
- Ginny:
- Mr. Chairman. (rising)
- Chairman:
- Ginny.
- Ginny:
- I move that Gene Kopecky be appointed to get all the information
possible on the two contests and bring it back to the club.
- Ernie:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It has been moved and seconded that Gene be appointed to
get all the information possible on the contests and bring it back
to the club. Is there discussion? (Silence)
Are you ready for the question?
- Several Members:
- Question! Question!
- Chairman:
- All those in favor of the motion as stated say "Aye." Those
opposed, "No." The "ayes" have it, and the motion is passed.
- Tom:
- (rising) Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Tom
- Tom:
- I move that we appoint Mr. Keller one of our contest
judges for the semester.
- Diane:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- As stated, Tom, your motion is out of order, since we have
no right to appoint a faculty member to any position. If you mean
"appoint" in the sense of expressing our wishes, your motion is in
order. However, because Mr. Keller may take over the Radio
Speech Club soon, he is likely to have activities conflicting with
our meeting. Perhaps you should withdraw your motion.
- Tom:
- Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Tom.
- Tom:
- I wish to withdraw my motion.
- Chairman:
- Tom asks to withdraw his motion. Is there any objection?
(Pause) Since there is none, the motion will be withdrawn. Is
there further business?
- Gail:
- (rising) Mr. Chairman.
- Chairman:
- Gail.
- Gail:
- I move that we adjourn.
- Wendell:
- I second the motion.
- Chairman:
- It is moved and seconded that we adjourn. Will those in favor say "Aye"?
(response)
Opposed, "No"? (No response) The meeting stands adjourned.
