Legal Definitions - parliamentary procedure

Definition:Parliamentary procedure refers to the rules and practices used in meetings to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to speak and that decisions are made in an orderly and efficient manner. It includes parliamentary law, which is the set of rules that governs how meetings are conducted, and parliamentary practice, which is how those rules are applied in a particular organization.

Examples:

• During a meeting, the chairperson follows parliamentary procedure by calling the meeting to order, taking roll call, and reading the minutes from the previous meeting.
• When a member wants to speak, they must first be recognized by the chairperson and then state their name and the topic they wish to discuss.
• If there is a disagreement about a motion, members can use parliamentary procedure to call for a vote or to table the motion for further discussion at a later time.

These examples illustrate how parliamentary procedure is used to ensure that meetings are conducted in a fair and orderly manner. By following the rules of parliamentary law and parliamentary practice, everyone has an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process and the meeting can be conducted efficiently.