Parliamentary Procedures
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is a manual of parlimentary procedure which contains a set of rules and customs for the Student Government Association at the University of West Florida follows during all meetings and assemblies. The use of Robert's Rules of Order ensures a smooth process for all meetings in regards to all parts of parlimentary procedure including motions, debate, and voting.
Motions
A motion is a procedural ruling which assists a group in making decisions on the business on hand. Once a motion has been made by a Senator, it needs to be seconded by another Senator in order for it to move forward to discussion and voting.
Debate
Debate is a formal discussion which occurs in relation to the motion on the floor. A Senator may debate in favor of or against a motion. Each member gets two points of debate per question or motion. Be specific about your position on the topic and tell people how you want them to vote!
Voting
As a voting member of the Student Government Association, you have the power to vote on motions. There are three responses allowed when voting on a motion.
- Yay/Yes, I support this motion
- Nay/No, I do not support this motion
- Abstain, I do not have the information I need or there is a conflict of interest
Point of Information and Inquiry
A Point of Information or Inquiry can be asked at any point during a formal meeting to ask a question or provide a statement. This information could be correcting information, gaining clarification on a topic, or asking a question to the speaker.
