Opening for questions:
To greatly speed up meetings, each person is generally allowed to speak once during a discussion or debate. The speaking representative will "open herself for questions" if she feels that other members would like to ask questions. This minimizes council-wide questions, conversations, and lengthy discussions.
Selection of a committee:
If the council decides to refer or commit a motion to committee, all other motions (except those with privilege) must wait until the presiding officer appoints members to this committee. Generally, the president will summarize the deadlines and task(s) appointed to the committee so they are enacting the general consensus of the council.
Reserving your right:
Each representative is generally allowed to speak once during discussions and debates. If you would like to say something and then propose a motion, warn the council by prefacing your speech with "I would like to reserve my right." This lets people know that they will be voting on what you are about to say.
1. Parliamentary Inquiry:
If you have a procedural question, raise yourplacard and say, "Madam President, a parliamentary inquiry please." Youmay interrupt someone if the question is related directly to what is beingdiscussed.
2. Call to Question:
This requests an end to debate on a motion. Raiseyour placard and wait to be recognized by the chair. Say, "Madam President, I call to question" and wait for a second. If seconded andvoted by 2/3 majority, the assembly immediately votes on the motion.
3. Orders of the Day:
If people are not following the agenda or aregetting side-tracked, you may raise you placard and say, "Madam President,I call for the orders of the day." You may interrupt someone to do this,but be careful not to overuse this power. It's a gentle reminder that weshould stay on task.
4. Point of Information:
If you'd like to ask a pertinent question, raiseyour placard and say, "Madame President, a point of information please."If urgent, you may interrupt a speaker to say this. If you'd like to ask aquestion to the person with the floor, ask, "Madame President, will thespeaker yield for a question?"
5. Refer:
If you'd like to see the details of something worked out by acommittee, rather than in the entire assembly, raise your placard and waitto be recognized. Say, "Madame President, I move to refer the motion to[name the committee or suggest one]." If seconded and debated, a majorityvote refers the motion.
6. Point of Order:
If you feel that your rights have been infringed or an procedure has not gone correctly, raise your placard and say, "Madame President, a point of order." Once recognized, state what rule you feel has been broken. If valid, the chair corrects the situation.
