Roberts Rules of Order | Page 5

an Order of
Business [§ 44], as suggested in these rules.]
The Manual is divided into two distinct, parts, each complete in itself.
[The table at the end contains a large amount of information in a tabular
form for easy reference in the midst of the business of a meeting.]

Part I contains a set of Rules of Order
systematically arranged, as
shown in the Table of Contents. Each one of the forty-five sections is
complete in itself, so that no one unfamiliar with the work can be
misled in examining any particular subject. Cross references are freely
used to save repeating
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from other sections, and by this means, the reader, without using the
index, is referred to everything in the Rules of Order that has any
bearing upon the subject he is investigating. The references are by
sections, and for convenience the numbers of the sections are placed at
the top of each page. The motions are arranged under the usual classes,
in their order of rank, but in the index under the word motion will be
found an alphabetical list of all the motions generally used. In reference
to each motion there is stated:

(1) Of what motions it takes precedence (that is, what motions may, be
pending, and yet it be in order to make this motion). (2) To what
motions it yields (that is, what motions may be made while this motion
is pending). (3) Whether it is debatable or not. (4) Whether it can be
amended or not. (5) In case the motion can have no subsidiary motion
applied to it, the fact is stated [see Adjourn, § 11, for an example: the
meaning is, that the particular motion to adjourn, for example, cannot
be laid on the table, postponed, committed or amended]. (6) The effect
of the motion if adopted. (7) The form of stating the question when
peculiar, and whatever other information is necessary to enable one to
understand the question.

Part II. While the second part covers the
entire ground of the first
part, it does so in a much simpler manner, being intended for those who
have
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no acquaintance with the usages of deliberative assemblies. It also
explains the method of organizing an assembly or society, and
conducting a meeting. The motions are treated on an entirely different
plan, being classified according to the objects for which they are used,
and those of each class compared together so that the reader may obtain
the best motion for the accomplishment of any given object. It omits
the complications of parliamentary law, and has but few references to
the rules of Congress, or those in this Manual. In order to make it
complete in itself, it was necessary to repeat a few pages from the first
part.
Definitions.
In addition to the terms defined above (taking precedence of, yielding
to and applying to, see p. 14), there are other terms that are liable to be

misunderstood, to which attention should he called.
Meeting and Session.--In this Manual the term "meeting" is used to
denote an assembling together of the members of a deliberative
assembly for any length of time, during which there is no separation of
the members by adjournment. An adjournment to meet again at some
other time, even the same day, terminates the meeting, but not the
session, which latter includes all the adjourned meetings. The next
meeting, in this case, would be an "adjourned meeting" of the same
session.
A "meeting" of an assembly is terminated by a
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temporary adjournment; a "session" of an assembly ends with an
adjournment without day, and may consist of many meetings [see
Session, § 42].
Previous Question--This term is frequently understood to refer to the
question previously under consideration. As used in this country it is
equivalent to a motion to "Stop debate, and proceed to voting on all the
questions before the assembly," with certain exceptions, where it
affects only one motion (as to postpone, to reconsider and an appeal;
See § 20 for a full explanation).
Shall the Question be Considered (or discussed)? This question, which
is put as soon as a subject is brought before an assembly, if any
member "objects to its consideration" (or "discussion," or
"introduction"), is not intended to merely cut off debate, but to prevent
the question from coming before the assembly for its action. If decided
by a two-thirds vote in the negative, the question is removed from
before the assembly immediately [see § 15].
Whenever the word "assembly," which is used throughout these rules,
occurs in forms of motions (as in Appeals, § 14), it is better to replace
it by the special term used to designate the particular assembly; as for
instance,