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Phrases for the Presiding Officer

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Based on Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition)

Side A

  1. OPEN THE MEETING

  2. RECOGNIZE A MEMBER
    "The chair recognizes . . . ."

  3. NO SECOND TO A MOTION (following request by chair "Is there a second?")

  4. STATE THE QUESTION ON A MOTION
    "It is moved and seconded that [or "to"] . . ."

  5. STATE THE QUESTION ON A RESOLUTION

  6. STATEMENT WHEN DEBATE APPEARS TO HAVE ENDED
    "Are you ready for the question?"

  7. TAKE A VOICE VOTE

  8. TAKE A RISING VOTE
    "Those in favor of the motion to . . . will rise [or, "stand"]. . . . Be seated. Those opposed will rise. . . . Be seated."

  9. TAKE A VOTE BY SHOW OF HANDS

  10. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF A VOICE VOTE
    "The ayes have it and the motion is adopted [or "carried"]."
    Or, "The noes have it and the motion is lost."

  11. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF AN UNCOUNTED RISING VOTE/SHOW OF HANDS

  12. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF A COUNTED RISING VOTE
    "There are 8 in the affirmative and 4 in the negative. The affirmative has it and the motion is adopted." (or)
    "There are 4 in the affirmative and 8 in the negative. The negative has it and the motion is lost."

  13. APPROVE THE MINUTES

  14. ANNOUNCE THE NEXT PIECE OF BUSINESS
    "The next item of business is . . . ." or "The next business in order is . . ."
    (NEVER say "The next order of business.")

  15. RULE A MOTION OUT OF ORDER AND THEN A MEMBER OUT OF ORDER


Side B

  1. OPEN THE MEETING
    "The meeting will come to order," or, "The meeting will be in order."

  2. RECOGNIZE A MEMBER

  3. NO SECOND TO A MOTION (following request by chair "Is there a second?")
    "Since there is no second, the motion is not before this meeting. The next item of business is . . . " or, "Is there any further business?"

  4. STATE THE QUESTION ON A MOTION

  5. STATE THE QUESTION ON A RESOLUTION
    "It is moved and seconded to adopt the resolution just read."

  6. STATEMENT WHEN DEBATE APPEARS TO HAVE ENDED

  7. TAKE A VOICE VOTE

    "The question is on the adoption of the motion to [or "that"] . . . Those in favor of the motion, say aye. Those opposed, say no."

  8. TAKE A RISING VOTE

  9. TAKE A VOTE BY SHOW OF HANDS
    "The question is on the adoption of the motion to [or "that"] . . . All those in favor of the motion will raise the right hand. . . . Lower hands. Those opposed will raise the right hand. . . . Lower hands."

  10. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF A VOICE VOTE

  11. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF AN UNCOUNTED RISING VOTE/SHOW OF HANDS
    "The affirmative has it and the motion is adopted." Or, "The negative has it and the motion is lost."

  12. ANNOUNCE THE RESULT OF A COUNTED RISING VOTE

  13. APPROVE THE MINUTES
    "Are there any corrections to the minutes? If there are no corrections [or "no further corrections"], the minutes stand [or "are"] approved [or "approved as read," or "approved as corrected"]."

  14. ANNOUNCE THE NEXT PIECE OF BUSINESS

  15. RULE A MOTION OUT OF ORDER AND THEN A MEMBER OUT OF ORDER
    "The chair rules that the motion is out of order [or "not in order"] because . . ." "The member is out of order and will be seated."

Charts and articles are intended to provide general information on parliamentary procedure and are not legal advice or a legal opinion.