Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure (Part I)

Part I
WHAT IS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE?
WHAT GROUPS FOLLOW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE?
WHAT IS A "PARLIAMENTARIAN"?

Part II
WHAT PROCEDURES MUST AN ASSEMBLY FOLLOW?
WHAT IS THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR A MEETING?

Part III
HOW IS BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE AN ASSEMBLY?
HOW DO MOTIONS WORK TOGETHER?
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE?

WHAT IS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE?      
Parliamentary procedure, or parliamentary law, is the code of rules and ethics for working together in groups. According to Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, parliamentary law refers to the

rules, laws, or regulations of organizations, governing the orderly, expeditious and efficient transaction of business and meetings and conventions. Without rules, there would be injustice and confusion. Hence, it is as necessary to follow the rules of parliamentary law as it is to follow the rules of a ball game or a card game.

Demeter's, p. 4.   Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), another parliamentary manual, defines parliamentary law as follows:

The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member's opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion.

RONR, p. xlviii.

Parliamentary procedure is not synonymous with the book Robert's Rules of Order (10th Edition)("RONR"). Instead, RONR is the most widely used of several major parliamentary manuals. Various versions of Robert’s Rules of Order are used by approximately 80% of organizations in the United States. The second most commonly used parliamentary authority is Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, used by approximately 15% of groups (particularly physicians and dentists). The third most popular parliamentary manual is Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, used by about 5% of groups (particularly unions). Other well-known parliamentary texts include Riddick’s Rules of Procedure, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure (used by many legislatures), and Bourinot’s Rules of Order (used in Canada).

WHAT GROUPS MUST FOLLOW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE?    
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by Alice Sturgis states:

Deliberative bodies, such as business, cultural, religious, social, fraternal, professional, educational, labor, civil, scientific, medical, and governmental organizations, are subject to the principles of common parliamentary law. All profit and non-profit corporations and associations and the boards, councils, commissions, and committees of government must observe parliamentary law.

Sturgis, p. 3.

WHAT IS A "PARLIAMENTARIAN"?
The function of a parliamentarian is that of a consultant who advises the president and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure. There is no set rule on the number of functions a parliamentarian may be asked to perform, but responsibilities can include serving as a convention parliamentarian, conducting parliamentary workshops, presiding over business meetings, writing formal parliamentary opinions, supervising elections, and training presiding officers.

Two national organizations, the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP) and the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP), certify parliamentarians.

"Certified Professional Parliamentarian" (CPP) is the highest parliamentary classification of the American Institute of Parliamentarians.  The CPP designation denotes expert knowledge of numerous parliamentary authorities, including Robert's, Sturgis, and Demeter's, experience and ability as a parliamentarian, scholarly research in parliamentary topics, and dedication to the improvement of parliamentary procedure.

"Professional Registered Parliamentarian" (PRP) is the highest parliamentary classification of the National Association of Parliamentarians. The PRP designation denotes passing an extensive examination on RONR 1990.

Like attorneys, professional parliamentarians are governed by codes of ethics. The Code of Ethics of the American Institute of Parliamentarians provides, in part, that a parliamentarian: