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Phrases for the Presiding Officer
| | 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." |
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Charts and articles are intended to provide general information on parliamentary procedure and are not legal advice or a legal opinion.
