Robert's Rules Without the Pain

The problem with Robert's Rules

The full text is 700+ pages. Most associations don't need 95% of it. Worse, parliamentary procedure becomes a power game when one member knows it and others don't.

The seven motions that handle 95% of meetings

1. Main motion. "I move that we approve the budget as presented."
2. Second. Required before debate. Any other member.
3. Amend. "I move to amend by changing $50,000 to $45,000."
4. Call the question. Ends debate. Needs a two-thirds vote.
5. Table. Postpones to a later meeting. Simple majority.
6. Refer to committee. Sends it to a smaller group for work.
7. Adjourn. Ends the meeting. Always in order.

The flow

Motion → Second → Chair restates → Debate → Vote → Chair announces result. That's it. Everything else is variation.

When to suspend the rules

If your board is small (under nine people) and collegial, you can adopt "small board procedure" by resolution: no formal motions required for discussion, the chair can participate in debate, no need for a second. Most small association boards already operate this way informally — make it official and stop pretending.

Red flags

• Someone consistently uses procedure to block discussion they don't like.
• The chair never calls for "discussion" before "all in favor."
• Minutes don't record who moved, who seconded, and the vote count.

Fix all three.