Why are people speaking so strangely?
When attending a meeting, you may hear unusual and unfamiliar language around the table. This language is Robert’s Rules of Order—an organized parliamentary procedure common in many local government or board meetings. Roberts Rules ensure that speakers are given equal access to the floor, and that discussions continue to move along. The rules mandate, for instance, that a representative can speak no more than twice on a particular issue. This forces everyone to be concise and to the point, ensuring that our meetings are both substantive and efficient. In order to “do” anything, a speaker must say, “I move to…” For example, “I move to amend the allocation from $500 to $450,” or “I move to table this issue until next week’s meeting.” Visitors to Council do not usually make motions; rather, they speak normally in an effort to convince one or more members of Council, who will make the formal motion/amendment on their behalf.
