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Call for the Orders of the Day

By the use of this motion, a single member can require the assembly to follow the order of business or agenda, or to take up a special order that is scheduled to come up, unless two-thirds of the assembly wish to do otherwise.

call of the house

This is used only in bodies that have the legal power to compel the attendance of their members, such as legislative bodies. This motion requires the unexcused absent members to be brought to the meeting, following the established procedures.

call of the meeting

The official notice of a meeting given to all members of the organization.

call the roll

A method of taking a vote or of determining attendance of members in which each member’s name is called out and members publicly announce their vote or their presence.

call up the motion to Reconsider

The motion to Reconsider can be divided into the making of the motion and the actual consideration of the motion, referred to as calling up. Words used: "Madam President, I call up the motion to Reconsider the vote on the motion . . ." Also see Making the Motion to Reconsider.

called meeting

Another term for a special meeting.

calling a member to order

An order from the presiding officer to a member to stop an inappropriate action and be seated. If the presiding officer does not call to order a member behaving inappropriately, another member may call that member to order.

caucus

A meeting to plan strategy toward a particular issue or motion.

censure

A motion to reprimand or admonish a member. The only consequence of this motion is the admonishment or reprimand.

chair

The person who is in charge of the meeting. Presiding officer and chair are interchangeable terms. They both are sometimes used to refer to the president of the organization when the president is conducting the meeting.

charter

A document issued by a parent organization authorizing the establishment of a subordinate unit.

close debate

Termination of Step 4 in the processing of the motion. It occurs when the chair ends debate because no one else wants to speak, or with the adoption of the Previous Question motion.

close nominations

This is a motion that puts an end to nominations. The motion is out of order if any member is seeking the floor to nominate a candidate. This motion should not be used. Instead, when there is no one seeking the floor to nominate a candidate, the chair should close nominations, without a motion.

Commit or Refer to a Committee

This motion sends the Main Motion to a smaller group (a committee) for further examination and refinement before the body votes on it. Be sure to be specific which committee, size of committee, and so on.

committee

A group of one or more persons who are appointed or elected to carry out a charge. The charge can be to investigate, to recommend, or to take action.

committee meeting

The larger group frequently assigns specific tasks to a committee. When they assign the task, they usually give the committee a specified level of authority to carry out the task. That authority may be to research the subject and make a recommendation to the larger group or it may be to make a decision for the larger group and carry out that decision. That group comes together to meet and, based on the authority given them, takes the action directed by the larger group.

committee of the whole

The entire assembly acts as a committee to discuss a motion or issue more informally. The presiding officer vacates the chair and another member is appointed to serve as chairman. This motion is usually reserved for large assemblies, particularly legislative bodies.

committee report

An official statement that is formally adopted by a majority vote of the committee and that is presented to the parent body (either the entire membership or the board of directors) in the name of the committee. It contains information obtained, information regarding action taken, or recommendations on behalf of the committee.

conflict of interest

A situation in which a member has a direct personal interest not common to the other members.

consent agenda or consent calendar

An agenda category that includes a list of routine, uncontroversial items that are approved with one motion, no discussion, and one vote.

consent calendar

See consent agenda.

Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim

The effect of this motion is to debate and Amend a long motion paragraph by paragraph. The vote is taken on the whole motion after consideration of each paragraph separately.

consideration of a question

The discussion that occurs during Step 4 of the processing of a motion, while the motion is pending.

Constituent unit

Organizations, particularly national organizations, are frequently made up of units at regional, state, or local levels that are referred to as constituent units. The bylaws should establish their relationship within the organization’s structure.

constitution

A governing document that contains the highest body of rules of the organization, except rules from a higher governing authority, such as a parent body or laws. Some organizations have both a constitution and bylaws, but the single bylaws document is recommended.

continued meeting

A term interchangeable with adjourned meeting.

convene

To initiate a meeting by calling the meeting to order.

convention

An assembly of delegates usually chosen for one session. The participants frequently attend as representatives of a local, state, or regional association. The convention participants come together to make decisions on behalf of the entire organization. Some smaller organizations give all members the right to attend the convention as voting members. Thus, the voting members of the convention are the individual members of the organization who are registered and attend the convention.

convention standing rules

These are rules that are adopted for a single meeting or series of meetings and may include parliamentary rules.

corporate charter

A legal document that includes the name and object of the organization in compliance with state statutes for the state in which the organization is incorporated. It may also be referred to as the articles of incorporation.

corresponding secretary

An officer who is responsible for the general correspondence of the organization.

counted vote

A method of voting in which the members express their vote by standing or raising their hand and then those standing or with their hands raised are counted and the number is reported to the presiding officer. “Those in favor of the motion, please stand and remain standing until counted. [pause] You may be seated. Those opposed to the motion, please stand and remain standing until counted. [pause] You may be seated.”

CP

Certified Parliamentarian through the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP). To become a CP a person must pass a written examination that covers the rules in various parliamentary authorities and must earn service points.

CPP

Certified Professional Parliamentarian through the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP). To become a CPP, a person must pass a rigorous oral examination and demonstrate expertise in presiding.

CPP-T

Certified Professional Teacher of Parliamentary Procedure through American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP). In addition to being a CPP, the person must complete a teacher education course and must show evidence of successful teaching experience.

CP-T

Certified Teacher of Parliamentary Procedure through American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP). In addition to being a CP, the person must complete a teacher education course and must show evidence of successful teaching experience.

Create a Blank

A method used to change a motion that allows an unlimited number of choices for a specific portion of a motion to be considered at the same time. E.g. if the motion is to purchase an item for $50.00 and there are several choices on the amount of money to spend, a member could first move to strike %50.00 and Create a Blank. If that motion is adopted, then members could list any number of recommendations for the amount of money. The body votes on those recommendations one at a time, in a specified order, until one receives a majority vote and thus fills the blank. Then the Main Motion of the purchase is voted on.

credential

A certificate that shows a person is authorized to serve as a delegate or alternate delegate or a representative of a specific body.

credentials committee

The committee that has the duty to certify the credentialed delegates or members and report that number to the membership. That number then becomes the highest number of votes that can be cast at the meeting.

cumulative voting

A voting method used when there are multiple positions or propositions and each member may cast a vote multiplied by that number of positions or propositions. The member may assign those votes however he or she chooses among the various positions or propositions, including multiple votes to one position or proposition. In order to be used, this method of voting must be specifically authorized in the bylaws or the state statutes.

custom

A long established practice of an organization. If a custom is found to be in violation of the organizations bylaws, rules, or parliamentary authority, and a member challenges that, the custom must cease.