Raise a Question of Privilege

To bring an urgent request or a Main Motion relating to the rights of either the assembly or an individual up for immediate consideration. It may interrupt business.

ratify

A motion that confirms or validates a previously taken action that needs assembly approval to become legal.

receive a report

To permit or cause a report to be presented; to hear a report.

recess

A short interruption which does not close the meeting. After the recess, business resumes at exactly the point where it was interrupted.

recognize a member

The acknowledgement by the presiding officer that a member has the right to address the assembly.

recommendation

A proposal that the body take a specific action. It's usually made by a committee, a board, or an officer.

recommit

A motion to Refer an issue or a motion back to a committee.

Reconsider

This motion enables the majority of the assembly to bring back for further consideration a motion that has been voted on. Limitations: Only a member who voted on the prevailing side can make this motion, and in an ordinary meeting of an organization this motion can be made only on the same day the vote to be Reconsidered was taken.

Reconsider and Enter in the Minutes

This motion is an incredibly unusual form of the motion to Reconsider. The effect of this motion, after it's made and seconded, is that action on the motion to be Reconsidered stops and the original motion cannot be Reconsidered until a later day. Thus, it prevents an unrepresentative group from making a decision on an issue.

recount

To count the vote again.

Refer to a Committee or Commit

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, the report back date, and so on.

regular meeting

A business meeting of a permanent group that is held at regular intervals (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and so on). The meetings are held when prescribed in the bylaws, the standing rules, or through a motion of the group, usually adopted at the beginning of the administrative year. Each meeting is a separate session.

renewal of a motion

A motion is considered renewed if it was made and disposed of without being adopted and then made again. The rules concerning renewal of a motion are extensive and are based upon the principle that an assembly should not have to deal with the same motion or substantially the same motion more than one time in a single session.

Repeal

Another word for the motion to Rescind.

report

A formal communication from a committee, board, or officer to the assembly. The report can be written or oral.

reporting member

The member of the committee or board that is presenting the committee or board report to the members. The chairman of a committee is usually the reporting member.

Request

Any petition by a member through the presiding officer to the assembly, which is growing out of the business of the assembly.

Request to be Excused from a Duty

If a member believes he cannot fulfill a duty required of him, either as a member or as an officer, he can move to Request to be Excused From a Duty. If the motion passes, he is excused from the duty.

Request to Read Papers

A call from a member to the assembly for permission to read from any paper or book. Reading from a paper or book is not allowed without permission from the assembly.

Rescind

This motion allows the assembly to Repeal an action previously taken. This motion can be applied to any previously adopted motion, provided that none of the actions involved have been carried out in a way that it is too late to undo.

resignation

A request, usually written, to relinquish an office, position, appointment, or membership.

resolution

A formal form of a motion that usually includes reasons as “whereas” clauses and the action as “resolved” clause(s).

resolved clause

The last part of a formal resolution. This part is the portion that specifies the action or position to be taken.

revision of the bylaws

A complete rewrite of the bylaws that is presented as a new document. When presented, the proposed revision can be amended without limitation. There is a single vote taken at the end to determine if the proposed revision, as amended, will replace the current bylaws.

rising counted vote

A method of voting in which the members express their vote by standing and then those standing 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] Please be seated. Those opposed to the motion, please stand and remain standing until counted.[pause] Please be seated."

rising vote

A method of voting in which the members express their vote by standing. "Those in favor of the motion, please stand.[pause] Please be seated. Those opposed to the motion, please stand.[pause] Please be seated."

Robert’s Rules

A term used to refer to any of the manuals on parliamentary procedure written by Henry M. Robert or based on the manuals he wrote.

roll call vote

A method of voting in which the voting members' names are called and the member states their vote: "The secretary will now call the roll." This method of voting has the exact opposite effect of a ballot vote in that it places in the record how each member voted. It should only be used when the members are responsible to a particular constituency who has a right to know how they voted. It is frequently required of public bodies, such as city councils or school boards.

RP

A Registered Parliamentarian through the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP). To become an RP, a person must pass a written examination covering Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

rules of order

Written sets of laws of parliamentary procedure by which an organization conducts its business.

ruling

A decision made by the presiding officer. If members of the assembly disagree with the decision, they can Appeal the decision.