Robert's Rules of Order is a manual of parliamentary procedure that provides a set of rules for conducting meetings in an orderly and fair manner. It's used by many professional associations, fraternal organizations, and local governments, and is considered the foremost authority on parliamentary procedure. 

Henry Martyn Robert first published the rules in 1876, adapting them from the practices of Congress. The latest versions of the manual can be around 700 pages long, but copies are available at most bookstores. Some say that while the rules may seem complicated, having a set of rules that everyone agrees to can make meetings run more smoothly.
 

 

Some examples of rules from Robert's Rules of Order include:
 

• Voting:

Members can stand up, raise their hands, or use a ballot slip. Roll calls are also allowed, where each member votes aloud. 

​

• Motions:

A member can make a motion, and another member or the chairperson can second it. If there's no second, the motion is lost. Some basic motions include the main motion, amendments, and amending the amendment. 

​

• Debate:

A member can move to limit debate to a set amount of time or number of speakers, or to close the debate altogether.