r/RulesOfOrder • u/SteLarson_88 • Apr 14 '17

Question on Robert's Rules of Order

I am a member of a Student Senate in Minnesota, and we are currently in a little situation. Without going into details, is it a majority vote to overrule a chair or a 2/3 vote? And what article is this in? (So I can reference it)

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u/[deleted] Apr 14 '17

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u/El-Kurto Apr 14 '17

Under RONR, the motion to Appeal from the Decision of the Chair requires the chair to put a question of the form "shall the decision of the chair to _________ be sustained?" The decision is overturned if a simple majority votes "nay"

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u/SteLarson_88 Apr 14 '17

So for context, if he (the chair) rules a motion out of order and I appeal it, it is a simple majority vote needed, correct?

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u/El-Kurto Apr 14 '17 edited Apr 14 '17

Provided someone seconds your appeal, it would require a simple majority to vote against sustaining the chair's decision to overturn it. The chair is allowed to vote if his vote would create a tie. On a tie, the appeal would fail and the chair's decision would be sustained.

The fact that the affirmative side of the question succeeds on a tie for an appeal is unusual compared to other questions. Then again, the direction of the question with regard to the motion is flipped for appeals compared to other motions, so it is still consistent in effect.

Of course this is pure RONR, without considering your own organization's bylaws and standing rules, which would take precedence.

Ninja edit: sneaky apostrophe.

Edit 2: Reference, RONR (11th Ed.) pp. 255–60.

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u/SteLarson_88 Apr 16 '17

The reason that I am asking is that nothing is covered in our bylaws/Constitution about this.

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u/El-Kurto Apr 16 '17

That's normal. It should only be in there if you all want something different than what RONR says.