I hope this is helpful. You can also buy "Parliamentary Procedure in Action" from Headquarters.
RULE #1 - No business can be conducted without a motion and a second.
RULE #2 - The presiding officer cannot make a motion.
Ask for and complete Old Business before Starting New Business.
Voting members in...
We have received membership applications and dues from Persons 1 and 2.
1) Ask "Is there a motion to accept Person1 and Person2 as members?"
"Is there a second?"
Have the Sgt at Arms escort the nominees from the room so that candid discussion can occur.
"Is there any discussion?"
RULE #3 - If there is discussion, the person who made the motion gets to speak first.
RULE #4 - In a discussion, try to alternate opposing views.
Reisha says: "I move that we have a Best Speech Content award."
Bob says: "Wait, I have a question..."
President Lily: "Wait. We must have a second before we can open this issue. Is there a second?"
If there is a second, we discuss the issue. Reisha gets to speak first since she is the maker of the motion. If there is no second, the motion DIES. No further discussion.
The discussion is over. Someone may "Call the question" or "Ask for the vote." Or you announce "Let's vote!" (This last way is not quite correct, but it is practical.)
You say: "All those in favor say 'Aye'"
"All those opposed say 'Nay'" or have a secret vote by ballot
You run out of time for the business meeting. Someone may ask to "table the discussion." Or you may announce that we're out of time and we need to table the discussion. Then we end the business meeting. The topic you were discussing becomes "old business" and is brought up first at the next business meeting.
A *quorum* is the required number of members that must be present in order to conduct business. The club constitution defines a quorum as a majority of the active membership. If fewer are at a meeting, you can't pass a motion.
Amended Motions
This is changing a motion while it is being debated. Amendments can only go two deep.
An example:
A motion is made and seconded to have senior citizens be exempt from club dues. During the discussion, someone asks, "How do we define senior citizen?"
An amended motion would be as follows: To have senior citizens OVER AGE 60 be exempt from club dues.
Then there is discussion about the age 60 limit.
There is a vote to change the motion. Whether or not this passes, there is another vote on
a) to have seniors exempt from club dues (the original motion)
or
b) to have seniors over age 60 exempt from club dues (the newly amended motion)
================
You can see how amendments to amendments could be confusing. So the rule is that you can only go two levels deep with amended motions before voting. This keeps it manageable.
Perhaps this diagram will help.
Original motion "M"
Amendment to change "M" to "M+"
Amendment to change "M" to "M++" (this is an amendment to the amendment)
Amendment to change "M" to "M+++" (this is three deep and not allowed)
vote on line 2 - it passes - because now were only at 1 level, someone could now propose the line 3 change above.