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Revolutionize meetings! Over 20,000 copies sold – the easy-to-use guide for running democratic meetings of any size
The key to promoting true democracy in meetings is clear, easy-to-understand rules of order that support the right of each member to participate fully and equally, and the right of the majority to make decisions while respecting minority rights.
An alternative to Robert's Rules of Order and other complicated and unwieldy guides, Democratic Rules of Order is the guide for the rest of us. It lays out clear, concise, easy-to-use rules for governing meetings from clubs and non profits to formal meetings. Benefits include:
- A complete set of laws for governing meetings
- Can be read in an hour
- Plain language, free of complex protocol and jargon to enable equal and efficient participation
- Tested and honed through thousands of successful meetings
- Adoptable as the official rules of order for meetings of any size
- Allows informality, including decisions by consensus, but ensures formality when needed
- A sample meeting that uses all the rules plus answers to 31 common questions.
Now in its tenth edition, and with over 20,000 copies sold, Democratic Rules of Order will produce fair, efficient, and harmonious decisions in meetings of any size or complexity.
"Stuck in Dysfunction-ville? Are your meetings inefficient, frustrating and possibly not legal? Democratic Rules of Order is a small, brilliant book that can make a world of difference. Buy everyone a copy — it will be one of the best investments you've ever made."
— Bruce Batchelor, author, publisher, innovator, and no-longer-frustrated meeting attendee
"This is Robert's Rules, simplified, modernized, clarified and, most importantly, humanized."
— Ric Getter, PCC Media Production/PCC-TV, Educational Advisory Council Membership chair, Portland Community College — Sylvania
"Many condominiums get tangled up with Robert's Rules of Order which is most often far too complex. That is why the Team and VISOA recommend the uncomplicated Democratic Rules of Order to all stratas."
— David Grubb, board member and chair, Strata Support Team, Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISOA)
"We highly recommend this book to any organization for its clear and simple directions."
— Caroline Holm, clerk, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria, Canada
"Easy-to-follow guidelines allowed us to get a handle on the tasks that needed doing, without regularly digressing into chaos. Kudos to the authors for keeping a rowdy bunch of us on track."
— Pieter Vorster, Courtenay rugby team board member, and chief editor, TideChange.ca
"I bought a copy for each member of the board and we voted to make it the official procedure manual". It's: 1) easy to understand, 2) easy to learn, 3) user-friendly, 4) logical, and 5) efficient."
— Edward E. Douglas, BA, MA, past vice-president of a library board of trustees
"Truly the guide for the rest of us...with elegant solutions to three challenges: how to run meetings with fairness, efficiency, and good order, how to do so with rules that everybody can understand, and how to foster true democracy in a world that needs it more than ever."
— Jim Rietmulder, author, When Kids Rule the School, and co-founder, The Circle School
"A gem of a reference book, it is practical, well-structured and is detailed and informative about meeting terminology."
— Gerry O'Sullivan, facilitator, mediator, and trainer, and author, The Mediator's Toolkit
Peg Francis, and her late husband Fred Francis, had decades of experience with meetings in school, college, business, church, and community organizations as members and as officers. They saw the urgent need for more justice and stronger democracies and believed that for a democracy to work successfully, the populace itself must understand and practice democratic principles. They brought their skills as former educators to bear to create a set of rules that are easy-to-learn, easy-to-use, and widely applicable in meetings and that promote democracy at a grass-roots level. Always seeking to improve, they were also entrepreneurs who have designed several commercial products including clean-burning wood stoves, rodent-proof composters, and children's building sets. Peg lives in Victoria, Canada.
Foreword by Douglas Leiterman
Preface
Part 1: The Rules
Introduction
Fairness and Orderliness
Democratic Principles
A Democratic Ideal
Another Democratic Ideal
Degrees of Formality
Higher Laws
Minority Rights
For Maximum Efficiency
The Tenth Edition
Virtual Meetings
To Adopt or Modify These Rules of Order
An Impersonal Referee
Governing Elements
Government Control
Constitution
Bylaws
Standing Rules
Rules of Order
Executive Board
Officers
Election Procedures
Members Making Decisions
Final Authority
Equal Rights
The Chair
Chair's Authority
Formal Chair
Informal Chair
Addressing the Chair
Quorum
Agenda
Motions and Decisions
Mover's Privilege
Amendments
Postpone, Refer
Voting
Tie Vote
Larger Majority Vote
Informal Discussion
Rescind
Reconsider
Minutes
Reports
Ratifying a Previous Decision
Adjournment
Keeping Meetings Flowing
Staying on the Subject
More Thought, Less Talk
Mutual Respect
Point of Order
Disturbances
Differing Opinions
A New Chair
Committees and Small Meetings
Committees
Less Formality
Special Committees
Chairing a Committee Meeting
Nondemocratic Meetings
Part 2: Further Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Involving the Chair
Involving the Secretary
Motions and Other Topics
Sample Meeting
Flowchart Using Democratic Rules of Order
Summary of the Rules
Index
About the Authors
A Note about the Publisher