📖 Overview
Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance serves as a reference guide for conducting meetings and making group decisions according to established rules of order. The book presents information in a quick-lookup format organized by motion type and parliamentary situation.
The content covers basic procedures like making motions, voting, and maintaining order, as well as more complex scenarios involving amendments, postponements, and points of order. Charts and tables throughout the book allow readers to find specific procedural information without reading entire chapters.
This handbook remains a standard text for organizations, clubs, and governing bodies that follow parliamentary procedure. The systematic approach helps both novice and experienced chairpersons navigate proper meeting protocol.
The work reflects broader themes of democratic process, fair debate, and structured decision-making that form the foundation of deliberative bodies. Its enduring relevance speaks to the importance of clear rules and procedures in group governance.
👀 Reviews
Readers value this book as a quick reference guide for parliamentary procedure. Many note its compact size and tabbed format make it easy to find rules during meetings.
Likes:
- Clear explanations of motions and voting procedures
- Portable size fits in briefcases/folders
- Comprehensive index
- Useful charts and tables
- Matches Robert's Rules but more accessible
Dislikes:
- Small print hard to read
- Some find organization confusing
- Index could be more detailed
- Paper quality feels cheap
- 1990 edition outdated in some areas
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (483 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings)
Representative review: "Perfect quick reference during meetings. The tabs help locate items fast when needed. Print is tiny though - bring reading glasses." - Amazon reviewer
Several meeting chairs mention keeping multiple copies on hand to loan to members who need to check procedures during sessions.
📚 Similar books
Robert's Rules of Order by Henry M. Robert III
This comprehensive manual serves as the standard reference for meeting procedures in organizations across the United States.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast-Track by Jim Slaughter This guide focuses on essential meeting procedures for business meetings, nonprofit boards, and community associations.
Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules by Jon L. Ericson The text presents interpretations and applications of Robert's Rules through real-world examples and case studies.
Mastering Council Meetings by Ann G. Macfarlane, Andrew L. Estep This reference explains local government meeting procedures and council dynamics within the framework of parliamentary procedure.
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by American Institute of Parliamentarians, Alice Sturgis This streamlined alternative to Robert's Rules provides simplified meeting rules for professional organizations and associations.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast-Track by Jim Slaughter This guide focuses on essential meeting procedures for business meetings, nonprofit boards, and community associations.
Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules by Jon L. Ericson The text presents interpretations and applications of Robert's Rules through real-world examples and case studies.
Mastering Council Meetings by Ann G. Macfarlane, Andrew L. Estep This reference explains local government meeting procedures and council dynamics within the framework of parliamentary procedure.
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by American Institute of Parliamentarians, Alice Sturgis This streamlined alternative to Robert's Rules provides simplified meeting rules for professional organizations and associations.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔷 The author, O. Garfield Jones, served as a professor of political science at the University of Toledo and dedicated over 40 years to studying parliamentary procedure.
🔷 This book has been continuously in print since its first publication in 1932, making it one of the longest-running reference guides on parliamentary procedure.
🔷 Parliamentary procedure as we know it today originated from rules developed in the British Parliament during the 16th and 17th centuries.
🔷 The book organizes motions into tables that show at a glance whether they are debatable, amendable, and what vote is required - a format that has been widely copied by other parliamentary guides.
🔷 Despite being written nearly a century ago, the book remains a standard reference for organizations worldwide, from student governments to professional associations, second only to Robert's Rules of Order in popularity.