Our volunteers are pleased to answer parliamentary questions, which might help you in conducting further research, but they should not be considered an official parliamentary opinion.
Further, any answers given will be based upon the rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. As indicated on the Official Robert’s Rules of Order Website:
“These rules are, in effect, default rules; that is to say, they govern only if there are no contrary provisions in any federal, state, or other law applicable to the society, or in the society’s bylaws, or in any special rules of order that the society has adopted.”
Finally, parliamentary rules are based on a regard for the rights of the majority, of the minority, of individual members, of absentees, and of all of these together, so our responses would not authorize a violation of the:
Fundamental principles of parliamentary law
one question at a time
vote only by members who are present at the time the vote is taken
not allowing votes to nonmembers or
authorizing absentee or cumulative voting
authorizing absentee or cumulative voting
Rules protecting the absentees
presence of quorum
previous notice requirement
Rules related to the basic rights of members
to attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote.
If you have a more complex issue to address then it is recommended you obtain the services of a qualified parliamentarian.