Rules of Procedure for Town Meeting

By state law (RSA 40:4, I) the Moderator sets the rules and procedures of the meeting. We will not follow Robert's Rules of Order or any other complicated rules of parliamentary procedure. Instead, we will follow my rules. I cannot promise to run a perfect meeting, but I will do my best to run a fair meeting. Ultimately, though, this is your meeting. By majority vote, you can change my rules, or overrule any decision I make.

1. Rules for Debate

1. Only registered voters may speak unless a majority of the voters present decide otherwise.
2. Those wishing to be recognized should raise their hands or stand. Once the Moderator recognizes you, please state your full name.
3. Only one person – the one recognized by the Moderator – may speak at any one time.
4. All speakers are expected to direct the debate to the Moderator, and no conversations directed to others on the floor will be allowed.
5. When you have the floor to speak, you should address the issue under consideration or you may be ruled out of order.
6. Any voter may question a procedural ruling by the Moderator by asking to appeal the ruling to the body as a whole. A simple majority is required to overrule the Moderator.
7. Questions about the process are encouraged, as it may often seem confusing, but everyone should remember that debate leading to decision is the primary purpose of the meeting.

2. Voting on Articles

1. The Moderator will not accept motions to “call the question” until, in his judgment, all have had a fair opportunity to express their views.
2. The Moderator will not accept motions to “table” or “indefinitely postpone” an article without a reason for taking this action rather than simply voting down an article. If citizens want to dispose of an article, they should simply vote the article down. This prevents the confusion of people having to vote positively to dispose of an article.
3. The Moderator will only accept motions to “pass over” an article if more than one article on the warrant addresses the same question, and then only for the purpose of not confusing a decision reached by the meeting.
4. Only one reconsideration of an article will be recognized.
5. Seven voters are required to question my ruling on the outcome of a vote. If a voice vote is questioned, we will have a show of hands and/ or a division of the house. If the vote remains in question, we will have a secret ballot. This must happen before any other business occurs.

3. Amendments

1. Motions to amend an article must be in writing. The Clerk will have paper and pencils.
2. The Moderator will allow consideration of no more than one amendment at a time. I.e., no motions to amend a motion to amend.
3. Amendments which simply negate the intent of the motion – such as inserting the word “not” – will be ruled out of order as they confuse people as to which way they intend to vote. To repeat: If citizens want to dispose of an article, they should simply vote the article down.