Roberts

Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought
Roberts Rules of Order for the Missouri
Legal

Overview of
Caucus Process
Process
What You Need To Know To Be Effective Quickly as a
How Is 2016
Different? Republican Caucus Activist
How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts Eric Vought
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
29 April 2016
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Contents
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought 1 Legal

Legal
2 Overview of Caucus/Convention Process
Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
3 How Is 2016 Different?
Different?

How Do I 4 How Do I Organize For a Caucus/Convention?

Organize?

What is
Roberts 5 What Is Roberts Rules of Order?
Rules?
RONR RONR Overview
Overview
Core Concepts Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting Motions
Elections
Voting/Adopting
Elections
References
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
About the Author
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought Republican Committeeman since 2007 (Currently

Lawrence County);
Legal

Overview of
Delegate at District and State conventions in 08 and 12;
Process
Floor leader for Ron Paul campaign in 2008;
How Is 2016
Different? Former 7th District Coordinator for Missouri Campaign
How Do I
Organize? For Liberty;
What is Chair of Missouri Strategy Committee for Ron Paul in
Roberts
Rules? 2012;
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Founder and Commander of Lawrence County Sheriffs
Motions
Voting/Adopting Auxiliary;
Elections
Lawrence County Coordinator for 2016 Cruz Campaign;
Creator of The Radish Saltant
(http://radishsaltant.blogspot.com/);
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Overview
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
What Is a Caucus/Convention?
Why does it matter?
Process

How Is 2016
Different? How Do I Organize For a Caucus/Convention?
How Do I
Organize? What is Roberts Rules of Order?
What is
Roberts
Where Do I Start?
Rules? Where Do I Learn More?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts What Is the Central Committee and What Is a
Motions
Voting/Adopting Precinct/Township?
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Legal/Copyright
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process
All rights reserved until 1 August 2016;
How Is 2016 A non-exclusive, royalty free license is extended to the Ted
Different?

How Do I
Cruz 2016 campaign, to copy in whole or part with
Organize? attribution, without charge;
What is
Roberts After 1 August 2016, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Rules?
RONR
(CC-BY-4.0);
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
All other use requires permission;
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
How Does It Work?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
The District Convention
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
The State Convention
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Typical Convention Structure
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Rules Changes From 2012
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal
Backlash to 2008 and 2012, grassroots power and Tea
Overview of
Process Party;
How Is 2016 Rigid binding of candidates to primary results;
Different?

How Do I Changes in scheduling of primaries;

Organize?

What is
Requirement of 8 state delegations to be entered into
Roberts
Rules?
nomination;
RONR
Overview Distrust, disease, factionalism within party;
Core Concepts
Motions Trump campaign a symptom of the dysfunction and anger
Voting/Adopting
Elections within the party.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Where Delegates Matter
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Brokered convention, will nominate/elect, possibly in

Legal

Overview of
multiple rounds;
Process
Delegates serve on three crucial committees:
How Is 2016
Different? Credentials
How Do I Rules
Organize?
Platform
What is

Delegates determine the process we will follow in 2020 and

Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview can maybe straighten out this mess;
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
By working to keep the process fair and on-the-level, avoid
Elections
compounding past errors and self-destructing before the
general election;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
What Do I Do To Prepare?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Numbers: work to turn out supporters;

Legal

Overview of Understand the rules;

Process
Prepare a strategy for getting the most out of the process
How Is 2016
Different? for our cause and candidate;
How Do I
Organize? Committed delegates bound to Cruz (prevent our
What is delegates from being blocked or replaced);
Roberts
Rules?
Committed Cruz electors;
RONR The best (most conservative, most fair) delegates bound
Overview
Core Concepts to Trump we can get (Credentials and Rules);
Motions
Voting/Adopting Conservative National Committeeman/Committeewoman
Elections
representative;
Republican Platform;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Organization Matters
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of Prepare strategy carefully;

Process
Organize notes and options;
How Is 2016
Different?
Track the numbers throughout the process so you know
How Do I
Organize? what the result will be;
What is
Roberts
Fight for fairness: use the rules to your advantage, but do
Rules? not break them;
RONR

Which brings us back to: know the rules and learn why
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting the rules exist;
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Keep In Mind...
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought
Fact
Legal We have to live with these people during and after the election.
Overview of
Process

How Is 2016 To persuade, be the example of the change you wish to

Different?
see:
How Do I
Organize? If you believe in rights, protect rights of others;
What is If you believe in Christian and conservative values, display
Roberts
Rules? them on the floor;
RONR
Overview
People will judge your candidate and cause by your
Core Concepts
Motions
behavior;
Voting/Adopting
Elections This is only one election of many;
Fight for your cause tooth and nail, but do it with dignity,
courtesy, and honor;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
What is Roberts Rules of Order?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal A codification of parliamentary law:

Overview of the rules of order for meetings and deliberative assemblies
Process
written in the late 19th century;
How Is 2016
Different?
Originally based on British parliamentary law;
How Do I
Organize? Jefferson wrote the first US rules of order for the Senate in
What is
Roberts
1801;
Rules?
RONR Henry Martyn Robert wrote the first Roberts Rules in
Overview
Core Concepts 1876;
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
Current edition is 11th (RONR11 = Roberts Rules of
Order, Newly Revised, 11th Edition);
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
What is its purpose?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal
Definition (Parliamentary Law)
Overview of
Process
A system of rules for a deliberative assembly to move forward
How Is 2016
the business of the organization and of the majority while
Different? preserving rights of strong minorities;
How Do I
Organize?

What is Rules of order are about conducting business while

Roberts
Rules? preserving rights;
RONR
Overview As Jefferson believed that natural law underlay
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
government, there is also a natural law to ordered
Elections deliberation;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
What is its purpose?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal
Definition (Parliamentary Law)
Overview of
Process
A system of rules for a deliberative assembly to move forward
How Is 2016
the business of the organization and of the majority while
Different? preserving rights of strong minorities;
How Do I
Organize?

What is Rules of order are about conducting business while

Roberts
Rules? preserving rights;
RONR
Overview As Jefferson believed that natural law underlay
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
government, there is also a natural law to ordered
Elections deliberation;
But how do we choose which rules to follow?
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Why Roberts Rules?
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought Whether these forms be in all cases the most

rational or not is really not of so great importance. It
Legal
is much more material that there should be a rule to
Overview of
Process go by, than what the rule is, that there may be a
How Is 2016 uniformity of proceeding in business, not subject to
Different?

How Do I
the caprice of the chairman, or captiousness of the
Organize? members. It is very material that order, decency, and
What is
Roberts
regularity be preserved in a dignified public body.
Rules? [emph. Mine] Thomas Jefferson1
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Robert wanted one standard manual to make it easy for
Elections
people to participate in multiple societies;2

1 Jefferson 1801, pp 2
2
Robert 2011, pp xxix xlv
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Bylaws/Charter vs. Rules of Order
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal

Overview of
Process

How Is 2016
Rules of Order where they dont conflict;
Different?
Special rules of body/organization come first;
How Do I
Organize? For the Convention Process:
What is
Roberts The national convention of the previous cycle;
Rules?
RONR
State Committee Call To Convention;
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Officers
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought
Chairman3 - presiding officer, serves the assembly, not a
Legal
faction;
Overview of
Process Secretary4 - records proceedings (minutes), reads past
How Is 2016
Different?
minutes;
How Do I Parliamentarian5 - advises on the rules, resolves rules
Organize?
disputes;
What is
Roberts
Rules?
Specific responsibilities of officers for caucus defined in
RONR
Overview
Call To Convention 6
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections

3
RONR11 pp 447-458; Suggestions For Inexperienced Presiding
Officers pp 454
4
RONR11 pp 458-460
5
Optional, appointed.
6
MRP 2016b, pp 11-13
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Quorum
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal Definition
Overview of
Process A minimum number of people/members assembled necessary
How Is 2016 to conduct business; protects the rights of people not present
Different?
at a meeting to not be superseded by a minority who happen to
How Do I
Organize? be at a particular meeting; usually with rules about notice and
What is process for special meetings.
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
County caucuses do not have a quorum;
District/State conventions have a quorum of 50% of
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
elected delegates;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Order of Business
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal
The questions a meeting was called to resolve, agenda;
Overview of
Process
Generally in a set order;
How Is 2016
Different? RONR11 pp 351 41 Order of Business;
How Do I
Organize? May not move to adjourn until required business complete;
What is Member may call for Orders of the Day if business
Roberts
Rules? side-tracked;
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts Call To Convention sets agenda;7
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections

7
MRP, 2016b, pp 1 (state convention), pp 2 (district conventions), pp
5 (local caucuses),
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Motions
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Legal Definition
Overview of
Process a formal proposal introducing an item of business or affecting
How Is 2016 the current business;
Different?

How Do I
Organize? Basic unit of activity by members;
What is
Roberts
Creates or affects a question to be decided by assembly;
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Fact
Motions
Voting/Adopting Generally, everything is addressed to the Chair, not to the
Elections
body;
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
How To Make a Motion
Caucus
Process Be recognized by the Chair; gain the floor; usually rise;
Eric Vought
Example
Legal
Mr. Chairman, I rise to a motion...
Overview of
Process
State the motion formally;
How Is 2016
Different?
Example
How Do I
Organize?
I move that we vote on the slate of delegates by ballot.
What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
How To Make a Motion
Caucus
Process Be recognized by the Chair; gain the floor; usually rise;
Eric Vought
Example
Legal
Mr. Chairman, I rise to a motion...
Overview of
Process
State the motion formally;
How Is 2016
Different?
Example
How Do I
Organize?
I move that we vote on the slate of delegates by ballot.
What is
Roberts
Rules? May require a second;
RONR
Overview Chair restates;
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting Example
Elections

It has been moved and seconded that we vote on the slate of

delegates by ballot. Is there discussion?
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
How To Make a Motion
Caucus
Process Be recognized by the Chair; gain the floor; usually rise;
Eric Vought
Example
Legal
Mr. Chairman, I rise to a motion...
Overview of
Process
State the motion formally;
How Is 2016
Different?
Example
How Do I
Organize?
I move that we vote on the slate of delegates by ballot.
What is
Roberts
Rules? May require a second;
RONR
Overview Chair restates;
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting Example
Elections

It has been moved and seconded that we vote on the slate of

delegates by ballot. Is there discussion?
Motion is acted on:
Pending->debate->adopted/carries or lost/rejected
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Out of Order!
Caucus
Process Motions may be in order or not in order;
Eric Vought

Fact
Legal

Overview of Every question must be dealt with in some way before moving
Process
on;
How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Organize?

What is
Roberts
Rules?
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections

Example
Point of Order: We may not conduct caucus business before
we have accepted the report from the Credentials Committee.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Out of Order!
Caucus
Process Motions may be in order or not in order;
Eric Vought

Fact
Legal

Overview of Every question must be dealt with in some way before moving
Process
on;
How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Precedence of motions
Organize?
Privileged - Primary Secondary (see cheat sheet or back
of book);
What is
Roberts
Rules? Amend, dispose, table, commit, etc;
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections

Example
Point of Order: We may not conduct caucus business before
we have accepted the report from the Credentials Committee.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Out of Order!
Caucus
Process Motions may be in order or not in order;
Eric Vought

Fact
Legal

Overview of Every question must be dealt with in some way before moving
Process
on;
How Is 2016
Different?

How Do I
Precedence of motions
Organize?
Privileged - Primary Secondary (see cheat sheet or back
of book);
What is
Roberts
Rules? Amend, dispose, table, commit, etc;
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts If something is being done out of order, say something
Motions
Voting/Adopting (politely)!
Elections

Example
Point of Order: We may not conduct caucus business before
we have accepted the report from the Credentials Committee.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Voting/Adopting
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought
Puts the Question/Call the Question;
Legal Voice vote viva voce ; Support first, then (always)
Overview of
Process
oppose;
How Is 2016 Call for division8 ;
Different?
Unanimous consent (Without objection... If there is no
How Do I
Organize? objection...);
What is
Roberts Most motions require simple majority; actions which strip
Rules?
RONR rights, constrain debate, or change normal rules require
Overview
Core Concepts 2/3;
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections
Fact
Even a unanimous vote cannot violate fundamental rules;

8
RONR11 29 pp 280-282; But see MRP, 2016a, Item 4 pp 1-2.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Plurality vs Majority
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought Basic requirement for approval of an action is majority

vote (50% + 1).
Legal

Overview of
Process Definition (Majority Vote)
How Is 2016
Different? ...more than half of the votes cast by persons entitled to
How Do I
Organize?
vote... excluding blanks or obstentions 9
What is
Roberts
Rules? A plurality is not enough to decide a question.
RONR
Overview
Core Concepts
Motions Definition (Plurality Vote)
Voting/Adopting
Elections
...the largest number of votes to be given for any candidate or
proposition when three or more choices are possible. 10

9
RONR11 pp 400 10-11
10
RONR11 pp 404 35
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
2/3 Majority
Caucus
Process Actions which strip rights, constrain debate, or change
Eric Vought normal rules require 2/3;
Legal
Definition (2/3 Vote)
Overview of
Process
. . . at least two thirds of the votes cast by persons entitled to
How Is 2016
Different? vote, excluding blanks or abstentions. . . 11
How Do I
Organize?

What is
Example
Roberts
Rules? If 30 votes are cast, a two-thirds vote is 20. If 31 votes are
RONR
Overview cast, a 2/3 vote is 21.
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Elections Fact
The importance of 2/3 votes in Roberts Rules means that a
minority with 1/3 + 1 can block certain actions to ensure fair
and open consideration of its agenda.
11
RONR11 pp 401 8-9
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Nominations
Caucus
Process

Call for nominations (usually Chair, but anyone if in order);

Eric Vought

Legal Mr. Chairman, I nominate...;

Overview of
Process Does not require a second but may be done;
How Is 2016
Different?
Not necessary to move that nominations close12 , but may
How Do I be done;
Organize?
Requires 2/313 and may not be done to force a single
What is
Roberts nomination14 ;
Rules?
RONR
Overview Vote;
Core Concepts
Motions One nomination, may accept by acclamation15 ;
Voting/Adopting
Elections

12
RONR11 pp 288 23-25
13
RONR11 pp 287 23
14
RONR11 pp 288 30-34, also pp 443 12
15
RONR11 pp 443 7-11
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Electing Slates At Caucus
Caucus
Process
The Convention normally sets rules for how elections
Eric Vought
proceed;
Legal
Anything not covered in rules defaults to Roberts Rules16 ;
Overview of
Process The caucuses are different;
How Is 2016
Different? Election process fixed by rules from state party;
How Do I
Organize?
If a slate receives a majority of votes cast,
What is that slate shall be elected. If no slate receives a
Roberts
Rules?
majority of votes cast, the Caucus Chairman
RONR
Overview
shall place before the caucus the two slates that
Core Concepts
Motions received the most votes. The slate receiving the
Voting/Adopting
Elections most votes in the second round of voting shall
be elected. 17

16
RONR11 46, starting page 438; see particularly viva voce elections
pp 442;
17
MRP, 2016a, pp 2 (bullet 6)
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Caucus/Convention
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought
Temporary officers ->elect permanent officers;
Legal Convention bootstraps and elected officers take over;
Overview of
Process In Convention (District/State), assembly must set/accept
How Is 2016 its own rules;
Different?

How Do I
The Committe on Standing Rules18 proposes rules for
Organize? convention, but...
What is The assembly must accept them, requires 2/319 ;
Roberts
Rules? Each rule in the report can be separated out on the
RONR
Overview objection of any one member20 ;
Core Concepts
Motions
Voting/Adopting
Whole Chapter (XIX) in RONR11 deals ONLY with
Elections
conventions. Read it!

18
RONR11 pp 618
19
RONR11 pp 619 23-27; Lochrie 2003, pp 177
20
RONR11 pp 619 11-19
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Links
Caucus
Process Roberts Rules Official Site
Eric Vought http://www.robertsrules.com/
Links/References
Online 4 th Edition -http://www.rulesonline.com/
References Cheat Sheets
Changelog http://natcaconvention.org/index.php/
more-info/convention-101/robert-s-rules
http://www.robertsrules.org/
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/
roberts-rules-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
(Mostly for meetings)
Audio books:
An audio book version of Roberts Rules of Order (older
edition) is available through Audible and for free download
through librivox.
Audible also has several 3rd party introductions to
Roberts Rules good for a long drive or a session at the
gym.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
References I
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought Thomas Jefferson. A Manual of Parliamentary Practice. For

Links/References
the Use of the Senate of the United States. Government
References Printing Office, Washington, DC, 250th anni edition, 1801.
Changelog URL http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/
resources/pdf/SDoc103-8.pdf.
James Lochrie. Meeting Procedures: Parliamentary Law and
Rules of Procedure For the 21st Century. Scarecrow Press,
Lanham, MD, kindle edition, 2003. URL
http://www.amazon.com/
Meeting-Procedures-Parliamentary-Rules-Century/
dp/0810844230.
MRP. Local Caucus Rules, 2016a. URL
http://www.missouri.gop/wp-content/uploads/2015/
09/2016LocalRules.doc-1.pdf.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
References II
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Links/References

References

Changelog
MRP. 2016 Call to Convention, 2016b. URL
http://www.missouri.gop/wp-content/uploads/2015/
09/2016calltoconvention-APPROVED.doc{_}.pdf.
Henry M. Robert. Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised. Da
Capo Press, 11th edition, 2011. ISBN 978-0-306-82021-2.
URL http://www.robertsrules.com/.
 Roberts
Rules of
Order for the
Missouri
Changelog
Caucus
Process

Eric Vought

Links/References
1.0 First review draft 2016-03-31-11; Presented in
References
Greene County;
Changelog 1.1 2016-03-01 Typo corrections, added notes,
additional information on electing slates,
additional reference; Presentation in Barry
County 2 April.
1.2 2016-04-04 Added link to Draft Platform
Document; Added links to RONR audio books.
Tweaked TOC and link settings for PDF output.
1.3 2016-04-29 Added additional text and references
on the adoption of the Rules Committee Report.