Effective Meetings

WisLine Programs

The Open Government and Parliamentary Procedure 2009-2010 WisLine Series offered several programs relating to local government meetings and parliamentary procedure. If you missed the series, you can still purchase an audiostream or materials bundle.

Parliamentary Procedure References

Groups may adopt a particular manual of procedural rules as their parliamentary authority. The two most popular manuals are:

Robert, Henry M. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. 10th Edition. Cambridge Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing, 2000.

Sturgis, Alice. Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1966.

References that are specific to local governments in Wisconsin are:

Larmer, Larry E. A Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for Local Governments in Wisconsin. Dubuque: Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company, 1998. Order form (PDF file, 95 kb)

League of Wisconsin Municipalities. The Conduct of Village Board Meetings: Suggested Rules of Procedure with Model Ordinance and Annotations. Madison, Wisconsin: League of Wisconsin Municipalities, 1987.

League of Wisconsin Municipalities. The Conduct of Common Council Meetings: Suggested Rules of Procedure with Model Ordinance and Annotations. Madison, Wisconsin: League of Wisconsin Municipalities, 1987.

PowerPoint Slide Presentations

Agendas and Minutes for Local Government (PowerPoint file, 128 kb, 34 slides). These slides provide guidance to those department heads, committee chairs, clerks, and secretaries charged with developing the agendas or minutes for the meetings of local government bodies, including boards, committees, and commissions.
Fundamentals of Effective Meetings: Basic Principles and Protocol (PowerPoint file, 514 kb, 19 slides). These slides provide an overview of parliamentary procedure, emphasizing some of the most common areas of concern for presiding officers. Many slides contain comprehensive notes for instructors.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and fact sheets about local government meetings:

A Few FAQs on Parliamentary Procedure (PDF file, 64 kb, 8 pages) This document, a reproduction of a chapter from the Wisconsin Counties Association's 2004 Wisconsin County Supervisor's Handbook, provides an overview of parliamentary procedure for local government.
Reconsidering Main Motions FAQs (PDF file, 47 kb, 2 pages) Description of the special and rarely used "motion to reconsider."
Closing Debate (aka "Calling the Question") FAQs (PDF file, 41 kb, 1 page) Describes the proper procedure for ending debate. Also, debunks the common misperception that any member may end debate simply by "calling the question."
Voting Procedures for Local Government Bodies FAQs (PDF file 44 kb, 2 pages) Describes voting procedures, including unanimous consent.
Participation Rights of the Chairperson FAQs (PDF file 46 kb, 2 pages) Often poorly understood, the participation rights of the presiding officer are explained in this document. A must-read for anyone teaching about the roles and responsibilities of the chairperson.
Quorum and Attendance of Members at Local Government Meetings FAQs (PDF file, 45 kb, 2 pages) Describes a quorum and what actions the members of a governmental body may take in the absence of a quorum.
LGC Fact Sheet #20: Public Participation in Local Government Body Meetings (PDF file, 105 kb). This fact sheet describes the ways that governmental bodies can provide for citizen input at their regular meetings.

Treatises that explain the legal bases for some rules of procedure:

Hills, George A. Managing Corporate Meetings: A Legal and Procedural Guide. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1989.

Mason, Paul. Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure. St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1989.

Oleck, Howard L. and Cami Green. Parliamentary Procedure for Nonprofit Organizations. Second Edition. Philadelphia: American Law Institute, 1991.

Scholtzhauer, Virginia, Margaret A. Banks, Floyd M. Riddick, and John R. Stipp. Parliamentary Opinions II: Solutions to Problems of Organizations. Dubuque: Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company, 1991.

This page last modified: October 19, 2010 .

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