Parliamentarian (consultant)

Types

Some parliamentarians are officers or employees of the deliberative assembly that they serve, as in the case of the Parliamentarian of the United States Senate. In most state legislative bodies, the secretary or chief clerk of the body serves as parliamentarian.

In some organizations, a member of the organization may be appointed as the parliamentarian. Other parliamentarians have a contractual relationship, much like outside attorneys or accountants.

Duties

Parliamentarians are expected to be experts in meeting procedures and such books as Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised as well as the rules of the body they are working for.

A parliamentarian may be called in to assist in drafting bylaws. Other responsibilities may include teaching classes or holding office hours during conventions.

Generally, the parliamentarian's role is purely advisory. At meetings, the parliamentarian should unobtrusively call the attention of the presiding officer to serious errors in procedure. However, the advice of a parliamentarian is generally not binding on the presiding officer of an assembly.

If the parliamentarian is a member of the assembly, that person has the same rights as other members, but should strive to maintain impartiality, similar to the impartiality that is required of the chairman. In other words, the parliamentarian should ordinarily not be making motions, speaking in debate, or voting.

Certification

The highest certifications of parliamentarians are the Professional Registered Parliamentarian, or PRP (issued by the National Association of Parliamentarians) and the Certified Professional Parliamentarian, or CPP, or the Certified Professional Parliamentarian Teacher, or CPP-T (both issued by the American Institute of Parliamentarians).

References

References

1. (2000). "MAS".
2. "California State Legislature – Leadership and Caucuses".
3. "General Assembly".
4. "Rules of Order > Chapter 3: Officers".
5. Palmer, Brian. (2010-03-18). "So, You Want To Be a Parliamentarian?". Slate.
6. "National Association of Parliamentarians » FAQ".
7. Robert, Henry M.. (2011). "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised". Da Capo Press.
8. {{Harvard citation no brackets. Robert. 2011
9. {{Harvard citation no brackets. Robert. 2011
10. Robert III, Henry M.. (2011). "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief". Da Capo Press.
11. Koh, Elizabeth. (27 June 2013). "Texplainer: What Does the Parliamentarian Do?".
12. {{Harvard citation no brackets. Robert. 2011
13. "National Association of Parliamentarians » Types of NAP Membership".
14. "Certification - American Institute of Parliamentarians".