When the membership of a group or organization discusses a pending question, it's said to debate it. The principle of debate is essential to Robert's Rules and the democratic process. Every member has the right to debate any motion that is debatable. This right is so important that to take it away at any time, the membership must vote and have a two-thirds majority in favor to make the change.

Timing Debate

There are rules for debate, including how often a member can speak and for how long. The first and most basic rule is that there cannot be debate on a motion until it has been made. This will save time for the membership because a motion may not be popular and may die without a second; if there had been discussion first, it would have been wasted in this situation.

Debate must wait, too, for the maker of the motion to speak. After this has been done, it's time for members to speak for or against the motion. Some groups and organizations, particularly if they are large, have restrictions on debate written into their bylaws. Members have learned that if everyone speaks, it would take far too long to conduct business. Those who wish to speak twice may do so, but not until all have had a chance to speak first.

Hey, I'm Not Finished!

It's not only rude, but incorrect in parliamentary procedure for the chair to become impatient and try to get a vote going before all members have been given their opportunity to speak in debate. Are there many members who wish to speak and it's running late? Perhaps if you're short on time it would be better to have the membership continue at the next meeting rather than try to rush a motion through.

Two things — maybe more — could happen if you rush a vote. Members could feel slighted, and if enough members feel that their opinions don't matter, that a vote was taken too quickly, there might be a movement to reconsider.

How Much Time Are You in For?

If your group or organization has no rule in its bylaws to limit debate, then members should not be allowed to speak for more than ten minutes unless they have the consent of the membership. Is your group small or is this an issue you want to thoroughly explore before voting? Then members can give unanimous consent or members can make a motion to extend the limits of debate, which needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

Time's Up!

The chair has a delicate job during debate. She must make certain to be fair and not let a member overrun the time limit. There are also those members who might talk for less than ten minutes and then ask to give their unused time to others, or “bank” the time and use it later. The chair must tactfully but firmly turn down these requests, unless the group or organization allows them in their bylaws (most don't!).