Henry Martyn Robert

“The great lesson for democracies to learn is for the majority to give to the minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case...”

“The object of Rules of Order is to assist an assembly to accomplish in the best possible manner the work for which it was designed.”

“The right of the deliberative assembly to protect itself from annoyance is a fundamental right.”

“...and then for the minority, having failed to win a majority to their views, gracefully to submit and to recognize the action as that of the entire organization...”

“While the house is deciding, it is desirable to have no debate.”

“Every member of the assembly has the right to know what the question is that is before the assembly for its decision.”

“The chairman should be impartial in all his rulings.”

“No one can speak twice to the same question until every member choosing to speak has spoken.”

“Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty.”

“Debate must be courteous and impersonal, the members avoiding all personalities, and never alluding to the motives of members.”

“The fundamental principles of parliamentary law are based on the rights of the individual, the rights of the minority, and the rights of the majority.”

“It is the duty of the presiding officer to enforce the rules and orders of the assembly.”

“A tie vote is a lost vote.”

“The authority of the chair must be sustained.”