1. The organization comes first. Decisions of the organization supersede those of individuals. The power of any meeting is in the hands of the voting members.
2. All members have equal rights. Full participation in business meetings by making motions, debating, and voting is among these rights.
3. A minimum number of voting members (known as a quorum) must be present in order to transact business legally. The general rule is a majority of the entire membership, if the bylaws don’t define the quorum.
4. Only one main proposal may be before the assembly at a time. Only one member may have the floor at a time.
5. There must be full debate before voting on any proposal unless this is suspended by a 2/3 vote.
6. A proposal is the item under discussion, never the person who introduced it. Personal remarks are always out of order.
7. To avoid wasting time; a proposal once decided may not be presented again in that same form in the same session.
8. A majority vote decides a question except in cases where basic rights of members are involved. Then a larger vote is required. a majority vote is generally defined as more than half of the votes cast.
9. A 2/3 vote is necessary for any motion that deprives a member of rights (such as changing the rules of debate, closing debate, closing nominations, or changing previous decisions without notice.
10. Silence gives consent. Those who do not vote, agree by their silence, to allow those who do vote, to make the decision.

Learn and understand the bylaws of your organization, and by doing so; your participation will be effective.

(Adapted from Pointers on Parliamentary procedure, Louise E. Bereskin, National Association of Parliamentarians)