Practical guide to running meetings with confidence
A Handbook on Parliamentary Practice by Rufus Waples offers a clear, practical approach to the rules that guide deliberative assemblies. This 1883 classic explains how motions work, how business is organized, and how to apply established precedents with simplicity and certainty. It aims to help both learners and seasoned parliamentarians handle procedures skillfully without changing long-standing practice.
This edition frames the subject in plain language and a logical order, focusing on method, not novelty. It helps readers understand why rules exist and how to apply them to everyday decisions in boards, clubs, and legislative bodies. The text includes practical guidance on debate, voting, and the use of motions to move business forward.
- Learn how to classify motions and what they can (or cannot) do in a meeting
- See how to organize daily business, committee work, and the flow of deliberations
- Discover how to manage debate, order, and the path to a final vote
- Explore the difference between common parliamentary practice and special rules used by specific bodies
Ideal for readers who participate in or study meetings, boards, legislatures, or civic organizations, and for anyone seeking clear, dependable guidance on parliamentary procedure.