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Can the parliamentarian vote during a show of hands vote if she is not advising the president and sitting amongst the body? Please provide a reference in the RROO. Thx!
Dear Melissa,
The "official" Robert's Rules of Order book does not answer the question of the parliamentarian siting in the audience but the book "Robert's Rules of Order Simplified and Applied" does, if the parliamentarian is a MEMBER of the organization. It states on page 286, "If a member is considered the parliamentarian and sits with the assembly during the meetings (and does not advise the chair during the meetings), that person may have the right to make motions, discuss them, and vote." The reasoning here is that the parliamentarian is a member of the organization and has equal rights as the other members. When not advising the president and taking his or her place as a member would be depriving the one serving in this office of his rights as a member.
Cheerio,
Little Ben
Question submitted by Melissa on February 17, 2016