You should ALWAYS consult your unit Bylaws and Standing Rules first, then refer to Roberts Rules of Order.

According to Roberts Rules of Order, the use of parliamentary procedure is the best method yet devised to enable meetings of any size, with due regard for every members opinion.

Parliamentary law is constructed upon a balance of the rights of persons or of subgroups within an organizations or a meetings total membership. That is, these rules are based on a regard for the rights:

• of the majority
• of the minority
• of individual members
• of absentees
• of all these together

Only members of the group that is meeting have the right to be present unless others are invited by the group to attend. In other words, only PTA members have the right to attend PTA membership meetings; only PTA board members have the right to attend PTA board meetings; only members of a committee have
the right to attend meetings of that committee—unless the group (the membership, the board, the committee) grants permission for others to attend. Granting permission to attend may include the right to speak. However, it cannot include the right to vote, which is reserved only for the members of the group. Only the members of the group have access to the minutes unless the group decides otherwise.

Yes. If the president is a member of the group, (s)he has the same voting rights as any other member. The president votes with the other members anytime there is a vote by printed ballot because this is a secret ballot.

At other times, the president (presiding officer) protects the impartiality of the chair by exercising the right to vote (or by abstaining) when the vote will affect the outcome. This can include:

• to break a tie
• to cause a tie
• where a 2/3 vote is required, to cause or block the attainment of the necessary 2/3.

The president cannot vote twice — once as a member, then again in the capacity of presiding officer.