Henry M. Robert III - Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised

This Twelfth Edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) is issued one hundred forty-four years after the 1876 publication, by then-Major (later Brigadier General) Henry M. Robert, of the first in the series of books familiarly known as Roberts Rules of Order. A complete list of the editions is shown on page vi, and their history is told in the Introduction.

This Twelfth Edition in the entire series is the sixth edition of the second complete reworking of the subject matter first published in 1970. It is the only book in print containing the completely developed body of rules understood as Roberts Rules of Order.

Users of this work should be aware of three important resources that supplement RONR.

First, for some time there had been a felt tension between the need for a parliamentary manual lengthy enough to provide rules as comprehensive and unambiguous as possible so as to cover the great number and variety of parliamentary issues that may arise in a deliberative assembly, on the one hand, and the desirability of a book simple and straightforward enough to allow the ordinary meeting-goer easily to learn and use the basic rules that are sufficient for most meetings, on the other hand.

When this book last underwent complete revision in 1970, a concerted effort was made to enhance the value of the work for the study of parliamentary lawto the extent consistent with its primary purpose as a reference manual. For those who will brave it, it is written to serve as a self-explanatory text that can be read through, with topics presented in an order that will best convey an overall understanding of the subject matter. Nevertheless, it is recognized that this project may be a bigger challenge than many newcomers to parliamentary procedure will find themselves at first able or willing to take on.

In 2005, to meet the need for a simple and short book, Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief was first published. A new edition of In Brief, updated and revised so as to mesh with this Twelfth Edition, has now been published. This Twelfth Edition of RONR, the complete rule book, now contains 633 pages of text, plus tables and charts. All of its content has to be included because it may be needed and has at some time come up as a question of procedure somewhere. This book is designed as a reference providing, as nearly as possible, an answer to any question of parliamentary procedure that may arise.

To gain an introductory familiarity with meeting rules, however, many people will find it useful to start with the In Brief book. In only thirty minutes, the average reader can learn the bare essentials, and with about ninety minutes reading can cover all the basics. Additional chapters give suggestions on how most efficiently to use this Twelfth Edition of RONR as a reference manual and guidance to those chosen as convention delegates or alternates, or as president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer of an organization. Helpful tables at the end give both the chair and the ordinary member the proper wording to use in handling the most common motions and conducting a meeting.