This article is adapted from remarks I delivered during an “Author Chat” with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers on February 7, 2023. It reflects an edited written version of that presentation, focusing on why I write parliamentary books, how my books differ, and trends I see in modern meetings and parliamentary practice.
Why I Write About Parliamentary Procedure
Anyone who wants to write about parliamentary procedure should keep their day job. That is not why we write.
We write because we find this subject genuinely interesting, because we enjoy teaching it, and because we were taught by others to share what we learn. In my experience, parliamentarians are among the most generous professionals you will ever encounter. They are eager to explain, debate, and help others understand how meetings work.
My first real exposure to credentialed parliamentarians was in 1993, when I attended my first American Institute of Parliamentarians practicum at the William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, VA, and took my Certified Professional Parliamentarian oral examination. Until then, I had never met anyone with a parliamentary credential. At that practicum, I met people whose names were already familiar to me from the books on my shelf. What struck me most was not just their knowledge, but their willingness to share it freely.
That culture shaped my own approach. I teach and write because I enjoy this work, and because if I have picked up practical insights over several decades, I believe it is important to pass them along.
That is why my website includes articles, blog posts, and practical resources. It is simply an extension of the parliamentary tradition of sharing knowledge. And I mean it when I say that if you ever want to talk parliamentary procedure, I am always happy to do so.
Why There Are Two Books
The two books I was asked to discuss exist for very different reasons and serve very different purposes.
Before explaining those differences, I want to pause to acknowledge something important. Parliamentarians are extraordinarily generous with their time. When I needed a technical editor for Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track, Gaut Ragsdale, a Ph.D. in Speech Communications at the University of Kentucky and a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, immediately agreed to help. When I asked a group of highly credentialed parliamentarians to review Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules of Order, every one of them said yes without hesitation and reviewed the book solely to improve its quality.
That spirit of professional generosity is one of the best things about this field.
Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track
Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track came about when I was approached by a publisher and asked to write a book quickly, with a focus that differed from traditional parliamentary texts.
The goal was not to cover every motion or every procedural nuance. Instead, the focus was on boards and small meetings, and on the motions and situations people are most likely to encounter in real life, often with little time to prepare.
As a result, the book emphasizes:
- Unanimous consent
- Small-board and committee procedure
- The dynamics and politics of small groups
- A limited set of motions that actually arise in most meetings
One advantage of writing a guide rather than the parliamentary authority itself is flexibility. I have tremendous respect for the authors of Robert’s Rules of Order, but a guide allows for expanded discussion of practical matters.
Minutes are a good example. In Fast Track, I discuss templates, mock minutes, and what some call “skeletal minutes,” where much of the document is drafted before the meeting based on the agenda and finalized afterward. In practice, this approach can dramatically improve accuracy and efficiency.
The book also allowed me to address real-world issues that Robert’s necessarily treats lightly or not at all:
- Electronic meetings and how they actually function
- The different behavior patterns that often emerge online
- Proxies, particularly in nonprofit and community association settings where statutes routinely permit them
In practice, proxies are used whether or not we prefer them. That means we need to understand them. I discuss general, directed, limited, limited directed, and quorum proxies so readers can recognize what they are actually dealing with.
The purpose of Fast Track is practical preparation, not theoretical completeness.
Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules of Order
Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules of Order is a very different book, and one I particularly love.
The original author was Jon Ericson, a longtime parliamentarian and former Provost at Drake University. Jon served for many years as parliamentarian for the National Education Association and wrote the first edition in the early 1980s as a companion to Robert’s Rules of Order. He later prepared additional editions before asking Gaut Ragsdale and me to help update and expand the book. I handled the most recent edition myself.
Jon’s core idea remains the foundation of the book.
In the parliamentary world, most books fall into one of two categories: those intended to replace Robert’s as the adopted authority, and introductory books that simplify procedure. Notes and Comments intentionally occupies the middle ground. It is written for readers who want to understand Robert’s deeply, including those studying for advanced credentials.
Several features distinguish it.
Question-and-Answer Format. The entire book is structured as questions and answers. You do not need to read it cover to cover. You open it to a question you actually have and read a focused discussion of that issue.
Direct References to Robert’s. Each answer includes precise citations to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, including section and line references.
Focus on What Has Changed. Each new edition highlights meaningful changes in the most recent edition of Robert’s.
Commentary That Encourages Judgment. The “comments” are intentional. Sometimes it is not enough to know what the rule says. We also need to ask why the rule exists, how it works in real meetings, and whether a particular change may cause confusion.
Learning from Other Parliamentary Authorities. The book references dozens of other parliamentary authorities, especially versions of The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (or “Sturgis”). Studying different approaches often deepens understanding of Robert’s itself.
History and Context. Many rules make more sense when you know where they came from. The book includes historical notes and stories that explain why certain practices developed as they did.
Practical Guidance for Parliamentarians. The book addresses the realities of serving as a parliamentarian, including recognition systems, silent communication with the chair, and the use of a parliamentarian’s log to track complex procedural progress.
Trends I Am Seeing
Several trends are reshaping meetings and parliamentary practice.
Virtual Meetings
Virtual meetings are here to stay. They increase access and reduce costs, but they often weaken community building and encourage harsher behavior than would occur in person.
Electronic Voting
Many groups now expect electronic voting and numerical results. While understandable, this can slow meetings, introduce technical failures, and drain energy from the room.
Statutory Overrides of Procedure
Statutes increasingly dictate procedural outcomes, particularly in nonprofit, governmental, and community association settings. These laws are often written without parliamentary expertise and can conflict with traditional assumptions.
Closing Thoughts
For more than 30 years, the parliamentarians I have worked with have been generous, thoughtful, and deeply committed to this craft. I am grateful to be part of that community.
If you would like to continue the conversation, I am always happy to do so. Thank you for the work you do to keep meetings fair, effective, and orderly.
About the Author
Jim Slaughter is an attorney and professional parliamentarian who advises organizations across the United States on meeting procedure, governance, and the practical application of parliamentary law. He is a Certified Professional Parliamentarian, a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, and a past President of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers.
He has served as parliamentarian to thousands of meetings, ranging from small homeowner and condominium association boards to some of the largest conventions and annual meetings in the world. His work focuses on helping organizations conduct meetings that are efficient, fair, and legally defensible.
Jim is the author of four books on parliamentary procedure and effective meetings, including Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track: The Brief and Easy Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for the Modern Meeting and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition, both updated for the Twelfth Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. His writing is widely used by boards, attorneys, parliamentarians, and association leaders.