Some Alternatives to Robert’s Rules of Order
Updated on October 3, 2023.
Most people have heard of Robert’s Rules of Order (formally known as Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised), which is the most popular and comprehensive parliamentary authority adopted by organizations in Canada and the United States. Originally published in 1876 by Henry M. Robert, the current 12th edition, at 714 pages, was released in August 2020.
You may not be aware, however, that there are alternatives, as well as a few books that provide an excellent, plain-language summary of procedural rules. Although surveys indicate that Robert is used by over 90 per cent of organizations that adopt a parliamentary authority, these alternative manuals and other resources answer the call for something perhaps less intimidating, and more user-friendly, than Robert. Even if your organization uses Robert, any of these books can serve as helpful introductions to the subject of parliamentary procedure.
Whereas the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) focuses exclusively on Robert’s Rules of Order, the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP) supplements the study of Robert with others, primarily the AIP Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure.
The Standard Code was originally written by Alice Sturgis, who taught at the University of California and Stanford University. Her manual was known as the Sturgis Standard Code when it was first published in 1950. It was intended as a more concise and less technical guide to parliamentary procedure than Robert (although there are many procedural differences between the two authorities). The publication of the Standard Code essentially forced the authors of Robert’s Rules to substantially revise their manual and make it more self-explanatory. After Professor Sturgis died in 1974, her family negotiated with the AIP to take over responsibility for updating her book; the current 2nd edition of 428 pages was released in September 2023.
A small number of organizations (particularly medical and dental associations) have adopted the Standard Code as their parliamentary authority.
The AIP also encourages the study of Cannon’s Concise Guide to Rules of Order (2001) by Hugh Cannon, a former parliamentarian to the U.S. Democratic Party. At 169 pages, it simplifies procedural rules, and contains a useful and extensive section on the role of the chair and the importance of good presiding.
Parliamentarian James Lochrie, who is based in Toronto, wrote Meeting Procedures: Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for the 21st Century in 2003. (Lochrie, a former President of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, was also on the authorship team of the first edition of the AIP Standard Code.) At 216 pages, Meeting Procedures is a modern, simplified and jargon-free codification of parliamentary procedure that has now been adopted by a number of municipal councils as their parliamentary authority.
Riddick’s Rules of Procedure (1985), by Floyd M. Riddick (a former Parliamentarian of the US Senate) and Miriam H. Butcher (a former President of the AIP), is a useful guide to parliamentary procedure organized entirely as an expanded glossary of terms, in alphabetical order.
As previously noted, there is an abridged version of Robert’s Rules (by the same authorship team) that covers the basics: Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief. At just over 200 pages, it offers an excellent introduction to the essential elements of Robert’s in an easy-to-read format, and may well be the only book most members of an organization ever need to purchase.
In addition, there are: Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track (2022, 183 pages) and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules (5th ed., 2022, 216 pages), both by Jim Slaughter; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Robert’s Rules (2nd ed., 2010, 339 pages), by Nancy Sylvester; and Robert’s Rules for Dummies (4th edition 2022, 491 pages), by C. Alan Jennings). All of these were written by professional parliamentarians and, while not intended to be used as stand-alone parliamentary authorities, offer very good summaries of the basics in plain language.
And finally, more information and resources on parliamentary procedure and rules of order can always be found on my website; feel free to visit!
