The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th Edition [Paperback]

Alice Sturgis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 2000

Already the acclaimed choice of thousands of successful organizations including the American Library Association, the Fourth Edition features an all-new chapter that considers the ways the Internet and other state-of-the-art technologies have rewritten the rules of today’s meetings and conventions. This easy-to-use, paperback volume—the popular alternative to Robert’s Rules—is the most comprehensive, understandable, and logical guide to smooth-running, professional meetings. Alice Sturgis was a practicing parliamentarian and consultant to national and international professional and business organizations. She taught at Stanford University and the University of California.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The Standard Code is a user-friendly parliamentary guide for the 21st Century. Utilizing today's language, it is an appropriate and exciting alternative to other archaic and cumbersome authorities." Dr. James T. Fanno, PRP Speaker, House of Delegates American Dental Association "A copy of the 4th Edition of The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure should be passed to every new president along with the gavel." Sarah Ann Long, President American Library Association "The timeless contribution of Sturgis' concise presentation of the ‘right way’ to conduct meetings for best results, while maintaining collegiality and efficiency, has guided many successful individuals and organizations..." John A. Knote, M.D. Speaker, House of Delegates American Medical Association "Many of our newer, less experienced leaders were so intimidated by the complexity of Robert's Rules that they simply did not participate during our annual conventions. The Standard Code is a more common sense approach to parliamentary procedure, one that simplifies the movement of business on the floor while still maintaining order during heated of debates." Patricia Friend, International President Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO "This new edition of the Standard Code is easy to read and understand. Some of the concepts in earlier editions have been refined and clarified, while retaining the basic system that has served democratic societies so well for so long." Loretta Simonson Former President National Association of Parliamentarians "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure is comprehensive and easily understandable, allowing the average member to interpret parliamentary procedure, thus permitting our meetings to proceed fairly and efficiently." Perry Opin, D.D.S., M.Sc.D. Speaker, House of Delegates American Association of Orthodontists "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure presents a clear, logical approach to parliamentary procedure which can be applied in practice without the necessity of becoming enmeshed in detailed rules rarely if ever encountered in present-day meetings." Norman Horrocks, Ph.D. Parliamentarian Canadian Library Association

About the Author

Alice Sturgis was a practicing parliamentarian and consultant to national and international professional and business organizations. She taught at Stanford University and the University of California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 285 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 4th edition (December 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071365133
• ISBN-13: 978-0071365130
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We don't wear wigs and robes! We're a casual, social club., August 9, 2001

By 

TX Techwriter "techscribe" (Austin TX US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th Edition (Paperback)

If you've always feared having to pull out the ol' Robert's Rules of Order because it was too detailed and complex for the casual social organizations in which you participated, help is here. Someone has realized that, because a group might need parliamentary procedures, it does not need the granularity required by The Parliament of England.

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure is understandable, comprehensive, logical, refined, and efficient. As it should, it covers all the formal business of holding a productive and respectful meeting. But it also includes procedures that facilitate business for the less formal organization or club.

Necessary jargon is defined in a glossary. The "Often-Asked Questions" section covers many common situations and eliminates the need to look through the chapters for most answers. The book is up-to-date, addressing contemporary and often-encountered situations such as holding meetings and elections via the telephone or Internet.

As a bonus, it serves as a resource to those trying to form an organization. There are chapters to help you prepare documents (like bylaws and financial records) that won't be in conflict with legal and parliamentary procedures down the line. It explains the hierarchy of documents that govern an organization. There's even a section that helps explain some of the arcane procedures in Robert's Rules!

I'm grateful to have found this gem. It deals with all the situations that my clubs have encountered.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An alternative to Robert's Rules of Order, December 22, 1999

By 

Wilson Chang (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (Third Edition, New and Revised) (Paperback)

One of the best modernised book on the parliamentary procedures.

1st published in 1950, this 3rd edition is revised by the American Institute of Parliamentarians in 1988.Since this publication, many organisations have changed their bylaws to designate it as their parliamentary authority, among them are: American Medical Association and the American Dental Association.

It is the second most popular parliamentary authority after Robert's Rules of Order.

WHAT GROUPS MUST FOLLOW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE? 'All organizations, such as business, cultural, religious, social, fraternal, professional, educational, labor, civil, scientific, medical, and governmental, are subject to the principles and rules of common parliamentary law. All profit and non-profit corporations and associations and the boards, counsels, commissions, and committees of government, must observe its rules.' Sturgis, p. 3.

This book is undoubtedly one of the best and comprehensive works. There is also a chapter which intended especially to aid persons unfamiliar with parliamentary procedure.

To quote Dr. Floyd M. Riddick, Parliamentarian Emeritius US Senate: 'It is understandable vocabulary makes it usable by anyone, not just experts in the field. All students of parliamentary procedure should have a copy in their library.'

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Code of Parliamentary Procedure, November 27, 1999

By 

"amazonreader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (Third Edition, New and Revised) (Paperback)

Contains the complete standard code of parliamentary procedure, with each aspect thoroughly explained. This is the widely accepted procedure for meetings (ie United Nations). Very useful for keeping large meetings organized.