The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure

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Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
Cover of 2012 edition
AuthorAmerican Institute of Parliamentarians, Alice Sturgis
Original titleSturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
SubjectParliamentary Procedure
PublisherAIP
Publication date
Original Edition: 1950
Current Edition: 2023
Pages444
ISBN978-1958850022
060.42
Preceded by2012 edition 

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (formerly the Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by Alice Sturgis) is a book of rules of order. It is the second most popular parliamentary authority in the United States after Robert's Rules of Order.[1] It was first published in 1950. Following the death of the original author in 1975, the third (1988) and fourth (2001) editions of this work were revised by a committee of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. In April 2012, a new book, entitled American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (AIPSC) was released, followed by a second edition in 2023.

The Standard Code (TSC) omits several of the motions and sometimes-confusing terminology used in Robert's Rules of Order (RONR). The cover quote of the 2001 edition states, "Anyone who has trouble with Robert's Rules of Order will welcome the simplicity of this streamlined guide to parliamentary procedure." The Standard Code devotes a chapter to the differences between the two works, along with suggestions for those familiar with the Standard Code when participating in organizations that use "Robert's Rules" as their parliamentary authority. AIPSC omits this chapter as well as any other mention of "Robert's Rules".

Robert's Rules of Order versus The Standard Code

Differences between RONR and TSC
Robert's Rules of Order The Standard Code
Motions in RONR
but not in TSC
Call for the orders of the day Use informal request or point of order
Fix the time to which to adjourn Instead amend the privileged motion to adjourn
Objection to the consideration of a question Accomplished by different motions depending on circumstances.[2]
Postpone indefinitely Use form of table (requiring a two-thirds vote)[3]
Motions with
different names
Previous question Close debate and vote immediately (or other variations)
Concepts in RONR but not TSC Committee of the Whole and quasi-committee of the whole Use informal consideration
Terminology differences "Adjourned meeting"
resumption of a meeting following an adjournment
"Continued meeting"
Other differences major differences in the treatment of the motions to reconsider and table

References

  1. ^ Slaughter, Jim (2000). Parliamentary Journal (AIP) – A survey of Certified Professional Parliamentarians showed 8% of their clients used TSC
  2. ^ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th ed., p. 233–34 (TSC)
  3. ^ TSC, p. 234

Further reading