How to Ask Questions During a Meeting

In Episode 33 of Tuesday’s Teachable Tweet in #ParliamentaryProcedure, we will review two incidental motions in #RobertsRules of Order: Request for Information (aka ‘Point of Information’) and Parliamentary Inquiry - see Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised [RONR] (12th ed.) 33: 1-10.

Although technically motions, they do not require a second, are not debatable or amendable, and are not subject to a vote. They are intended as ways for a member to seek information during a debate, without using up his/her debating time, i.e., to *ask* for information, not to provide it. These motions may also interrupt another speaker, but only if the request requires immediate attention. The chair may defer a reply, if not urgent, until a speaker who has already been recognized is finished speaking.

The key distinction between the two: A Request for Information seeks substantive information related to the motion under discussion (e.g., are there enough funds in the budget for the proposal?). A Parliamentary Inquiry, on the other hand, asks for procedural information related to the business at hand (e.g., is it in order to move an amendment at this time?).

Both are directed to the chair of a meeting, but although the chair has a responsibility to answer Parliamentary Inquiries, s/he has discretion to re-direct a Request for Information to another (e.g., in above example, the Treasurer) to provide the requested information, or a member raising a Request for Information may specify to the chair who should answer. In this latter case, if the request is directed to the member who is speaking during debate (i.e., who has the floor), the chair will ask if that member is willing to be interrupted, since the time to ask and answer the question is deducted from that member’s speaking limit.?

The chair should avoid asking inquiring members ‘Does that answer your question?’. This just risks provoking debate and wasting time. After a question has been answered, the chair should immediately proceed with business and either return to the member who was interrupted or recognize the next speaker.

‘Point of Information’ is an acceptable (older) alternative, although the preferred term is Request for Information, which indicates more clearly its purpose. Like Point of Order, requests/inquiries are sometimes abused, with members attempting to provide information instead of waiting their turn to be recognized in debate.

The AIP Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure also uses Parliamentary Inquiry for procedural questions, but prefers the term Factual Inquiry instead of Request for Information or Point of Information (although the Code accepts both of these as possible alternatives).

Request for Information and Parliamentary Inquiry are useful devices for members who need information or who wish to clarify procedural options during a meeting. Understanding how to use them properly is an important part of a member’s knowledge of the rules.

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#parliamentaryprocedure #robertsrules