Do you remember learning parliamentary procedure in high school and thinking “I’ll never use this stuff”?  Or, maybe you belong to a civic organization that uses Robert’s Rules to operate its meetings.  Well, if you ever plan to become a legislator or legislative staff, you may want to brush up on those parliamentary skills.  But, in Michigan, you won’t want to use Robert’s Rules as your guide.

The Michigan Legislature, along with its committees, run in an orderly fashion thanks to the parliamentary process contained in Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure.  According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “Seventy of the 99 legislative chambers […] use Mason’s Manual […], thirteen use Jefferson’s Manual, and only 4 use Robert’s Rules of Order.”   Why is Mason’s Manual preferred?  It’s likely because it was designed specifically for legislative bodies and state legislatures in particular.

But, Mason’s isn’t the first place the Michigan Legislature will turn if a procedural problem presents itself.  There are other sources that must first be explored before utilizing the manual.  If the situation in question isn’t governed by: the state Constitution; state statutes; the rules of the Chamber in question; the House and Senate Joint Rules; or a precedent that is set by the Chamber in question, then the next place the Legislature will turn to is Mason’s Manual to determine the answer to the given dilemma.

If you know of a high school student that has aspirations to serve in the state House or Senate, encourage them to learn parliamentary procedure because they will “use this stuff” in the future.  It will help them to hit the ground running which will be a huge advantage in the era of term limits.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.