Jim Slaughter's Blog: Robert's Rules & Parliamentary Procedure

Boards often ask whether they need a parliamentarian. The better question is when it makes sense to bring one in. This article walks through practical factors to consider, including board size, complexity of issues, and meeting dynamics. Continue reading →

The post When Should a Board Bring in a Parliamentarian? Practical Considerations appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

Can I vote as an ex officio member? Can we ask ex officio members to leave? I hear such questions often. And almost every time, the issue is not the rules. It is a misunderstanding of what “ex officio” actually means. Ex officio simply means “by virtue of an office.” A person is on a board or committee because they hold a certain position. When they leave that position, the next person in the position automatically takes their place. Many people think “ex officio” means a person cannot vote. As I note in Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track (p. … Continue reading →

The post What Does “Ex Officio” Really Mean and What Rights Come With It? appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

Several national clients have asked me recently for advice on “modernizing” their resolutions processes. That has involved looking at what they do, why they do it, and what improvements might make the process more efficient or easier for members to understand. From those conversations comes this article, which discusses the general process. There are as many resolutions processes as there are associations. That’s because each organization is governed by language in its bylaws (sometimes “constitution”) or board policy. If the procedure appears in the bylaws, the process tends to be fixed, since bylaws can be difficult to amend. On the … Continue reading →

The post What the Resolutions Process Is and Is Not appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

This Thursday, February 19, 2026, we mark the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Robert’s Rules of Order in 1876. For 150 years, this book has helped groups hold fair, organized, and effective meetings. That is an extraordinary legacy for a book written by an Army engineer. Who Was General Robert? Henry Martyn Robert was a general in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was not trained as a lawyer or politician. He became interested in meeting procedure after being asked to preside over a church meeting that quickly became confusing and disorderly. As I discussed in … Continue reading →

The post 150 Years of Robert’s Rules of Order appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

In May 2022, my law partner, Harmony Taylor, and I presented a program at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference on running better, more legal virtual meetings for community associations. By that point, most boards and managers had already experienced electronic meetings out of necessity. What remained unsettled was not whether meetings could be held online, but whether they were being conducted in a way that was legal, defensible, and effective. The questions we heard were consistent. Can we meet virtually at all? Does it matter whether the meeting is for the board, the members, or a committee? What … Continue reading →

The post Running Better, More Legal, Virtual Meetings appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

This article is adapted from remarks I delivered during an “Author Chat” with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers on February 7, 2023. It reflects an edited written version of that presentation, focusing on why I write parliamentary books, how my books differ, and trends I see in modern meetings and parliamentary practice. Why I Write About Parliamentary Procedure Anyone who wants to write about parliamentary procedure should keep their day job. That is not why we write. We write because we find this subject genuinely interesting, because we enjoy teaching it, and because we were taught by others to … Continue reading →

The post Why I Write Parliamentary Books: Reflections from an Author Chat with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

In most associations, significant decisions are made at board, committee, and membership meetings. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Governing document amendments and policies are approved. When an organization says it follows Robert’s Rules of Order, it is committing to run its meetings under a recognized, structured system designed to promote fairness, order, and clear decision making. Because of that, how meetings are conducted matters, both legally and practically. Many association governing documents require that meetings be conducted in accordance with the “current edition” of Robert’s Rules of Order. When that is the case, … Continue reading →

The post You Need the Correct Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

This article is adapted from a presentation I gave to the Virtual Parliamentarians Toastmasters Club on December 21, 2025. The session focused on several parliamentary tools that are frequently used but often misunderstood, including Questions of Privilege, Parliamentary Inquiry, Requests for Information, and Points of Order. While these motions rarely get much attention, they play an outsized role in how meetings actually function. What follows is a edited written version of that presentation. Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least It humbles me, especially during the week of Christmas, that people would take … Continue reading →

The post Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

Congratulations to Law Firm Carolinas partner Adam Marshall, who has been elected to the Greensboro City Council. A lifelong Greensboro resident and experienced attorney, Adam has long served the city through leadership (often as Chair) on key commissions and boards, including the: He ran a positive campaign and secured a commanding victory, by capturing 67% to 33% of the votes—an impressive achievement in these divisive times. Adam’s solid understanding of city government, steady temperament, and interest in working with others to find practical solutions will make him an excellent member of the Greensboro City Council. Congratulations, Adam!

The post Adam Marshall Elected to Greensboro City Council appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.

These are trying times. Whether because of the political climate, social media, or the stresses of modern life, poor conduct at meetings has become common. As attorneys and experienced professional parliamentarians, Carole Albright and I assist with many meetings of every size each year. Members, and even directors, seem shorter and snappier than ever. We increasingly hear directors say things like: “I can’t work with that board member.” “I won’t be in the same room as that director.” “Can’t we handle everything by email?” The answer to that last one is no, but the real issue runs deeper. Directors don’t … Continue reading →

The post Is Your Dislike of Another Board Member a Breach of Your Fiduciary Duty? appeared first on Law Firm Carolinas.