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Robert's Rules of Order Fast Track: The Brief and Easy Guide to Parliamentary Procedure for the Modern Meeting
Running meetings should not feel confusing, contentious, or time-consuming — yet for many boards, committees, and organizations, meetings regularly go off track because no one is confident about the rules.
Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track is a clear, practical guide to parliamentary procedure written for people who actually run meetings. Rather than overwhelming readers with technical detail, it explains what you need to know, when you need to know it, and how to apply the rules in real situations.
This book focuses on the questions people actually ask:
• How do motions really work in practice?
• What powers does the chair have — and what limits apply?
• How should votes be handled, including electronic and virtual meetings?
• What rules matter most for boards, committees, and membership meetings?
Written in plain language and organized for quick reference, Fast Track distills the essentials of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) into a usable, modern guide. It is especially helpful for board members, chairs, nonprofit leaders, association staff, and anyone who wants meetings that are fair, efficient, and legally defensible.
For readers who want a deeper dive into disputed issues and nuanced interpretation, this book pairs naturally with Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition.
Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track is a clear, practical guide to parliamentary procedure written for people who actually run meetings. Rather than overwhelming readers with technical detail, it explains what you need to know, when you need to know it, and how to apply the rules in real situations.
This book focuses on the questions people actually ask:
• How do motions really work in practice?
• What powers does the chair have — and what limits apply?
• How should votes be handled, including electronic and virtual meetings?
• What rules matter most for boards, committees, and membership meetings?
Written in plain language and organized for quick reference, Fast Track distills the essentials of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) into a usable, modern guide. It is especially helpful for board members, chairs, nonprofit leaders, association staff, and anyone who wants meetings that are fair, efficient, and legally defensible.
For readers who want a deeper dive into disputed issues and nuanced interpretation, this book pairs naturally with Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition.
- GenresLeadership
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
About the author
Jim Slaughter
5 books15 followersJim Slaughter is an attorney and professional parliamentarian who advises organizations across the United States on meeting procedure, governance, and the practical application of parliamentary law. He is a Certified Professional Parliamentarian, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, and past President of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers.
He has served as parliamentarian to thousands of meetings, ranging from small homeowner and condominium association boards to large conventions and annual meetings. His work focuses on helping organizations conduct meetings that are efficient, fair, and legally defensible.
Jim is the author of four books on parliamentary procedure and effective meetings, including Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition, both updated for the Twelfth Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
For more information, visit www.jimslaughter.com.
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He has served as parliamentarian to thousands of meetings, ranging from small homeowner and condominium association boards to large conventions and annual meetings. His work focuses on helping organizations conduct meetings that are efficient, fair, and legally defensible.
Jim is the author of four books on parliamentary procedure and effective meetings, including Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition, both updated for the Twelfth Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
For more information, visit www.jimslaughter.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 11, 2026
Goodreads allows authors to post a review, so here’s a brief explanation of how Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track is meant to be used.
I wrote Fast Track for people who need to run real meetings—boards, committees, councils, associations—without getting bogged down in procedural confusion. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) is the definitive parliamentary authority, but at more than 700 pages it can be intimidating and difficult to navigate when a question arises in the moment.
Fast Track distills the essential principles and practice of Robert’s Rules into a concise, practical guide. Rather than presenting parliamentary law as theory, the book answers the questions people actually ask in real meeting situations: how motions really work in practice, what authority the chair has (and doesn’t have), how votes are conducted and challenged, and how to handle electronic and virtual meetings fairly and efficiently. The focus is on what you need to know today, not on technical detail you’ll never use.
Because it is written in plain language and organized for quick reference, Fast Track has proven useful to board members, chairs, nonprofit leaders, association staff, and anyone responsible for getting meetings done with clarity and confidence. For those who already use the rules and want deeper explanation or authoritative analysis of disputed questions, Fast Track pairs naturally with my companion book, Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules.
My hope is that readers walk away not just knowing the rules, but understanding how to use them—to make meetings efficient, fair, and defensible.
I wrote Fast Track for people who need to run real meetings—boards, committees, councils, associations—without getting bogged down in procedural confusion. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) is the definitive parliamentary authority, but at more than 700 pages it can be intimidating and difficult to navigate when a question arises in the moment.
Fast Track distills the essential principles and practice of Robert’s Rules into a concise, practical guide. Rather than presenting parliamentary law as theory, the book answers the questions people actually ask in real meeting situations: how motions really work in practice, what authority the chair has (and doesn’t have), how votes are conducted and challenged, and how to handle electronic and virtual meetings fairly and efficiently. The focus is on what you need to know today, not on technical detail you’ll never use.
Because it is written in plain language and organized for quick reference, Fast Track has proven useful to board members, chairs, nonprofit leaders, association staff, and anyone responsible for getting meetings done with clarity and confidence. For those who already use the rules and want deeper explanation or authoritative analysis of disputed questions, Fast Track pairs naturally with my companion book, Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules.
My hope is that readers walk away not just knowing the rules, but understanding how to use them—to make meetings efficient, fair, and defensible.
November 22, 2024
Easy to absorb
I have taken parliamentary procedures classes many times as I have to serve as chair and presids my union meetings. Roberts is intimidating at first, but the more you study it and use it, it becomes more committed to memory. The way this book is laid out makes some good examples that easily stick in your mind to remember things. I have another Jim Slaughter book will read that too.
I have taken parliamentary procedures classes many times as I have to serve as chair and presids my union meetings. Roberts is intimidating at first, but the more you study it and use it, it becomes more committed to memory. The way this book is laid out makes some good examples that easily stick in your mind to remember things. I have another Jim Slaughter book will read that too.
December 2, 2025
New board of directors member here and I needed to brush up on something I'm not sure I ever brushed up on before LOL This was the perfect way to do it! With an excellent layout and an easy to read format, this book doesn't feel laborious at all, gave me information pertinent to my needs and a good overview.
Read
May 15, 2024I mean. I didn’t read it for fun. It’s not a fun read. But it is useful and I learned.
February 23, 2026
A painful snooze but gets the job done
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews