Bob's ______ Rules
A minimalist meeting rules wrapper, intended to make facilitation less clunky in spaces like unions or clubs where folks are mostly on the same page most of the time.
The rules
INSTRUCTIONS: Bob's ______ Rules wraps a more-strict set of rules, so replace the blank below with the rules you currently use or prefer. This should work for all sets of parliementary rules. For example: Bob's Robert's Rules [technically, probably Bob's Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised] or Bob's Rusty's Rules [technically, Bob's Rusty's Rules of Order]
- Until an objection is made, the meeting will operate on informal consent.
- If disagreement occurs, the facilitator should attempt to solve informally.
- If anyone believes it necessary, they can raise an objection by saying "Objection!"
- An objection needs a second. If the objection is seconded, the meeting switches to using ______ [INSERT AN ACTUAL NAMED SET OF RULES HERE], until they are suspended by methods those rules allow. If the objection is not seconded, the group should note that one person has objected and continue.
Implementation
- Change e.g. "Robert's Rules" in organization bylaws to "Bob's Robert's Rules".
- Insert the above rules
- Meetings should become less awkward, formal, and stuffy. The group can be more intentional about moving into parliementarian-style decision making. Hopefully this is an improvement!
Some notes about intent
Complex meeting rules can make community spaces that should feel inclusive and inviting feel corporate, bureaucratic, and draining instead.
As I have been unable to find any research comparing the pros and cons of more or less formal meeting structures, I decided to try writing up this meta-rule to allow for an easier default.
I'm not sure if this is technically that different from instantly suspending the rules at the start of the meeting, but it does allow for a hopefully less-goofy method that still allows for dissent.
Groups that super-love the 700 pages of Robert's Rules (auuuugh) can safely ignore Bob's Robert's Rules forever.
Dan Fitch, 2025-06-06
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