Editing Deliberative assembly

{{short description|Organization that uses parliamentary procedure to make decisions}}
A '''deliberative assembly''' is a meeting of [[Collective|members]] who use [[parliamentary procedure]]. 

==Etymology==
In a speech to the electorate at Bristol in 1774, [[Edmund Burke]] described the [[Parliament of Great Britain|British Parliament]] as a "deliberative assembly", and the expression became the basic term for a body of persons meeting to discuss and determine common action.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Burke|1854|p = 447}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = xxix}}</ref> Merriam-Webster's definition excludes legislatures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of DELIBERATIVE ASSEMBLY |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliberative+assembly |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Merriam-Webster |language=en}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
''[[Robert's Rules of Order|Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised]]'' by Henry Martyn Robert describes the following characteristics of a deliberative assembly:<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 1–2}}</ref>
* A group of people meets to discuss and make decisions on behalf of the entire membership.
* They meet in a single room or area, or under equivalent conditions of simultaneous oral communication.
* Each member is free to act according to their judgement.
* Each member has an equal [[vote]].* 
* The members at the meeting act for the entire group, even if there are members absent.
* A member's dissent on a particular issue constitutes neither a withdrawal from the group, nor a termination of membership.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''<small>Except in some cases, where in the event of a tie there is a casting vote.</small>''

==Types==
''Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised'' identifies several types of deliberative assemblies.

===Mass meeting===
{{Main|Mass meeting}}

A large ''meeting'', which is an unorganized group meeting open to all individuals in a sector of the population who are interested in deliberating about a subject proposed by the meeting's sponsors. Examples include meetings to discuss common political concerns or community interests, or meetings to form a new society.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 5–6}}</ref>

===Local assembly of an organized society===
{{Main article|Voluntary association}}

A ''local assembly of an organized society'', which is a membership meeting of a local chapter or branch of a [[membership organization]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 6–7}}</ref> Examples include local chapter meetings of organizations like the [[Sierra Club]].

===Convention===
{{Main article|Convention (meeting)}}

A ''convention'', which is a meeting of delegates who represent constituent units of a population. Conventions are not permanently established bodies, and delegates are normally elected for only one term. A convention may be held by an organized society, where each local assembly is represented by a delegate.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 7–8}}</ref>

===Legislative body===
{{Main|Legislature}}

A ''legislative body'', which is a legally established public lawmaking body. It consists of representatives chosen by the electorate. Examples include national legislatures such as [[parliament]]s, and local government councils such as [[state legislature]]s, [[Regional assemblies (disambiguation)|regional assemblies]]<!--intentional link to DAB page--> and [[city council]]s.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 8}}</ref>

===Board===
{{Main|Board of directors}}

A ''board'', which is an administrative, managerial, or quasi-judicial body. A board derives its power from an outside authority that defines the scope of its operations. Examples include an organized society's or company's board of directors and government agency boards like a [[board of education]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 8–9}}</ref>

==Rights of members==
A member of a deliberative assembly has the right to attend meetings and make and second [[Motion (parliamentary procedure)|motions]], speak in the debate, and vote.<ref name=":0">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p=3}}</ref> Organizations may have different classes of members (such as regular members, active members, associate members, and honorary members), but the rights of each class of membership must be defined (such as whether a "member" in a class has the right to vote).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp=571–572}}</ref> There may also be [[ex-officio|ex officio]] members or persons who are members under some other office or position they hold.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 2)|url=http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#2|access-date=2015-12-04|website=The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site|publisher=The Robert's Rules Association|archive-date=2018-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224205021/http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#2|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ex officio members have the same rights as other members.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
* [[Citizens' assembly]]
* [[Committee]]
* [[Deliberation]]
* [[Deliberative democracy]]
* [[Direct democracy]]
* [[Legislative assembly]]
* [[Meeting (parliamentary procedure)]]
* [[Voting methods in deliberative assemblies]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title = The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Volume 1 |last = Burke |first = Edmund |publisher = Henry G. Bohn |year = 1854 |location = London, England |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nOxxcN2GDPQC&pg=PA447 }}
* {{cite book |title = Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised |last = Robert |first = Henry M. |publisher = Da Capo Press |year = 2011 |isbn = 978-0-306-82020-5 |location = Philadelphia, PA |edition = 11th |url = http://www.robertsrules.com/book.html |display-authors = etal |access-date = 2016-01-05 |archive-date = 2017-08-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170813113356/http://www.robertsrules.com/book.html |url-status = dead }}
{{refend}}

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{{Parliamentary Procedure}}

[[Category:Deliberative groups]]
[[Category:Meetings]]
[[Category:Parliamentary procedure]]