Robert’s Rules of Order

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July 13, 2026

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Robert's Rules of Order is a widely used manual on parliamentary procedure, authored by U.S. Army officer Henry Martyn Robert. First published in 1876, it provides a framework for conducting orderly meetings in deliberative assemblies. The rules aim to maintain decorum, ascertain the majority's will, protect minority rights, and facilitate efficient business. Robert developed these rules after experiencing difficulties presiding over a church meeting, realizing the need for a standardized guide. The manual has undergone numerous revisions and remains a key resource for parliamentary practice in the United States.12

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parliamentary procedure
Origins and development
Robert’s Rules of Order (1876), codified by U.S. Army officer General Henry M. Robert (1837–1923), which has gone through various editions and reprintings and continues to be published in periodic editions, has had a lasting impact on the development of parliamentary procedure.
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Robert’s Rules of Order (1876), codified by U.S. Army officer General Henry M. Robert (1837–1923), which has gone through various editions and reprintings and continues to be published in periodic editions, has had a lasting impact on the development of parliamentary procedure.
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Henry Martyn Robert
…the United States, known as Robert’s Rules of Order.
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…the United States, known as Robert’s Rules of Order.
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