Robert's Rules of Order

"Robert's Rules of Order" by Henry M. Robert is a manual of parliamentary procedure first published in 1876. Created by a U.S. Army officer who witnessed chaotic meetings in San Francisco, it adapts congressional rules for voluntary organizations. The book has become the most widely used parliamentary guide in the United States, governing meetings for churches, nonprofits, school boards, and countless other groups. Robert published four editions before his death in 1923, creating a standard that brought order to democratic assemblies nationwide.