Procedures | American Law Institute

2024 Annual Meeting

Procedures

Drafts

Electronic versions of all drafts are posted on the ALI website as soon as possible and members are notified by email when each draft is posted.
For ease of reference during discussions, drafts and motions will be displayed on screen during the Meeting, but text will not be revised to reflect proposed changes to drafts. No other materials will be displayed on screen.

Comments

Comments on, and suggestions for edits to, the drafts are welcome. Members do not need to submit a motion in order to suggest edits to a draft. Written comments can be submitted via the project pages on the ALI website.
Speakers should not make suggestions for stylistic edits from the floor, but should submit them as comments in writing.
A member making a comment or asking a question may speak for up to three minutes. The chair has discretion to allow more or less time.
Speakers should look for the timer on the dais to help keep track of their time limits.

Motions

All motions to amend a draft that members intend to make at the Meeting must be submitted in writing before the Meeting. Motions from the floor will not be permitted. This will give Reporters and members an opportunity to consider the motions carefully.
Members must submit written motions by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Friday, May 10. Members should review the Submission Instructions and Deadlines.
Motions must state the specific language to be changed and what the new language would be, comparison format. Motions may be made only on the portions of a draft that are subject to membership approval. See the Motions Procedures for details.
Because time is very limited, the manner in which motions to amend a draft will be handled depends on the number of motions submitted. See the Motions Procedures for details.

Speaker Identification

All speakers from the floor must state their name, city, and state each time they speak.
Nonmembers may not make motions, and generally are not recognized to speak from the floor. Advance permission is required for nonmembers to speak. Any nonmembers who are recognized must identify themselves as nonmembers and state their role or the nature of their interest in the project. See the Policy on Nonmembers at Annual Meetings for more information.

Voting

Voting usually is by voice vote. Voting by show of hands is at the presiding officer’s discretion.
When voting by show of hands, members must hold up their badges, with the back of the badge displayed. Any event tickets or other items stored in the badge holder must be removed so that the back of the badge is visible.
Only members attending in person may vote. Proxy voting is not permitted.

General

To maintain the Institute’s reputation for thoughtful, disinterested analysis of legal issues, members are expected to leave client interests at the door, pursuant to Council Rule 4.03. In communications made within the framework of Institute proceedings, members should speak, write, and vote on the basis of their personal and professional convictions and experience without regard to client interests or self-interest. It is improper for a member to represent a client in Institute proceedings and such conduct constitutes good cause for termination of Institute membership. If, in the consideration of Institute work, a member’s statements can be properly assessed only if the client interests of the member or the member’s firm are known, the member should make appropriate disclosure, but need not identify clients.
Under Council Rule 9.03, the procedures for the Meeting are set by the President or other presiding officer to promote the effective and efficient discussion of project drafts and the accomplishment of the meeting’s purpose. In the event of a dispute over proper procedure, if neither the Bylaws nor the Council Rules resolve the matter, then the President or other presiding officer should resolve it in accord with the then-current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.