“The parliamentarian is a consultant, commonly a professional, who advises the president and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure. The parliamentarian’s role during a meeting is purely an advisory and consultative one — since parliamentary law gives to the chair alone the power to rule on questions of order or to answer parliamentary inquiries…. After the parliamentarian has expressed an opinion on a point, the chair has the duty to make the final ruling and, in doing so, has the right to follow the advice of the parliamentarian or to disregard it.” Henry M. Robert, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised § 47, at 449–50 (10th ed. 2002).
parliamentarian
parliamentarian. Parliamentary law. A consultant trained in parliamentary law who advises the chair and others on matters of parliamentary law and procedure. • The parliamentarian, who is often a professional, only advises and never “rules” on procedural issues. See PARLIAMENTARY LAW; PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE .
