Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Masons Manual of Legislative Procedure 2000.jpg|thumb|right|125px| Mason's Manual 2000]]

'''Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure''', commonly referred to as '''''Mason's Manual''.''', This 700+ page book serves asis the official [[parliamentary manualauthority]] of most [[state legislative bodieslegislature]]s in the [[United States]].. This 700+ page book has been "''Adopted as the authority on questions of parliamentary law and procedure in California, it is to legislatures what [[Robert's Rules of Order]] is to club groups. Gleaned from court decisions and legislative precedents, salted by practical experience, it is...[used] by legislatures throughout the U.S. and its territories. Adopted by the parliament of India and Pakistan."''{{Verify credibility|date=April 2008}} <ref> ''The California Legislature'' (1980 edition), by Joseph A. Beek, California State Senate, p. 251. </ref>

The Manual covers motions, procedures, vote requirements, etc. applicable to legislatures. It includes the [[rules of order]], principles, precedents, and legal basis behind [[parliamentary law]].

The author, [[Paul Mason(author)|Paul Mason]] (1898-1985), was a scholar who worked for the [[California State Senate]]. He is best known for writing ''Constitutional History of California'' in 1951 and ''Manual of Legislative Procedure'' in 1935.

The [[National Conference of State Legislatures]] (NCSL) was assigned copyright ownership by Paul Mason prior to his death. The NCSL assigned the [[American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries]] (ASLCS) the task of editing and maintaining the manual for future printings. In 1984, the ASLCS created the Mason's Manual Revision Commission consisting of ASLCS members.<ref> ''Mason's Manual'' (1989 edition), Foreword, NCSL, Denver. Page ix. </ref> It is responsible for editing and revising the manual to keep pace with the modern challenges and developments in parliamentary procedures.

The most recent edition is the 2010 edition.<ref>[http://ecom.ncsl.org/bookstore/productDetail.htm?prodid=100110LEG 2010 Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, NCSL Bookstore]</ref>