Robert's Rules of Order: A Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies

The most widely used parliamentary authority in the United States emerged from a failed pubic meeting in Bedford, Massachusetts in the 1800's. Unprepared to lead the meeting and unable to organize the gathered people, Henry M. Robert failed miserably and left the church building embarrassed. But he turned his shame into codified order, setting down the definitive guide for organizing, running and leading a deliberative assembly.