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Reference.org
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
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<p><i>Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure</i>, referred to as <i>Mason's Manual</i>, is the official <a href="/facts/Parliamentary_authority/T2IC30RY">parliamentary authority</a> of most <a href="/facts/State_legislature_(United_States)/gUJDqWvh">state legislatures</a> in the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>. The Manual covers <a href="/facts/Motion/dCnP7MlB">motions</a>, procedures, vote requirements, the <a href="/facts/Rules_of_order/GvMMDIkt">rules of order</a>, principles, precedents, and legal basis behind <a href="/facts/Parliamentary_law/GvMMDIkt">parliamentary law</a> used by legislatures. </p><p>The author, <a href="/facts/Paul_Mason_(writer)/nWhX8tQL">Paul Mason</a> (1898–1985), was a scholar who worked for the <a href="/facts/California_State_Senate/eEbkljxS">California State Senate</a>. He is best known for writing <i>Constitutional History of California</i> in 1951 and <i>Manual of Legislative Procedure</i> in 1935. The <a href="/facts/National_Conference_of_State_Legislatures/VYXM20tQ">National Conference of State Legislatures</a> (NCSL) was assigned copyright ownership by Mason prior to his death. </p><p>The NCSL assigned the <a href="/facts/American_Society_of_Legislative_Clerks_and_Secretaries/VYXM20tQ">American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries</a> (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. It is responsible for editing and revising the manual to keep pace with the modern challenges and developments in parliamentary procedures. </p><p>The most recent edition is the 2020 edition. </p>