What is the main purpose of parliamentary procedure?

The main purpose of parliamentary procedure is to facilitate discussion and decision-making in an orderly manner. This structured process ensures that all members have the opportunity to participate in discussions, express their opinions, and contribute to the decision-making process. By providing guidelines for how meetings should be conducted, parliamentary procedure helps maintain order and respect during discussions, allowing for a fair consideration of various viewpoints.

In contrast, establishing a rigid structure for meetings, while a component of parliamentary procedure, is not its primary focus; the intention is to create an environment where members can engage constructively. Similarly, while reducing the duration of meetings can be a beneficial outcome, it is not the main objective of parliamentary procedure. Moreover, allowing for informal discussions among members does not align with the structured approach of parliamentary procedure, which prioritizes formal processes to ensure that discussions remain focused and productive.