The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (formerly the Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by Alice Sturgis) is a book of rules of order. It is the second most popular parliamentary authority in the United States after Robert's Rules of Order. It was first published in 1950. Following the death of the original author in 1975, the third (1988) and fourth (2001) editions of this work were revised by a committee of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. In April 2012, a new book, entitled American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (AIPSC) was released, followed by a second edition in 2023.

The Standard Code (TSC, specifically the 2001 edition and prior) simplify formal procedure by omitting several complex motions and confusing terminology found in Robert's Rules of Order (RONR). The cover quote of the 2001 edition states, "Anyone who has trouble with Robert's Rules of Order will welcome the simplicity of this streamlined guide to parliamentary procedure." To assist users, the TSC included a full chapter detailing the differences between the two works and offering guidance for users attending meetings governed by Robert's Rules. However, the newer edition, American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (AIPSC, released in 2012 and 2023), omits this comparative chapter and any direct mention of Robert's Rules, focusing instead on presenting its rules as an independent standard.

Vs. Robert's Rules of Order

Differences between RONR and TSC
Robert's Rules of OrderThe Standard Code
Motions in RONR but not in TSCCall for the orders of the dayUse informal request or point of order
Fix the time to which to adjournInstead amend the privileged motion to adjourn
Objection to the consideration of a questionAccomplished by different motions depending on circumstances
Postpone indefinitelyUse form of table (requiring a two-thirds vote)
Motions with different namesPrevious questionClose debate and vote immediately (or other variations)
Concepts in RONR but not TSCCommittee of the whole and quasi-committee of the wholeUse informal consideration
Terminology differences"Adjourned meeting" resumption of a meeting following an adjournment"Continued meeting"
Other differencesMajor differences in the treatment of the motions to reconsider and table

Further reading

  • Sturgis, Alice (1950). (First ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ASIN .
  • Sturgis, Alice (1966). Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (Second ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-062272-2.
  • Sturgis, Alice; American Institute of Parliamentarians (1988). (Third ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-062399-6.
  • Sturgis, Alice; American Institute of Parliamentarians (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (Fourth ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-136513-0.
  • American Institute of Parliamentarians (2012). American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-177864-0.
  • Education Department, American Institute of Parliamentarians (2014). . American Institute of Parliamentarians.
  • Glazer, Barry; Education Department, American Institute of Parliamentarians (2015). . American Institute of Parliamentarians. Archived from on 2016-03-10.
  • Education Department, American Institute of Parliamentarians (2015). . American Institute of Parliamentarians.