Parli Pro
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Parli Pro is an acronym for the National FFA Organization Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event. The main use of the term is specifically though the California Association of Future Farmers of America, but has seen use throughout the organization, along with slang usage in other forums.
The FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest is based on a two part demonstration of parliamentary procedure knowledge, a written test, and a 10 minute 30 second demonstration of parliamentary law. Six students (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, and sentinel) form a team who demonstrates a local FFA Chapter meeting. A single motion is handled as in a real meeting. Each team member is given a specific topic in which he and she is to perform (i.e. to refer a matter to a committee, postpone definitely, extend limits or debate, appeal, etc). Contestants are judged on public speaking skills, debate, proper use of parliamentary procedure, and parliamentary procedure knowledge. The president, or chairman, is judged on the ability to perside, etc.
The contest, like all other FFA CDEs, are held at the sectional, regional, state, and national levels. Several states, such as California, have produced exceptional Parli Pro teams and have very competitive state level contests. Most contests are based on an elimination system, in which teams perform in rounds, where the best 4 - 6 teams are moved on to the next round. At the state and national levels, the top teams can be separated by mere points (out of 750 total contest points).
Parli Pro is one of many CDEs held each year, including Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking, Creed Contest, Sectional Opening and Closing, and Job interview.
