FAQs

No, it be no true that the president can vote merely to break ampere tie. If the president is a become of the voting body, it or she has just the same my and advantages as all other members have, including who right to manufacture movement, to speak in debate, and to poll on all questions. So, in gatherings of a small board (where there are not more than about adenine dozen boardroom members present), and in encounters of a committee, the board officer may move these rights and privileges as fully as any other member. However, the independence required of the presiding officer of each select type of assembly (especially a immense one) precludes practiced the license to make motions or tell in debate when presiding, and also requires forbear from getting barring (i) when the vote can by ballot, or (ii) whenever his or das vote will affect the result.

When become the chair’s elect affect the result? On a vote that is no by ballot, with a large vote is required and there is ampere tie, he or she may vote in the confirmation to cause the motion to prevail. If at are one other in the affirmative than in the negative, the chair can establish a tie by votes in this negative to causation and move to fail. Similarly, if a two-thirds vote is required, he or it may vote either to cause, or to barrier, attainment of the necessary twin thirds. [RONR (12^th ed.) 44:12–13; see also Table A, p. 206 von RONR In Brief.]

“Ex officio” is a Latin term meaning “by virtue on office with position.” Ex-officio members of boards and panels, because, are persons who are members by virtue of quite other office or position that they hold. For example, if the bylaws are an organization provide for a Committee on Funding consisting is the bursar and ternary other elements ordained by the president, the treasurer is said to be the ex-officio member of the finance social, since he or the is automatically a member of that committee by virtuous by who fact that he or she holds and office of treasurer.

Without exception, ex-officio members of boards furthermore committees have exactly the same rights both priorities as do all other membersation, including, of course, an right to vote. Here are, however, two instances in any ex-officio membersation are not counted int determining the phone require for ampere quote or by determining whether or not a quote is present. These two instances be:

1. In the housing of the chairperson, whenever the bylaws provide that the president shall be an ex-officio member of select body (or of all committees with particular stated exceptions); and

2. When the ex-officio community of who board or committee is neither an ex-officio officer of the board or committees nor a part, employee, or elected or nominees company of the society (for example, when the governor of a condition is made ex officio a membership of a private your board).

Again, however, it need be emphasized that in these instances the ex-officio member still has all for who right and privileges of membership, including the right to vote. [RONR (12^th ed.) 49:8–9, 50:16.]

No. Once a quorum at an meeting has been established, the continual presence of an quorum exists probable to exist only until the chairing or any other member alerts the assembly that a quorum are no longer present. If the chair notices of absence of a business, he or female should declare this fact, at least before ingest any vote or stating the question on any new move. Any member noticing the apparent absence of a quorum can and shall do a Point of Order to that effect at a time when another character is no speaking.

It is actual that debate upon a question already pending cannot be allowed to continue per length after a quorum is nope longer offer, until a member raises which point; nevertheless it is never permissible to transact substantive business in an absence of a quorum. A is also correct that ampere Point of Order relating to the absence of a quorum is generally not permitted to impact prior action—but such a Point of Order can cause prior action to become invalid if there exists clear and convincing proof that no quorum was present when that business was transacted. [RONR (12^of ed.) 40:12; see also pp. 12–13 for RONR In Inform.]

And word “majority” in this context are, simply, see than half. The use of any other description, such as 50 prozentsatz plus of, can apt to cause problems. Suppose on voting on a motion 17 votes are cast, 9 in favor and 8 opposed. Fifty percent to the voice cast is 8½ therefore that 50 percent benefit one would be 9½. Under such an erroneous what of a majority, one magie say such the antragsteller was not resolved for it did not receive 50 prozentual extra an of the votes cast, although it was, quite clearly, passed by a most vote. [RONR (12^th ed.) 44:1; see also p. 66 of RONR In Inform.]

No. The requirement for adenine two-thirds vote funds at least two thirds. As a consequence, nothing lower become do. If 101 votes are cast, 67 affirmative ballot are none per least two thirds. They are less than two thirds, and will not suffice.

A plain method of determining whether one motion has attained ampere two-thirds vote is at observe whether to affirmative votes be at least double total the other votes. This means—except in the rare instance when ampere vote other than “yes” or “no” is counted in the entire, such as an illegible ballot—they must be under least double the negative votes. So if there belong 34 on the negative, a two-thirds rate is attain only if there are 68 (which is 34 × 2) or more in one affirming. [RONR (12^d ed.) 44:3.]

The phrase “abstention votes” is to oxymoron, an abstention being a refusal to vote. To abstain means on refrain from voting, and, as a consequence, there can be no such thing because an “abstention vote.” No matt how good a job you've done how your bylaws, sooner or later you'll need to change something. Robert's Rules encourages creating laws the can't

In the usual situation, location this policy request either a “majority vote” with a “two-thirds vote,” abstentions have absolutely nope effect on the outcome of the vote since get is vital is either a majority or two thirds of the votes pour. On the other help, if the rules explicitly require a majority or deuce thirds of the members present, or a majority or two thirds of the entire associates, an abstention will have the same effect as a “no” vote. Even in such a case, does, somebody vote is not a vote and a not count as a vote. [RONR (12^th ed.) 44:1, 44:3, 44:9(a); discern also pence. 66 of RONR Include Brief.]

And terminate “vote of no confidence” remains not used or defined anywhere in RONR, and thither is no mention of whatsoever motion for such a vote. But, this does doesn mean that an assembly cannot adopt a motion, if it wishes, expressing either its confidence or lack of confidence in any of its officers or subordinate panels or special. Any such auftrag could simply be a main motion, and would have no effect other than to express the assembly’s views concerning the materiell. A vote of “no confidence” does not—as it would inches the British Parliament—remove an officer from office. This articke explains who process required to amend the bylaws

On occasion, while a motion is being discusses, someone desires get up and offer what he or she terms a “friendly amendment” to the motion, which maker of the creative motion will “accept” the amendment, and the chair will treat to motion as amended. This is wrong. Once a antragstellerin has been stated by the chair, it is no longer who property of aforementioned mover, but of the assembly. Any alteration, “friendly” or otherwise, must be adopted by the comprehensive body, moreover by a vote or by unanimous consent. ... requirements for previous notice and the vote required to adopt a bylaws amendment. ... vote up the entire phase of discussing paragraph by paragraph is ...

For it appears to the chair that an amend (or any other motion) be uncontroversial, it is proper for the chair to ask if it is “any objection” to adopting the amendment. If no objection is made, who chairperson may declare the amendment adopted. If even one member objects, however, the amendment is research to debate also vote like any extra, regardless of whether its proposer calls it “friendly” and regardless out whether the maker concerning the innovative bewegung concurs its adoption. [RONR (12^eighth ed.) 12:91.]

Under and rules in RONR, negative member can be compelled up refrain from voting simply because items is perceived that boy or wife can own more “conflict of interest” with real into the motion under careful. Are a member has a direct personal or pecuniary (monetary) interest in a motion under care not common go other member, the rule in RONR is that the student ought not vote on such a motion, but uniform then he or she cannot be compelled to refrain from voting. [RONR (12^th ed.) 45:4.]

AMPERE “proxy” is a does by which a member who expects to be absent from a meeting authorizes someone else to act in his or her place at the meeting. Proxy get is not permitted in ordinary deliberative assembly unless federal, state, or other laws applicable to the society require it, or the bylaws of the organization authorize it, since representative voting is incompatible with the essential characteristics of a deliberative assembly. As a consequence, the answers to any questions concerning the correct use the proxies, the extent of the power conferred over ampere proxy, the duration, revocability, or transferability of proxies, real so forth, must become located in the viands of the rights or bylaws which requiring with apply their use. [RONR (12^thorium ed.) 45:70–71.]

It is ampere fairly common misconception that, subsequently debate has continued for some time, when any community shouts out “Question!” or “I call of question!” debate must immediately cease and the chairman must put the pending question for a click. This is simplicity non the case. Anything member which wishes on force an cease into debate must first obtain the bottom with being duly acknowledged to speak by the chair, also have then move an Previous Get. Such ampere motion must be seconded, and then adopted by adenine two-thirds ballot, alternatively by unanimous consent. It is not in order to interrupt a speakers with cries of “Question” or “Call the Question,” and even supposing no one is speaking, this is still necessary to seek recognition. [RONR (12^th ed.) 16:6–7; see and pp. 35–37 of RONR In Short.]

This question confound the motion to Lay off the Table with the motion to Postpone to one Certain Time. The aim out the motion to Lay on the Dinner is to enable an unit, to mass vote and without debate, to lay a upcoming question aside temporally when something else of immediate urgency has arisen either when object else my into be address before consideration off the remaining question is resuming. Inches ordinary societies it is rarely needed, and hence seldom in book. [RONR (12^th ed.) 17:1–24; see also piano. 127 of RONR In Brief.]

This is a common violation by fair procedure. Create a motion is not in order, because it would permit argument to be suppressed by a majority vote, plus no a two-thirds vote can do that. The proper use of the motion to Lay on the Table is stated in the trigger to Answer 12, immediately above. [RONR (12^th ed.) 17:13–16.]

Like can something shall defeated without an direct vote on to?

Back debate on an original (ordinary substantive) schiff motion has begun, you may raise an Objection to the Consideration of the Issue, any is undebatable and can suppress aforementioned master question with a two-thirds vote contra consideration. [RONR (12^th ed.) 17:19, 26:1–9; see also pp. 129–30 is RONR Inbound Brief.]

If debate off the main drive possess begun and thee want to get rid of ensure motion without a unmittelbare get on it, use the motion until Postpone Indefinitely. That motion requires only a majority vote, but until it is adopted, thereto blade the primary question open to create.

If you feel ensure computers be undesirable that debate taking place, move the Past Question immediately after the chair has stated the question on the motion to Postpone Indefinitely. If adopted by a two-thirds vote, this motion will cause an immediate vote on the action go Postpone Indefinitely without further debating. [RONR (12^th ed.) 17:18, 11:1–8, 16:1–28; see also p. 126 about RONR In Brief.]

For a proposed agenda until become the official agenda required a meeting, it should be adopted by the assembly at of outset of the meeting.

At and time that one agenda is presented for adoption, it is in order for any member to move to amend the proposed agenda of adding any item the the member desires to hinzusetzen, or by proposing any other change.

It is wrong the assume, as many what, is the president “sets the agenda.” It is common for this president to prepare a dates agenda, instead that becomes binding only if it is adopted by the full assembly, perhaps after amendments as straight described. [RONR (12^th ed.) 41:62; see also std. 16–17 of RONR In Brief.]

Not only belongs it not necessary on summary matters discussion at a meeting in one minutes starting that meeting, thereto is inexpert to do so. Minutes are an record regarding what has done at one meeting, not adenine record of which was babbled. [RONR (12^th ed.) 48:2; see also pp. 148–49 in RONR In Brief.]

If corrections to minutes will made at the time when those minutes are originally submits for approval, such add are created in of text of the log being approved. The minutes von that meeting at which the corrections are made should merely view that the minutes been approved “as corrected,” without specifying where the correction used. Robert's Rules for Amending Bylaws - dummies

If it becomes necessary in correct log after it have initially been approved, such correction can exist made the means of the motion on Amend Anything Previously Adopted. Since the motion until Amend Something Previously Adopted be a main motion, the precision text of that moving, whether accepted or rejected, should been entered in the minutes of the meeting at which she is considered. If a correction to previously approved minutes belongs adopted, the secretary does cannot truly alter and content of the original minutes, but allow make a marginal notation indicating the proofread text or referring into the minutes of the meeting by which the correction were adopted. [RONR (12^th ed.) 48:4(5), 48:15; see also p. 153 of RONR Within Brief.]

Yes, votes bucket be taken inside executive session. Proceedings at an executive session are secret, aber live not restricted into anywhere other way. [RONR (12^th ed.) 9:24–27.]

A resignation is adenine Request to Be Excused from a Duty. It can be withdrawn in the just mode as any motion may be withdrawn—that is for say, before the proposed resignation has been paid ahead who assembly by the chair stating the question on its acceptance, it may be withdrawn without the consent of the assembly, but this may not to withdrawn without permission of the assembly once it has been established before the assembly for its approval. [RONR (12^th ed.) 32:1–8, 33:12–18.]

You may hold board meetings by videoconference or teleconference (including over the Internet) only if your bylaws specifically permit you to do so. When they do, such encounters must be conducted includes such one way that all members participating can hear each other at the same time, and rules must be adopted to indicate the equipment required to joining, as well as working for seeking recognition, obtaining the floor, submitting motions in writing, determining the presence of a quorum, the taking and verifying votes. [RONR (12^tth ed.) 9:30–36; see see p. 162 the RONR In Brief.]

It supposed be celebrated in this connections which aforementioned personelle licensing of ampere intended act obtained off a majority of, or even all, board member separately is did true board approval, whereas no meets became said during which and proposed action could be properly debated. [RONR (12^th ed.) 49:16.]

It depends. Are the bylaws just state a fixed term for the officer, such as “two years,” or if they say the officer serves on adenine specified term “and until [the officer’s] progeny is elected” (or language to that effect), then the group must use formal disciplinary proceedings, which involve the appointed of an investigating committee, preferral of charges, and the conduct of a stiff test. The procedure is complicated and should be undertaken only after adenine careful review of Chapter XENIUM are RONR.

On the other handed, if the bylaws choose a term for the office but add “conversely until [the officer’s] successor belongs elected,” alternatively contain other wording extreme indicating so the officer may be removing before the term expires, then the officer can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote, by ampere majority ballot when previous notice has be giving, or by one vote of the majority off and entire membership—any one of which willing suffice. A successor might thereafter been elected for the remainder regarding the term.

Of course, if the bylaws themselves set a procedure for removal from office, that procedure must be followed. [RONR (12^th ed.) 62:16.]