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Brainteaser Archive 2003 |
January 1, 2003 (Difficulty level = 1)
Question: What is the name of the form of amendment that seeks to strike out an entire paragraph, section, or article--or a complete main motion or resolution--and insert a different paragraph or other unit in its place, according to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition)?
Answer: A "substitute." RONR (10th ed.) § 12, p. 146.
January 8, 2003 (Difficulty level = 2)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), should the officers of an assembly be counted in determining whether or not a quorum is present?
Answer: "If the officers are members of the assembly--as they usually are in ordinary societies--they are counted in determining whether a quorum is present." RONR (10th ed.) § 3, p. 21.
January 22, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: You are a member of and the presiding officer at a large monthly meeting that follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). You have been told that you can only vote to break a tie. Is this a correct statement of the rules regarding voting by a presiding officer?
Answer: No. "If the presiding officer is a member of the assembly, he can vote as any other member when the vote is by ballot (see also p. 400). In all other cases the presiding officer, if a member of the assembly, can (but is not obliged to) vote whenever his vote will affect the result--that is, he can vote either to break or to cause a tie; or, in a case where a two-thirds vote is required, he can vote either to cause or to block the attainment of the necessary two thirds." RONR (10th ed.) § 44, p. 392.
February 5, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: Your organization follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Should the minutes reflect how each member voted if a count has been ordered?
Answer: No. The names of members and how they voted should only be noted on a roll call vote. "When a count has been ordered or the vote is by ballot, the number of votes on each side should be entered; and when the voting is by roll call, the names of those voting on each side and those answering 'Present' should be entered. If members fail to respond on a roll-call vote, enough of their names should be recorded as present to reflect that a quorum was present at the time of the vote. If the chair voted, no special mention of this fact is made in the minutes." RONR (10th ed.) § 48, p. 454.
February 12, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Your parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Name at least three motions that are amendable but not debatable.
Answer: Any of the following motions:
- amendment to an undebatable motion;
- consideration by paragraph or seriatim;
- division of a question;
- fix the time to which to adjourn (when privileged);
- limit or extend limits of debate;
- motions relating to methods of voting and the polls;
- motions relating to nominations;
- recess (when privileged).
RONR (10th ed.), Index Table V, p. 45.
February 19, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) provides for an "adjourned meeting," which is a continuation of a regular or special meeting. What is the term given to such a continuation of a meeting in The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure?
Answer: "Continued meeting." The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, p. 104.
February 26, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: Using Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) as your parliamentary authority, name at least four different types of nominations.
Answer: (1) Nominations by the Chair; (2) Nominations from the Floor; (3) Nominations by a Committee; (4) Nominations by Ballot; (5) Nominations by Mail; and (6) Nominations by Petition. RONR (10th ed.) § 46, p. 416-424.
March 12, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Your parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). An appeal is debatable EXCEPT when?
Answer: When the appeal (a) relates to indecorum or a transgression of the rules of speaking; (2) relates to the priority of business; or (3) is made while the immediately pending question is undebatable. RONR (10th ed.) § 24, p. 249.
March 19, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: A member has appeared at your annual meeting and demands to vote in the elections, even though he is several months behind in his membership dues (and has failed to respond to two letters demanding immediate payment). The bylaws have nothing to say about this issue. Your organization's parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Can the member vote?
Answer: Yes. "A member of a society who is in arrears in payments of his dues, but who has not been formally dropped from the membership roles and is not under a disciplinary suspension, retains the full rights of a voting member and is legally entitled to vote except as the bylaws may otherwise provide." RONR (10th ed.) § 45, p. 394.
March 26, 2003 (Difficulty level = 5)
Question: An organization that follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) goes into executive session during its January meeting to consider and vote on an important motion. At the February meeting, the organization goes back into executive session solely to read and act upon the minutes of the previous meeting's executive session. How do the minutes from the short executive session at the February meeting get approved?
Answer: "When the minutes of an executive session must be considered for approval at an executive session held solely for that purpose, the brief minutes of the latter meeting are, or are assumed to be, approved by that meeting." RONR (10th ed.) § 9, p. 93.
April 2, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: The secretary is absent from a meeting that follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Who should fulfill the secretary's duties at the meeting, including taking the minutes? The bylaws are silent on this issue, but the organization also has a financial secretary and an executive secretary. Should one of these officers be an automatic replacement?
Answer: "In the absence of the secretary, a secretary pro tem should be elected; the corresponding, financial, or executive secretary in organizations having such officers is not an automatic replacement." RONR (10th ed.) § 9, p. 93. [In practice, what often happens and is appropriate is that a person is selected by the presiding officer and "without objection" (unanimous consent) acts as secretary for the meeting.]
April 9, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), can the maker of a motion vote against her own motion?
Answer: Yes, but she cannot speak against her own motion (she can also ask permission to withdraw the motion). RONR (10th ed.) § 43, p. 381.
April 23, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: You are attending a convention governed by Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) and wish to change the program after its adoption. What vote is required?
Answer: "To change the program after its adoption requires a two-thirds vote or the vote of a majority of all the delegates or other 'voting members' of the convention who have been registered--or unanimous consent, which can usually be obtained with no difficulty in cases where a departure from the program is justified." RONR (10th ed.) § 59, p. 611.
April 30, 2003 (Difficulty level = 5)
Question: An organization has held a disciplinary trial pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). One of the managers for the organization has made a motion to expel the member as a penalty. What vote is required and must the vote be taken by ballot?
Answer: "As in the case of an offense committed at a meeting, on the demand of a single member both the question of guilt and the question of the penalty must be voted on by ballot. For expulsion, a two-thirds vote is required." RONR (10th ed.) § 61, p. 640.
May 14, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure (2000 Edition) describes a type of absentee voting by which a member agrees with a member who would have voted opposite to the first member not to vote, which is used in Congress and some state legislatures. What is the name of this type of absentee voting?
Answer: "Pairing." Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure (2000 Edition) § 538, p. 385.
May 21, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: If your parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), can a motion to Amend be made while a motion to Postpone Indefinitely is pending?
Answer: Yes. The motion to Postpone Indefinitely is not amendable, but an amendment can be proposed to the main motion while a motion to Postpone Indefinitely is pending. RONR makes the following statement pertaining to the motion to Amend: "When applied to a main motion: takes precedence over the main motion and over the subsidiary motion to Postpone Indefinitely." RONR (10th ed.) § 12, p. 126.
May 28, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), does a member have the right to explain her vote during voting?
Answer: No. "RULE AGAINST EXPLANATION BY MEMBERS DURING VOTING. A member has no right to 'explain his vote' during voting, which would be the same as debate at such a time." RONR (10th ed.) § 45, p. 395.
June 4, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Under the Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Edition), what vote is required to demand that an indecisive voice or hand vote be counted?
Answer: None. A single member can make such a demand. "Effect of Call for Division of the Assembly. To require the presiding officer to take a standing vote on the motion just voted on and to count the votes if there is any doubt as to which side prevails." Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Edition), p. 100.
June 11, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), the motions to Rescind and to Amend Something Previously Adopted require what vote to adopt?
Answer: "In an assembly, except when applied to a constitution, bylaws, or special rules of order, require (a) a two-thirds voted, (b) a majority vote when notice of intent to make the motion, stating the complete substance of the proposed change, has been given at the previous meeting or in the call of the present meeting, or (c) a vote of a majority of the entire membership--whichever is most practical to obtain. In a committee, these motions require a two-thirds vote unless all committee members who voted for the motion to be rescinded or amended are present or have received ample notice, in which case they require a majority vote." RONR (10th ed.) § 35, p. 295.
July 2, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), there are two types of questions of privilege. What are they, and what is their order of importance?
Answer: "Questions of privilege are of two types: (1) those relating to the privileges of the assembly as a whole; and (2) questions of personal privilege. If the two come into competition, the former take precedence over the latter." RONR (10th ed.) § 19, p. 219.
July 16, 2003 (Difficulty level = 2)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), "a member who has spoken twice on a particular question on the same day has ____________ his right to debate that question for that day."
Answer: "Exhausted." RONR (10th ed.) § 4, p. 41.
July 23, 2003 (Difficulty level = 2)
Question: You are attending a meeting that closely follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). During debate, a member raises a point of order that a rule of debate has been violated. Upon the member resuming his seat after making the point of order, what should the chair do?
Answer: "The chair then rules whether 'the point of order is well taken' or 'is not well taken,' stating briefly his reasons, which should be recorded in the minutes. If the chair desires, he can review the parliamentary situation without leaving the chair, but standing, before giving his ruling." RONR (10th ed.) § 23, p. 245.
July 30, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: What is the term applied to a committee that is appointed with the authority to take all the steps necessary to carry out its instructions, according to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition)?
Answer: "A committee appointed 'with power.'" RONR (10th ed.) § 50, p. 473.
August 6, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: You are a delegate at a convention that follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Two bylaws proposals have been noticed for consideration concerning dues--one to set the annual dues at $100 per member and one to have varying amounts of annual dues based on membership factors. These two proposals represent different approaches to solve the same problem. After extensive debate, the proposal to set the annual dues at $100 per member passes. Does the other bylaws proposal still need to be considered?
Answer: Yes. "The rule that, when a main motion is adopted, no other conflicting main motion is thereafter in order is not applicable to the motion to amend the bylaws, since several approaches to the same problem may have been given, and all such bylaw amendments are entitled to be considered.'" RONR (10th ed.) § 57, p. 574.
August 13, 2003 (Difficulty level = 5)
Question: You are attending a meeting that closely follows Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). A series of independent resolutions dealing with different subjects has been offered in one motion (and must be divided upon the demand of a single member). Instead of dividing the question, the assembly decides to consider the material seriatim (by paragraph). Later during the debate, a member moves to divide the question. Is the motion to divide the question in order?
Answer: No. "If it has been decided to consider divisible material seriatim, even if the material was divisible on the demand of a single member, it is too late to move or demand a division of the question.'" RONR (10th ed.) § 28, p. 267.
August 20, 2003 (Difficulty level = 2)
Question: Complete the following sentence using Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition): "Except for the corporate charter in an incorporated society, the ____________ (as the single, combination-type instrument is called in this book) comprise the highest body of rules in societies as normally established today."
Answer: "bylaws." RONR (10th ed.) § 2, p. 14.
September 3, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) is your parliamentary authority. A roll-call vote has been ordered, and the roll is being called in alphabetical order. If you do not wish to vote in the affirmative or negative, how should you answer?
Answer: "If he does not wish to vote, he answers present or abstain." RONR (10th ed.) § 45, p. 406.
September 17, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: You are a member of a committee and your parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). The chairman of the committee refuses to call a meeting. Is there any action you can take under RONR to force a meeting?
Answer: "When a committee has been appointed, its chairman (or first-named member temporarily acting—see p. 168) should call it together. If its chairman fails to call a meeting, the committee must meet on the call of any two of its members, unless (for very large committees) the assembly’s rules prescribe, or empower the assembly or the committee to require, a larger number." RONR (10th ed.) § 50, p. 482.
September 24, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) (and except in a small board or a committee), when should the presiding officer stand?
Answer: "Except in a small board or a committee, the presiding officer should stand while calling a meeting to order or declaring it adjourned, and while putting a question to vote. He should also stand--without leaving the chair--while explaining his reasons for a ruling on a point of order (if the explanation entails more than a few words) or when speaking during debate on an appeal or a point of order that he has submitted to the judgment of the assembly." RONR (10th ed.) § 47, p. 435.
October 8, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Your parliamentary authority is The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Edition)("Sturgis"). A main motion has been moved and seconded. The maker of the motion chooses not to speak to the motion. The first person called upon for discussion moves to close debate. Is the motion to close debate in order, given that there has been no debate whatsoever?
Answer: Yes. "If the motion to close debate is proposed as soon as a main motion has been stated to the assembly, its adoption prevents any discussion of the question." The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Ed.), p. 66.
October 29, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Your parliamentary authority is The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Edition)("Sturgis"). A main motion has been moved and seconded. Discussion has continued for several minutes. A member obtains recognition and says, "This motion is not worth the time we have spent discussing it, and I move to close debate." Is the motion to close debate in order?
Answer: No. "Similarly, it is out of order for a member to debate the issue and end the remarks with a motion to close debate." The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Ed.), p. 66.
November 12, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition), should minutes be signed with the words "Respectfully Submitted" as a closing?
Answer: "Minutes should be signed by the secretary and can also be signed, if the assembly wishes, by the president. The words Respectfully submitted--although occasionally used--represent an older practice that is not essential in signing the minutes." RONR (10th ed.) § 48, p. 454.
November 26, 2003 (Difficulty level = 3)
Question: Using Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) as your parliamentary authority, by what motion can a member "require the assembly to conform to its agenda, program, or order of business, or to take up a general or special order that is due to come up at the time, unless two thirds of those voting wish to do otherwise"?
Answer: Call for the Orders of the Day. RONR (10th ed.) § 18, p. 211.
December 10, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: Our board meets three (3) times per year. Our parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition). Is it possible for me to postpone a matter that is currently pending to our next board meeting?
Answer: It depends--because the motion to postpone is not restricted based on how many times your assembly meets during the year, but by how long an interval will pass between this meeting and the next. "In cases where the next session will not be held until after more than a quarterly time interval has elapsed, the only means by which a motion can go over to another session is by referral to a committee (see also pp. 329-30)." RONR (10th Ed.) § 9, p. 88. As a result, unless your meetings are unevenly spaced during the year, it would NOT be appropriate to postpone (in that such a period would be longer than a quarterly time interval).
December 24, 2003 (Difficulty level = 4)
Question: You are a member of the Santa Claus Society and are attending one of your quarterly meetings. An important motion is being discussed. Because it is Christmas Eve, the meeting has to adjourn right NOW. What happens to the motion under discussion, if your parliamentary authority is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition)?
Answer: The motion will come up at the next meeting under the heading of "Unfinished Business." "The term unfinished business, in cases where the regular business meetings of an organization are not separated by more than a quarterly time interval (p. 88), refers to questions that have come over from the previous meeting (other than special orders) as a result of that meeting's having adjourned without completing its order of business (pp. 228-29) and without scheduling an adjourned meeting (9, 22) to complete it." RONR (10th Ed.) § 41, p. 346.
