Brainteasers Archive

In addition to the possibility of holding an electronic meeting pursuant to RONR, “In the  case of a committee . . . if it is impractical to bring its members together for a meeting, the report of the committee can contain what has been agreed to by every one of its members.” RONR (12th ed.) 51:2.

The motion to Request to Be Excused from a Duty, which requires a second, is debatable, amendable, and requires a majority vote (though frequently done by unanimous consent). RONR (12th ed.) 32:2.

It is a committee.

From Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules, Fifth Edition:

Are the requirements for the motion to Reconsider different in committee?

Yes, in four ways:
1. Time limit (in committee there is no time limit).
2. Number of times the motion may be made (in committee there is no limit to the number of times a question can be reconsidered).
3. Who may make the motion (in committee a motion to Reconsider “can be made by any member of the committee who did not vote with the losing side; or, in other words, the maker of the motion to Reconsider can be one who voted with the prevailing side, or one who did not vote at all, or even was absent” (37:35).
4. Vote required (“Unless all the members of the committee who voted with the prevailing side are present or have been given reasonable notice that the reconsideration will be moved, it requires a two-thirds vote to adopt the motion to Reconsider” (37:35(3)).

The motion to Reconsider cannot be used in committee of the whole (37:35). In a standing or special committee, the purpose is to work on a subject until “truth” has been found, so the opportunity for reconsideration is broadened. The purpose of a committee of the whole is simply to free the assembly from usual restrictions on debate.

Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules, Fifth Edition, p. 124.

The Previous Question. (This is a change from prior editions.) RONR (12th ed.) 12:101.

No. The process in Robert's is decribed as follows: "If only one person is nominated and the bylaws do not require that a ballot vote be taken, the chair, after ensuring that, in fact, no members present wish to make further nominations, simply declares that the nominee is elected, thus effecting the election by uanimous consent or "acclamation." RONR (12th ed.) 46:40. 

Yes.  "If a quorum cannot be obtained, the chair calls the meeting to order, announces the absence of a quorum, and entertains a motion to adjourn or one of the other motions allowed, as described above." RONR (12th ed.) 40:11.

Special Orders. RONR (12th ed.) 41:20.

Yes.  "[A] motion to divide can be made at any time that the main motion, an amendment which it is proposed to divide, or the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is immediately pending--even after the Previous Question has been ordered." RONR (12th ed.) 27:3(1).

Proxies. See The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure Fast-Track, p. 80.

To "Table." And while the motion to Postpone Temporarily requires only a majority vote, the motion to Table requires a two-thirds vote. (TSC, p. 68)

While speaking and then moving to close debate is permissible in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition), The Standard Code specifically prohibits ending remarks with a mtion to close debate. (TSC, p. 66)

The action "must be ratified by the organization at a regular meeting (or at another special meeting properly called for that purpose." RONR (12th ed.) 9:15.

The motion to Divide a Question in RONR requires a majority vote, while in The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure any question can be divided upon request by the presiding office and a majority vote is only required if "the presiding officers feels the motion is not divisible and denies the request."  TSC, p. 97.

Simply requesting of the presiding officer that any scheduled matter be taken up or using Point of Order to raise the concern.  TSC, p. 232.

No. An Objection to the Consideration of a Question can only be applied to original main motions, and not to subsidiary motions. RONR (12th ed.) 26:2(2).

No.  "The assembly cannot make valid a viva-voce election if the bylaws require the election to be by ballot." RONR (12th ed.) 46:41.

The subsidiary motion to Lay on the Table, privileged, or incidental motions. RONR (12th ed.) 16:2.

A motion to close debate that is applied to include consecutively any series beginning with the immediatley pending question. While not an amendment, it is "an effect similar to amendment."  RONR (12th ed.) 16:6(6).  

When the Appeal:

1. relates to indecorum or a transgression of the rules of speaking:
2. relates to the priorty of business;
3. is made when an undebatable question is immediately pending or involved in the appeal.

RONR (12th ed.) 24:3(5).

Bylaws often provide that in the absence of the President, the President-Elect (if there is one) presides. "Unless such provision is made, the first vice-president would preside or complete the president's term." RONR (12th ed.) 47:22.

When (1) the bylaws have a clause that allows a specific provision to be suspended, or (2) when the clause is in the nature of a "rule of order" that clearly deals with meeting parliamentary procedure. RONR (12th ed.) 2:8(4)(However, the confusion this can cause is a good reason not to put rules of order in the bylaws in the first place.)

"Although in organizing a new society it may be feasible for the chair to appoint the nominating committee, in an organized society the president should not appoint this committee or be a member of it--ex officio or otherwise." RONR (12th ed.) 46:10.

Robert's provides that a motion to Refer or Postpone cannot be moved after the adoption of a motion to close debate at a specific time or to limit total debate. RONR (12th ed.) 13:7(2), 14:4(2). The premise behind this rule is that a motion to Refer or to Postpone conflicts with the order limiting debate. This esoteric rule is rarely followed.

A committee. RONR (12th ed.) 1:10-24.

Adopting the Previous Question closes debate, stops amendment of, and prevents the making of subsidiary motions except Lay on the Table. "The adoption of an order for the Previous Question does not prevent the making of privileged or incidental motions as applicable . . . . "  RONR (12th ed.) 16:2. As a result, debate, Amend, and Refer would be prevented.

“In all other committees and in boards, the quorum is a majority of the members of the board or committee unless a different quorum is provided for: (a) by the bylaws, in the case of a board or standing committee that the bylaws specifically establish; or (b) by a rule of the parent body or organization or by the motion establishing the particular committee, in the case of a committee that is not expressly established by the bylaws.” RONR (12th ed.) 40:5.

The vote is complicated. The motion to Discharge a Committee requires a (1) two-thirds vote; (2) a majority vote when prior notice of intent to make the motion has been given; or (3) a vote of a majority of the entire membership. However, only a majority vote of those present and voting is required if the committee has either failed to report within a prescribed time as instructed or teh assembly is considering any partial report of the committee. RONR (12th ed.) 36:4(7).

None. Under The Standard Code, the motion to Divide the Question "requires no vote because it is a request and is decided by teh presiding officer." A majority vote will only be required if the presiding officer feels that the motion is not divisible and denies teh request. TSC, p. 96-99.

Only to votes on main motions taken at the same meeting or convention. TSC, p. 42.

"Any special rules of order shold be adopted separately from the bylaws. It is advisable thta they be preinted in the same booklet with, but under a heading separate from, the bylaws." RONR (12th ed.) 2:20.

It varies. While the motion to Suspend the Rules typically most often requires a two-thirds vote, some rules are suspendable by a majority vote, such as an ordinary standing rule that does not relate to parliamentary procedure. RONR (12th ed.) 25:2(7), 25:7-15.

Not according to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition), but recognize that language in the governing documents or state law (if applicable) could provide a different result. RONR provides that a quorum is "the number of members who must be present in order that business can be validly transacted" and that as to most matters, "In the absence of a quorum, any business transacted (except for the procedural actions noted in the next paragraph) is null and void." RONR (12th ed.) 40:1, 40:6.

No. As to law that could make a main motion out of order, RONR only notes that "to the extent that procedural rules applicable to the organization or assembly are prescribed by federal, state, or local law, no main motion is in order that conflicts with such rules." RONR (12th ed.) 10:26(1).

"If the ex officio member is not under the authority of the society, he has all the privileges of board membership, including the right to make motions and to vote, but none of the obligations." RONR (12th ed.) 49:8.

Yes, because the motion to Limit or Extend Limits of Debate is amendable (although not debatable). An adopted motion for the Previous Question would stop further amendments. RONR (12th ed.) 16:5(2).

No. "A motion that is withdrawn becomes as if it had never been made and can be renewed wherever it would be originally in order." RONR (12th ed.) 38:2.

No. "Consideration of a revision of the bylaws is in order only when prepared by a committee that has been properly authorized to draft it either by the membership or by an executive board that has the power to refer such matters to a committee." (see also additional footnote comments) RONR (12^th ed.) 57:5. 

No. "For the case of an election, see 62:16 regarding removal of a person from office." RONR (12th ed.) 35:6.

They are put to a vote without further debate, unless someone immediately makes a vote to table, postpone or refer, or a motion to extend time is adopted. RONR (12th ed.) 41:65.

Sort of . . . 

"Point of Information" is an alternative name for a motion that allowed a member to request "information relevant to the business at hand but not related to parliamentary proocedure. The motion was renamed in the 11th Edition "Request for Information," in an effort to avoid confusion about the purpose of the motion. However, the 12th edition notes parenthetically that "Request for Information" may also be called "Point of Information." RONR (12th ed.) 33:6.

No, not unless "the place or the wording is so changed as to make a new propostion." RONR (12th ed.) 12:48.

"The motion to amend by striking out certain words can be amended only by striking out words from the primary amendment." (Having the effect of LEAVING the words in.)." RONR (12th ed.) 12:49.

Previous Question (previously a motion to "close suggestions" was used). RONR (12th ed.) 12:101.

No. "If the term of all or a specified portion of the assemby's membership will expire before the start of the next regular session, as may happen in a board or an elected legislative assembly, the rule is the same as though more than a quarterly time interval will have elapsed--that is, a question can be taken from the table only until the end of the same session at which it was laid on the table. RONR (12th ed.) 34:3 and footnote.

RONR (12^th ed.) 37:3. From the "CITE THIS BOOK" page immediately following the cover page.

This is a tough one, as Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) is not entirely clear. Certainly, members who adopt a motion to close debate do not intend for discussion to continue indefinitely through questions. However, RONR § 16 provides that the "adoption of an order for the Previous Question does not prevent the making of privileged or incidental motions as applicable." Requests for Information are an incidential motion. RONR (12th ed.) 16:2.

The motion can be made by anyone who did not vote on the losing side--including one who did not vote at all. RONR (12th ed.) 37:35.

Only a failed motion. An affirmative vote on a motion to amend the bylaws cannot be reconsidered. RONR (12th ed.) 57:1(3).

Special order. RONR (12th ed.) 41:58.

"If the chair fails to act in accordance with the assembly's decision on an appeal (or on a point of order submitted to a vote of the assembly) or otherwise culpably fails to perform the duties of the chair properly in a meeting . . . ." RONR (12th ed.) 62:10.

Yes. The motion can be also appplied to an entire series of pending debatable motions or to any consecutive part of such a series beginning with the immediately pending question. RONR (12th ed.) 15:5(2).

If an objection is made, not until every member wishing to nominate has had an opportunity to do so. RONR (12th ed.) 46:6.

The Vice President. RONR (12th ed.) 47:22.

Depending on which language is in the bylaws, the officer can either be removed from office by a motion to do so or the officer can only be removed for cause following an investigation, charges, and formal trial. RONR (12th ed.) 62:16.

Reference (or Resolutions) Committees. TSC, p. 194

Yes. However, once called to order, the chair "announces the absence of a quorum, and entertains a motion to adjourn or one of the other motions allowed, as described above." RONR (12th ed.) 40:11.

"One way of remembering the general rule that no appeals can be taken from the Chair's rulings which arise out of known Facts, evident Truths, established Rules or operative Laws, but can be taken only from rulings which are based on his personal Judgment, Opinion or Discretion, is by the first letters thereof: F,T,R,L and J,O,D." Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law, page 131." 

Name
Object
Membership
Officers
Meetings
Parliamentary authority
Amendments to bylaws
Demeter’s Manual of Parliamentary Law, p.179-180.
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition) includes "Executive Board (or Board of Directors)," and "Committees." RONR (12th ed.) 56:39.

"Bullet voting" is casting a vote for only one candidate or option when you have the option of casting several votes. (For example, four candidates are running for two open seats. You cast a vote for only one candidate, essentially "depriving" the other candidates of your additional vote.)

"Cumulative voting" permits voters to allocate votes among various candidates and is often used in the election of corporate directors. (For example, you have 100 shares of stock and are permitted to vote for two candidates.  Under cumulative voting, you might be able to cast your 200 votes for one candidate, increasing the probability that the candidate will be elected.) Cumulative voting permits a minority of shareholders to have an influence on the outcome of an election.

RONR (12th ed.) 46:43 as to cumulative voting. FYI, the phrase "bullet voting" does not appear in the body of RONR; however, it does appear three times in the Index. 

"[N]otice must be given at the preceding meeting or in the call of the meeting that elects him. One session cannot interfere with the freedom of each new session to choose its own chairman pro tem except by an election held with previous notice (10:44-51)." RONR (12th ed.) 8:16.

"The chair must always call for the negative vote, no matter how nearly unanimous the affirmative vote may appear, except that this rule is commonly relaxed in the case of noncontroversial motions of a complimentary or courtesy nature; but even in such a case, if any member objects, the chair must call for the negative vote. A further exception arises when the negative vote is intrinsically irrelevant, as, for example, when 'a vote of one fifth of the members present' is required (see 44:9(a))." RONR (12th ed.) 4:35.

"In ordinary assemblies, the motion to Lay on the Table is not in order if the evident intent is to kill or avoid dealing with a measure." RONR (12th ed.) 17:2.

No, not through the motion to Reconsider. "A negative vote on these motions [Rescind/Amend Something Previously Adopted] can be reconsidered, but not an affirmative vote." RONR (12th ed.) 35:2(8). It may be simpler to just make another motion to Rescind/Amend Something Previously Adopted as to new word change (which, without previous notice, will require a higher vote requirement) or, if the change is not controversial, to use unanimous consent.

No, but this is a highly esoteric situation. "It [the motion to Postpone To A Certain Time] cannot be moved after the adoption of a motion to close debate on the main question at a definite hour or of a motion to limit the total time allowed for debate; but it remains in order if only a limitation on the length of speeches is in order (see 15)."  RONR (12th ed.) 14:4(2).

"A Texas ballot is a method of plurality voting in which voters indicate the candidate that they do not wish to be elected." This method of voting is described in The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Ed.)("Sturgis"), p. 247. 

"I move to reconsider the votes on the resolution relating to the annual banquet and on the amendment to strike out 'Friday' and insert 'Saturday." I voted for the amendment." RONR (12th ed.) 37:36(c).

No. "A motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn is in order only if at the time it is offered there is no meeting scheduled for later within the same session. If there is such a meeting, additional meetings within the same session may be set by a motion either to Suspend the Rules (25) or to Amend Something Previously Adopted (35), namely, the previously adopted agenda or program for the session." RONR (12th ed.) 22:2.

The ABC Club uses Robert's as its parliamentary authority, in which illegal votes cast by legal voters (i.e., for Mickey Mouse) are taken into account in determining the number of votes cast for computing a majority. Under Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition), Sue Smith did not receive a majority (51 votes) of the 100 ballots cast and reballoting was necessary.

The XYZ Club uses as its parliamentary authority The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, in which only legal votes are taken into account in determining the number of votes cast for computing a majority. Under The Standard Code, Sue Smith received a majority of the 96 legal ballots cast.

The motion to Postpone to a Certain Time "cannot be moved after the adoption of a motion to close debate on the main question at a definite hour or of a motion to limit the total time allowed for debate; but it remains in order if only a limitation on the length of speeches is in force (see 15)." RONR (12 ed.) 14:4(2).

The committee member can choose not to attend the meeting (thereby changing the vote required to pass the motion to reconsider from a majority to two-thirds). The motion to reconsider has different characteristics when made in a standing or special committee. For one, the motion to reconsider can be made and taken up regardless of the time that has elapsed since the vote was taken.  In addition, "unless all the members of the committee who voted with the prevailing side are present or have been notified that the reconsideration will be moved, it requires a two-thirds vote to adopt the motion to Reconsider." RONR (12 ed.) 37:35. (Based on "An Obscure Principle" by Jim Lochrie, Parliamentary Journal, January 1993)

If the primary amendment is to strike out certain words, then words struck out of the primary amendment will remain in the resolution regardless of the final vote on the primary amendment (as explained under Strike Out Words, above). But if the primary amendment is to strike out a paragraph, then words stuck out of that paragraph in the process of secondary amendment are out of the resolution regardless of the final vote on the primary amendment. RONR (12th ed.) 12:49-12:51.

The Point of Order is not well taken, and the motion is appropriate. "Until the report of the Credentials Committee is adopted, no business other than its adoption or the other preliminary actions described in this paragraph may be considered, except that any motion related to the consideration of such business or to the conduct of the meeting before the report is adopted, as well as those that are in order in the absence of a quorum (40:6-8), are in order." RONR (12th ed.) § 60:3.

No. "Even if no question is pending, a motion to Take from the Table cannot interrupt a series of motions connected with bringing up a single item of business, but must wait until the complete series is disposed of. For example, . . . when a main motion has just been voted down after a member stated in debate that in that event he would offer a different motion covering the case." RONR (12th ed.) 34:5.

Thomas B. Reed from Maine. His book is often referred to as Reed's Rules.

Quasi Committee of the Whole (Consideration as If in Committee of the Whole). RONR (12th ed.) 52:19-22.

"Does not require a second except when moved formally by the maker of the request. A motion to grant the request of another member does not require a second since the maker of the request and the maker of the motion--two members--wish the question to be considered." RONR (12th ed.) 32:2(4).  

"If applied to an amendment, it also takes precedence over that amendment; but a motion to divide the main question cannot be made while an amendment to the main question is pending." RONR (12th ed.) 27:3(1). 

Despite the fact that only one member of the committee is a delegate, the language in RONR suggests that no additional second from the floor is absolutely necessary (but may be politically wise).  

"A motion made by direction of a board or duly appointed committee of the assembly requires no second from the floor (provided the subordinate group is composed of more than one person), since the motion's introduction has been directed by a majority vote within the board or committee and is therefore desired by at least two assembly members or elected or appointed persons to whose opinion the assembly is presumed to give weight regarding the board's or committee's concerns." RONR (12th ed.) 4:11.

Looking at the example, the motion is "made by direction" of a "duly appointed committee of the assembly," "the subordinate group is composed of more than one person," and the "motion's introduction has been directed by a majority vote within the" committee, and is "therefore desired by at least . . . appointed persons to whose opinion the assembly is presumed to give weight." In further support of this argument, the authors of RONR could easily have used the phrase, "provided the subordinate group is composed of more than one MEMBER," but instead used the word "person."

No. "Defense counsel can be attorney(s) or not, but must be member(s) of the society unless the trial body (that is, the assembly or the trial committee as the case may be) by vote agrees to permit attorney(s) who are not member(s) to act in this capacity." RONR (12th ed.) 63:30.  

"An amendment to another part of the bylaws not specified in the notice is admissible only if it is reasonably implied by the amendment as stated in the notice.  Using the same example, if the original amendment provided for the creation of an associate membership class, the necessity of fixing the dues for associate members would reasonably be implied, although the subject of dues is covered in another part of the bylaws and might have been omitted unintentionally in the proposed amendment.  An amendment providing the dues for associate members would therefore be admissible." The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, p. 208.

Reading of the minutes of the last meeting;
Reports of (1) officers, (2) boards, and (3) standing committees;
Reports of special (temporary) committees;
Special orders (specially scheduled business);
Unfinished business;
New business;
Good of the order. Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law, p. 14.

(1) Amend a previous action;
(2) Ratify;
(3) Reconsider;
(4) Rescind; and
(5) Resume Consideration.  The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, p. 16.

A meeting of a standing or special committee. RONR (12th ed.) 37:35.

A motion to Take from the Table cannot be reconsidered. "A motion to Take from the Table that has failed can be renewed after disposal of the business that was taken up following rejection of the motion." RONR (12th ed.) 38:7(2).

"In such cases, the member desiring to give the notice writes to the secretary alone, requesting that the notice be sent with the call of the next meeting, and the secretary then does this at the expense of the society." RONR (12th ed.) 10:51. 

"Must be seconded at the time it is made. . . . The calling up of the motion to Reconsider does not require a second." RONR (12th ed.) 37:9(4). 

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 (12th ed.) 28:9.

"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 (12th ed.) 63:33(e).

"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 (12th ed.) 9:27.

"A chairman and a secretary are in general the only officers required by a mass meeting. Their election takes place immediately after the meeting is called to order, a convenient method of electing them being by voice vote." RONR (12th ed.) 53:11.

"Managers." RONR (12th ed.) 63:27.