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Ask Us a Question

Q:

Can the Chair make motions?

A:

It depends. If you are using small board rules, the Chair may make a motion. According to RONR* 12th ed.  49:21, a small board is defined as one with no more than 12 members present. In such a board:

  • Members may raise a hand instead of standing when seeking to obtain the floor and may remain seated while making motions or speaking.

  • Motions need not be seconded.

  • There is no limit to the number of times a member can speak to a debatable question.

  • Informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending.

  • When a proposal is perfectly clear to all present, a vote can be taken without a motion having been introduced.

  • The Chair need not rise while putting questions to a vote.

  • The Chair may speak in informal discussions and debate, and vote on all questions.

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Q: 

What is the proper language to use when handling a motion?

A:

The Chair should always announce the result of a vote. They would say: "The ayes have it, the motion is adopted, and now we will do XYZ."   [Or, "The noes have it, and the motion is lost".]   Many people say “the ayes have, and the motion passed.”  This is just fine – just make it clear to everyone what the effect of the vote was. If you want  to use language ‘by the book’, a motion is either adopted or lost. 

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Q:

How should minutes be approved?   

A:

The Chair should ask: "Are there any corrections?" If there are, the Secretary notes that, and then the Chair can say: “Are there any further corrections? Seeing none, the minutes are approved as corrected."  (In the minutes, the secretary would write 'Minutes approved. (Unanimous consent).'  The only way to not approve the minutes is to offer a correction to them.

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Q:

What does a tie vote mean? 

A:

It means the motion is lost. Most motions require a majority vote: no majority, the motion is lost (fails).  

The Chair says: "There is a tie vote. The motion is lost. The next item of business is...."

In an assembly other than a small board, the Chair typically does not vote.  However, absent any organizational rule to the contrary, a Chair may vote to make or break a tie.  

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Got something you're wondering about? Send your question to president@msap.us and we'll be happy to answer!

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