Questions & Answers

December 2011 

This is the ninety-ninth (99th) of the monthly series that Elizabeth “Libby” Pollard answered your questions regarding Parliamentary Procedures. The answers are based on Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised – 10th Edition (RONR). 

 

 

 

Counting president in committee quorum

According to the bylaws, the president is “ex-officio a member of all standing committees.” At a crucial meeting of the legislative committee, there were seven present, counting the president; six were absent. Was there a quorum?

Opinion: No. The president would not be counted in determining the quorum. An ex-officio member who has the right, but not the obligation, to participate in the proceedings of the committee is not counted in the quorum. 

The above opinion is from the Parliamentary Opinions (American Institute of Parliamentarians) by Virginia Schlotzhauer, William J. Evans and John R. Stipp.

NOTE:

If you have a question regarding parliamentary procedures, you can send it to Libby Pollard via e-mail (ParliLibby@att.net) or fax it to (614) 882-1808. Please try to limit your question to 50 words or less. Libby will try to answer your questions to the best of her ability. Thank you. 

 
Click the title below to link for video, also click the selected filename below to open and print; 
 
         Questions-Answers_Dec_2011.doc 
 
 
         Questions-Answers_Oct_2011.doc           
 
         Questions-Answers_Sep_2011.doc 
 
          Questions-Answers_Aug_2011.doc 
 
         Questions-Answers_Jul_2011.doc 
 
        Questions-Answers_Jun_2011.doc   
 
 
 
          Questions-Answers_Mar_2011.doc            
 
          Questions-Answers_Feb_2011.doc
 
 
         Questions-Answers_Dec_2010.doc 
 
 
         Questions-Answers_Oct_2010.doc 
 
         Questions-Answers_Sep_2010.doc 
 
 
         Questions-Answers_Jul_2010.doc   
 
          Questions-Answers_Jun_2010.doc
 
           Questions-Answers_May_2010.doc
 
            Questions-Answers_Apr_2010.doc
 
            Questions-Answers_Mar_2010.doc
             
           Questions-Answers_Feb_2010.doc
             
           Questions-Answers_Jan_2010.doc
                   
75.       Unconventional second - December 2009 
             Questions-Answers_Dec_2009.doc
 
74.       Referral of unfinished business before adjournment - November 2009
            Questions-Answers_Nov_2009.doc
 
73.       Unintelligible and dilatory ballots - October 2009
            Questions-Answers_Oct_2009.doc
 
72.       Minutes: change after publication but before approval - September 2009
            Questions-Answers_Sep_2009.doc
         
71.       Seconding in a board - August 2009
             Questions-Answers_Aug_2009.doc
 
70.       Membership status - July 2009
             Questions-Answers_Jul_2009.doc
 
69.        Election by plurality - June 2009
              Questions-Answers_Jun_2009.doc
 
68.        Order of business: committee recommendarions - May 2009
              Questions-Answers_May_2009.doc
 
 67.        Bylaws: when in effect? - April 2009
              Questions-Answers_Apr_2009.doc
 
66.        The secretary and the minutes - March 2009
              Questions-Answers-Mar_2009.doc
 
65.        Approval of Minutes Postponed - February 2009
              Questions-Answers-Feb_2009.doc
 
64.        Correcting Approved Minutes - January 2009
              Questions-Answers_Jan_2009.doc
 
 63.       Appeal after parliamentary inquiry - December 2008    
              Questions-Answers_Dec_2008.doc
 
62.       Withdrawal: motion not pending - November 2008
             Questions-Answers_Nov_2008.doc
  
61.       Question of privilege: abuse - October 2008
             Questions-Answers_Oct_2008.doc
 
60.       Question of privilege: procedure - September 2008
             Questions-Answers_Sep_2008.doc
 
59.       Recess: length of recess - August 2008
            Questions-Answers_Aug_2008.doc
 
58.      Interruption of vote by motion to lay on the table - July 2008
            Questions-Answers_Jul_2008.doc
 
57.      Call for the orders of the day - June 2008
            Questions-Answers_Jun_2008.doc
 
56.      Privileged motions: why so called - May 2008
           Questions-Answers_May_2008.doc  
 
55.      Renewal of withdrawn motion - April 2008
           Questions-Answers_Apr_2008.doc  
 
54.      Committee chairman's participation - March 2008
           Questions-Answers_Mar_2008.doc
 
53.      Election by plurality - February 2008
           Questions-Answers_Feb_2008.doc       
      
52.      Postpone indefinitely: purpose - January 2008
           Questions-Answers_Jan_2008.doc
 
51.      Rescind and expunge - December 2007
           Questions-Answers_Dec_2007.doc
 
50.      Minutes: demand to record member's vote - November 2007
           Questions-Answers_Nov_2007.doc
 
49.      Past president/immediate past president - October 2007
           Questions-Answers_Oct_2007.doc
 
48.      When can a division be called? - September 2007
            Questions-Answers_Sep_2007.doc
 
47.      Tie vote - August 2007
            Questions-Answers_Aug_2007.doc  
 
46.      Vacancy: appointment of replacement - July 2007
            Questions-Answers_Jul_2007.doc
 
45.      Secretary cast ballot - June 2007
            Questions-Answers_Jun_2007.doc
 
44.      Gender-neutral bylaws - May 2007
            Questions-Answers_May_2007.doc
 
43.      Withdrawal: consent of seconder - April 2007
            Questions-Answers_Apr_2007.doc
 
42.      Censure - March 2007
            Questions-Answers_Mar_2007.doc
 
41.      Removal of committee member - February 2007
            Questions-Answers_Feb_2007.doc
 
40.     When president is candidate - January 2007
           Questions-Answers_Jan_2007.doc
 
39.      Bylaw interpretation: meeting scheduled on holiday - December 2006
            Questions-Answers_Dec_2006.doc
 
38.      Parliamentarian taking initiative in advising chair - November 2006
            Questions-Answers_Nov_2006.doc
 
37.      Informal discussion without motion - October 2006
            Questions-Answers_Oct_2006.doc
 
36.     Common errors in minutes - September 2006
           Questions-Answers_Sep_2006.doc
 
35.     Delaying time of adjournment - August 2006
           Questions-Answers_Aug_2006.doc
 
34.     Point of information: abuse - July 2006
           Questions-Answers_Jul_2006.doc
 
33.     Credentials list of delegates - June 2006
           Questions-Answers_Jun_2006.doc  
 
32.     Instruction of delegates - May 2006
           Questions-Answers_May_2006.doc
 
31.     Nominee for two offices - April 2006
           Questions-Answers_Apr_2006.doc   
 
30.     Disposition of ballots - March 2006
           Questions-Answers_Mar_2006.doc
 
29.     Renewal of main motion - February 2006
           Questions-Answers_Feb_2006.doc
 
28.    Counting president in committee quorum - January 2006
 
27.    Minutes of executive session - December 2005
 
26.    Selection of the parliamentarian - November 2005
 
25.    Lay on the table: prevention of abuse - October 2005
           Questions-Answers_Oct_2005.doc
 
24.    Which candidate should be dropped? - September 2005
 
23.    Abstentions: calling for - August 2005
 
22.    Take from the table - July 2005
 
21.    Co-chairman - June 2005
          Questions-Answers_Jun_2005.doc
 
20.    Withdrawal: Approval of Maker - May 2005
 
19.   Suspend the rules; protection of member's rights - April 2005
         Questions-Answers_Apr_2005.doc   
 
18.   Point of order vs call to order - March 2005
 
17.   President as ex-officio member of committees - February 2005
 
16.   Resignation of newly elected president - January 2005
 
15.   Vice president runs for president - December 2004
 
14.   Nominating chairman conducting election - November 2004
 
13.   Past President - October 2004
 
12.   Secretary Pro Tem - September 2004
 
11.   Straw Vote - August 2004
 
10.   Not in order vs. out of order - July 2004
 
9.   Appeal after Parliamentary Inquiry - June 2004
 
8.   Election by acclamation - May 2004
 
7.   Request for recount - April 2004
 
6.   Withdrawn motion included in minutes - March 2004  
 
5.    Reconsideration of tie vote - February 2004 
 
4.   Executive Session: Who remains? - January 2004
  
3.  Lay on the table vs postpone - December 2003 
 
2.  Friendly Amendment - November 2003
      Questions-Answers_Nov_2003.doc       
 
1.   Motion vs. Resolution - October 2003