CMO Council Procedures & Meeting Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of the presiding officer when a council member raises a 'point of personal privilege'?
- Ignore it and continue with the agenda
- Immediately recognize it and allow the member to speak (Correct answer)
- Call for a vote on whether to hear the member
- Refer it to the municipal attorney
Correct answer: Immediately recognize it and allow the member to speak
A point of personal privilege relates to the comfort, rights, or reputation of a member and is recognized immediately by the chair.
Question 2: Under most state open meetings laws, which subject matter is NOT a permissible basis for an executive session?
- Pending litigation against the municipality
- Negotiation of a real estate purchase
- Discussion of the annual budget priorities (Correct answer)
- Review of a specific employee's performance
Correct answer: Discussion of the annual budget priorities
General budget policy discussion must occur in open session; only narrowly defined topics like litigation, real estate, and personnel qualify for executive session.
Question 3: When the council considers a measure that requires a 'super-majority,' what vote threshold is typically required?
- A simple majority (50% + 1)
- Two-thirds of members present (Correct answer)
- Unanimous consent of all seated members
- Three-fifths of the full council
Correct answer: Two-thirds of members present
Super-majority requirements most commonly mandate a two-thirds vote, often used for emergency ordinances or overriding vetoes.
Question 4: A council adopts a motion 'without objection.' This procedure is also known as:
- Voice vote
- Roll call vote
- Unanimous consent (Correct answer)
- Division of the house
Correct answer: Unanimous consent
Unanimous consent (also called without objection) allows the council to take action without a formal vote when no member objects.
Question 5: Which best describes the 'order of business' in a typical municipal council meeting?
- A flexible sequence the mayor determines each meeting
- A set agenda structure prescribed by ordinance or rules of procedure (Correct answer)
- A list of items determined by majority vote at the start of each meeting
- An outline provided solely by the municipal attorney
Correct answer: A set agenda structure prescribed by ordinance or rules of procedure
The order of business is typically prescribed by the council's adopted rules of procedure or municipal code to ensure consistency.
Question 6: If a council member moves to 'divide the question,' the intent is to:
- Split a motion containing multiple distinct parts into separate votes (Correct answer)
- Request a secret ballot instead of a voice vote
- Send the issue to two different committees simultaneously
- Require the vote to be delayed until the next regular meeting
Correct answer: Split a motion containing multiple distinct parts into separate votes
Dividing the question separates a motion with multiple independent parts so each can be debated and voted on individually.
Question 7: A council member who voted on the prevailing side of a motion may later move to reconsider. The most likely reason for this rule is:
- To prevent losing sides from endlessly re-litigating decisions (Correct answer)
- To ensure the mayor always has veto authority
- To allow the clerk to correct clerical errors in the motion
- To guarantee that minority viewpoints are always reheard
Correct answer: To prevent losing sides from endlessly re-litigating decisions
Limiting reconsideration motions to prevailing-side members prevents losing parties from using reconsideration as a delay tactic.
CMO Council Procedures & Meeting Management 5
What is the role of the presiding officer when a council member raises a 'point of personal privilege'?