Quorum, Notice & Orders of Business Flashcards

What is the correct standard order of business prescribed by RONR for a deliberative assembly?

Answer: Minutes, Reports, Special Orders, Unfinished Business and General Orders, New Business

RONR prescribes the standard order of business as: Reading and Approval of Minutes; Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees; Special Orders; Unfinished Business and General Orders; New Business.

What distinguishes a 'special order' from a 'general order' on the agenda?

Answer: A special order is assigned a specific time and interrupts pending business; a general order comes up in turn under unfinished business

A special order is assigned a definite time and, when that time arrives, interrupts any pending business (except one of higher privilege); a general order simply joins the list of postponed items to be taken up after unfinished business.

When should the minutes of a previous meeting normally be approved?

Answer: At the next meeting of the same body

Minutes are read, corrected if necessary, and approved at the next meeting of the same body, which is why approval of minutes is the first item in the standard order of business.

How can an organization depart from the standard order of business for a particular meeting?

Answer: A majority vote can adopt a special order of business or agenda for that meeting

The assembly can adopt a special agenda or order of business for a particular meeting by a majority vote, which then governs the sequence of business for that session.

Under RONR, 'unfinished business' consists of:

Answer: Business that was pending when the previous meeting adjourned and general orders not reached

Unfinished business consists of items that were pending (on the floor) when the previous meeting adjourned and general orders that were not reached during that meeting.

During the reports section of the order of business, in what sequence should reports normally be presented?

Answer: Officers, then boards and standing committees, then special committees

RONR prescribes the sequence: reports of officers first, then boards, then standing committees, and finally special committees, though the assembly may vary this order.

A motion is postponed to the next meeting. Where does it appear in the order of business at that meeting?

Answer: Under special orders if it was postponed as a special order, or under unfinished business and general orders otherwise

A postponed motion resurfaces at the meeting to which it was postponed either as a special order (if so designated) or as a general order under unfinished business and general orders.