CP CP Committees & Special Bodies 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the fundamental difference between a 'standing committee' and a 'special committee'?
- Standing committees have more members
- Standing committees are permanent; special committees dissolve when their task ends (Correct answer)
- Special committees report to the board; standing committees report to the membership
- Special committees may not spend money
Correct answer: Standing committees are permanent; special committees dissolve when their task ends
Standing committees are permanent, ongoing bodies; special (ad hoc) committees are created for a specific purpose and cease to exist once that purpose is fulfilled.
Question 2: In a committee meeting, what rule about quorum differs from a full assembly meeting?
- Committee quorum is always a majority of members, not a fixed number (Correct answer)
- Committees do not require quorum to meet informally
- Committee quorum equals one-third of members
- Committees may not waive quorum requirements
Correct answer: Committee quorum is always a majority of members, not a fixed number
Unless the governing documents specify otherwise, committee quorum is a majority of the committee's membership.
Question 3: Which officer is responsible for referring matters to the appropriate standing committee?
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- President/Chair (Correct answer)
- Parliamentarian
Correct answer: President/Chair
The president or presiding officer typically has authority to refer matters to committees consistent with the bylaws and rules.
Question 4: A committee 'rises and reports' when it wants to:
- Permanently dissolve the committee
- Return business to the full assembly (Correct answer)
- Request additional time to study the matter
- Elect a new committee chair
Correct answer: Return business to the full assembly
When a committee of the whole or quasi-committee rises, it returns to the status of the regular assembly and presents its recommendations.
Question 5: Can a committee take binding action on behalf of the organization without assembly approval?
- Yes, if a majority of the committee agrees
- Only if the bylaws grant the committee that specific authority (Correct answer)
- Yes, standing committees always have full authority
- No, all committee actions must be ratified by the full board first
Correct answer: Only if the bylaws grant the committee that specific authority
Committees act on the authority delegated to them; only explicit bylaw or assembly authorization allows a committee to take binding action.
Question 6: When a committee report is presented to the assembly, who typically moves to adopt the report's recommendations?
- The committee chair on behalf of the committee (Correct answer)
- Any member wishing to support the report
- The presiding officer
- The secretary who recorded the committee's minutes
Correct answer: The committee chair on behalf of the committee
The committee chair or a designated committee member moves the adoption of the committee's recommendations on behalf of the committee.
CP CP Committees & Special Bodies 1
What is the fundamental difference between a 'standing committee' and a 'special committee'?