CP Meeting Management & Presiding Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a member addresses the chair and begins speaking before recognition is granted, the presiding officer should:
- Allow the member to continue if the topic is relevant
- Immediately call the member out of order
- Politely interrupt and require proper recognition before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Ignore the breach and let others respond
Correct answer: Politely interrupt and require proper recognition before proceeding
The presiding officer must maintain orderly procedure by requiring members to obtain recognition before speaking.
Question 2: A motion is on the floor and a member moves to 'lay it on the table.' The chair should:
- Treat it as a motion to postpone indefinitely
- Immediately put it to a vote without debate (Correct answer)
- Allow brief debate before voting
- Require a two-thirds vote for adoption
Correct answer: Immediately put it to a vote without debate
The motion to lay on the table is undebatable and requires only a majority vote.
Question 3: When a tie vote occurs on a main motion, the result is:
- The motion is sent to committee for further study
- The motion fails since it did not achieve the required majority (Correct answer)
- The chair must cast the deciding vote
- The motion is tabled until the next meeting
Correct answer: The motion fails since it did not achieve the required majority
A tie vote means the motion has not received a majority and therefore fails.
Question 4: During a meeting, the chair realizes they have a personal conflict of interest on a pending motion. The proper action is to:
- Continue presiding but abstain from voting
- Declare the conflict, turn the chair over temporarily, and participate as a member (Correct answer)
- Rule the motion out of order
- Call for a recess to resolve the conflict
Correct answer: Declare the conflict, turn the chair over temporarily, and participate as a member
A presiding officer with a conflict of interest should relinquish the chair temporarily so they may participate or abstain as a regular member.
Question 5: Which of the following statements is TRUE about the motion to 'call for the orders of the day'?
- It requires a second and is debatable
- It is a privileged motion that forces adherence to the adopted agenda (Correct answer)
- It can only be made by the presiding officer
- It requires a two-thirds vote to adopt
Correct answer: It is a privileged motion that forces adherence to the adopted agenda
Call for the orders of the day is a privileged motion used to compel the assembly to follow its adopted agenda or schedule.
Question 6: When the presiding officer states 'the ayes have it,' a member immediately calls 'Division!' The chair must:
- Ignore the call if satisfied with the voice vote result
- Order a standing or counted vote (Correct answer)
- Rule the call out of order as dilatory
- Require the member to submit a written request
Correct answer: Order a standing or counted vote
A call for division is a demand for a more verifiable vote and the chair must conduct a standing or counted vote.
Question 7: The presiding officer may vote by ballot when:
- They wish to remain neutral on a controversial issue
- The bylaws grant the chair a special casting vote
- The assembly votes by ballot and the chair is a member (Correct answer)
- A two-thirds majority requests the chair to vote
Correct answer: The assembly votes by ballot and the chair is a member
When voting is by ballot, the chair—if a member—may cast a ballot since ballot voting preserves anonymity.
CP Meeting Management & Presiding Skills 2
When a member addresses the chair and begins speaking before recognition is granted, the presiding officer should: