CP Quorum, Notice & Orders of Business 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RONR, in the absence of a bylaw provision, what constitutes a quorum for a membership organization?
- A majority of the members enrolled (Correct answer)
- Two-thirds of the members present
- Any number of members who attend
- The number specified by state law
Correct answer: A majority of the members enrolled
RONR specifies that without a bylaw provision, a quorum is a majority of all members unless the organization's rules provide otherwise.
Question 2: If a quorum is lost during the course of a meeting, which of the following actions is PERMITTED?
- Vote to ratify all prior business conducted during the meeting
- Adopt a main motion by unanimous consent of those remaining
- Adjourn, recess, or take steps to obtain a quorum (Correct answer)
- Continue transacting routine business until the end of the hour
Correct answer: Adjourn, recess, or take steps to obtain a quorum
When quorum is lost, the assembly may only adopt a motion to adjourn, recess, fix the time to which to adjourn, or take measures to obtain a quorum.
Question 3: What is the parliamentary status of business transacted without a quorum present?
- Valid if approved by a two-thirds vote at the next meeting
- Null and void unless ratified by the full membership (Correct answer)
- Provisionally valid until challenged within 30 days
- Binding only on members who were present
Correct answer: Null and void unless ratified by the full membership
Business transacted without a quorum is null and void and has no legal effect unless the full membership ratifies it at a subsequent meeting with a quorum present.
Question 4: Under RONR, who bears primary responsibility for determining whether a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting?
- The secretary, by counting attendance cards
- The chair (presiding officer) (Correct answer)
- The parliamentarian
- A quorum committee appointed for that purpose
Correct answer: The chair (presiding officer)
The chair (presiding officer) is responsible for determining whether a quorum is present before calling the meeting to order and proceeding with business.
Question 5: If an organization's bylaws specify a quorum of 25 members, can a meeting with 24 members present lower the quorum requirement by a majority vote?
- Yes, if the reduction is temporary and for that meeting only
- Yes, if a two-thirds vote approves the reduction
- No, quorum requirements can only be changed by amending the bylaws (Correct answer)
- No, unless the bylaws include a dispensation clause
Correct answer: No, quorum requirements can only be changed by amending the bylaws
Quorum requirements are fixed in the bylaws and cannot be altered by any vote taken at a meeting; they can only be changed through the formal process of amending the bylaws.
Question 6: For a board of directors, what is the quorum when the bylaws make no provision?
- A majority of the entire board (Correct answer)
- One-third of the board members
- Any three board members
- A majority of those board members present
Correct answer: A majority of the entire board
RONR provides that without a specific bylaw provision, the quorum for a board of directors is a majority of the entire membership of the board.
Question 7: A member raises a point of order that a quorum is not present. The chair counts and finds 19 members are present; the quorum is 20. What should the chair do?
- Declare the point well taken, but allow business to continue for 15 minutes
- Declare the point well taken and announce no business can be transacted (Correct answer)
- Declare the point not well taken since business was already underway
- Take a recess automatically for one hour to allow members to arrive
Correct answer: Declare the point well taken and announce no business can be transacted
The chair must declare the point well taken and announce that no business can be transacted, limiting further action to adjourning, recessing, or taking steps to obtain a quorum.
CP Quorum, Notice & Orders of Business 1
Under RONR, in the absence of a bylaw provision, what constitutes a quorum for a membership organization?