CP Quorum, Notice & Orders of Business 3

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

At the next meeting of the same body

Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 5

Under RONR, 'unfinished business' consists of:

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

(CP) Certified Parliamentarian Practice Test

(CP) Certified Parliamentarian Practice Test

CP Quorum, Notice & Orders of Business 3