Can Chair rule Motion to Adjourn is out or order

[Guest William Sanders]

Does the Chair of a meeting have a "right" or the authority under Robert's Rules to rule a motion to Adjourn is out of order at the time it is made? Scenario: A meeting has been going on for a while and a member stands to make a motion to Adjourn. It is my contention the Chair should first ascertain if there is any other business to bring before the Local before accepting the motion to Adjourn.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Does the Chair of a meeting have a "right" or the authority under Robert's Rules to rule a motion to Adjourn is out of order at the time it is made?

Yes. Indeed, that is the primary job of a chair - to rule that a motion is in order or not in order.

It is my contention the Chair should first ascertain if there is any other business to bring before the Local before accepting the motion to Adjourn.

True. See page 230 in RONR.

But that fact does not make the motion "out of order". It is just a minor hurdle, to acknowlege, or to ignore, as the majority decides.

[Rob Elsman]

A motion to Adjourn is not out of order on account that there is, or might be, more business to transact. On the other hand, a member obtains the floor before making the motion. If this member stood up and blurted out his motion while another member was rising to claim the floor, it was proper for the chair to rule the motion to Adjourn out of order on account that it was made by one who did not have the floor. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 232, ll. 25-28.

[Robert B Fish]

However, to be clear, the minority may not require the majority to continue meeting if the majority wishes to adjourn. The member wishing to advance that point must obtain the floor and make the motion. The motion requires a second, is not debatable, and requires a majority to pass.

The chairman could probably get away with saying something like, "we still have some important business to consider," although some groups would quickly call him/her to order for debating an undebatable motion.

This is a useful tool to use when your chairman continually allows meetings to run well past the point of member interest. You could just walk out but adjourning assures you that no more business will be conducted by the remaining members.

-Bob

[J. J.]

Yes. Indeed, that is the primary job of a chair - to rule that a motion is in order or not in order.

True. See page 230 in RONR.

But that fact does not make the motion "out of order". It is just a minor hurdle, to acknowlege, or to ignore, as the majority decides.

Generally, and there are exceptions, a motion to adjourn may be made while another question is pending, though a member cannot interrupt a speaker to make the motion.