Motions

[Guest Kyle]

Can a President make or second a motion?

[Benjamin Geiger]

The chair should abstain from making or seconding motions, debating, or voting except by ballot or when it would decide the motion.

The chair, however, does have the option of recusing themself in order to participate in debate or make or second motions. In that case, while that person may still be President, they are not chair anymore and may make motions.

Edited March 9, 2018 at 03:03 PM by Benjamin Geiger

[Guest Who's Coming to Dinner]

In a committee or small board meeting, yes; no second is required in those circumstances.

[Richard Brown]

Note that if this is a board of no more than about a dozen members, under the small board rules of RONR the president may make motions, debate, vote and participate along with all of the other numbers.

If this is not a board meeting, but a meeting of the general membership, then the rule as stated above by Mr. Geiger applies

Edited to add:  Upon re-reading the "Small Board Rules" on pages 477-478 of RONR, I notice that although voting and speaking in debate are specifically listed as things the chair can do when operating under the small board rules, making motions is not one of those items specifically mentioned as permissible.  However, the footnote on page 478 does seem to indicate that the chair can make motions if he desires to do so.

Here is the text of the relevant provision from the "Small Board Rules":  "If the chairman is a member, he may, without leaving the chair, speak in informal discussions and in debate, and vote on all questions.**

And here is the wording of the footnote indicated by the two asterisks: "**Informal discussion may be initiated by the chairman himself, which, in effect, enables the chairman to submit his own proposals without formally making a motion as described on pages 33–35 (although he has the right to make a motion if he wishes). "

My takeaway from that is that the chair may also make motions when operating under the small board rules, but I welcome further discussion on that point.  Perhaps the footnote is simply making an indirect reference that the chair always has the right to make motions, debate and vote, but should refrain from doing so in order to maintain an appearance of impartiality.

Edited March 9, 2018 at 03:47 PM by Richard Brown
Added last four paragraphs re the chair making motions in small boards