small boards

[Guest Patti]

Roberts Rules state that a corporate board smaller than 12 can have discussion before a motion is made. We are a School Board of 7, and have always discussed items prior to a motion and a second being made. We are being challenged on this by a new board member. Any help with this would be appreciated!

[Tim Wynn]

Roberts Rules state that a corporate board smaller than 12 can have discussion before a motion is made. We are a School Board of 7, and have always discussed items prior to a motion and a second being made. We are being challenged on this by a new board member. Any help with this would be appreciated!

In small boards, informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending and motions do not require a second. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 470, and show it to the new board member.

[Ann Rempel]

In small boards, informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending and motions do not require a second. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 470, and show it to the new board member.

And at the end of the month, when the second edition of the book is released, I recommend giving each board member a copy of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief.

[Rob Elsman]

In small boards, informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion is pending and motions do not require a second. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 470, and show it to the new board member.

Because of its small size, a school board of seven members is not fully in the nature of a deliberative assembly, to which parliamentary procedure principally applies. Therefore, some of the patterns of formality that would be appropriate for a larger assembly may actually be a hindrance in a small body like this. See RONR (10th ed.), p. 1, ll. 15-17; p. 9, ll. 11-29.