Ruling After Meeting Closed

[Guest Bob]

Scenario:

Motion is made and adopted during the meeting. The meeting is closed.

A day later, after reviewing the Secretary's minutes and the adopted motion, the Chair calls the motion out of order.

Is this allowed? If not, what could the Chair do to squash the motion?

[Gary Novosielski]

Well, outside of the context of a meeting the chair can't rule anything out of order. The motion was not ruled out of order when it was discussed and approved, so as far as RONR is concerned, it has already passed.

Whether there's anything that can be done at the next meeting depends on what the chair is basing this claim upon. But it would have to be pretty serious. The chair does not have to power to simply nullify a decision of the assembly.

[Guest Bob]

The motion, upon further reflexion, is a clear violation of the bylaws. So, with the motion adopted and the meeting closed, how do we get it "off the books"? Rescind?

[Gary c Tesser]

No, to rescind the motion (p. 307, but don't look now) would imply that it had been legitimate. The chair, or anyone else (yes, I do mean any member, not some well-meaning passerby like Gary Novosielski or me), raises a point of order, citing p. 251 ( a ) (to look smugly authoritative).

[Trina]

The motion, upon further reflexion, is a clear violation of the bylaws. So, with the motion adopted and the meeting closed, how do we get it "off the books"? Rescind?

You can't formally do anything about the offending motion until you have another meeting.

What do you mean by getting the motion "off the books" -- are you hoping to make it disappear without a trace for some reason? Or do you simply mean acknowledging that the motion is null and void (which would be the result if a point of order is made about a p. 251 (a) violation, and if that point of order is found well taken).