Did motion pass?

[Guest Barb Janicek]

At our board meeting last night a controversial motion was made. Out of 8 directors, six were present, I have no vote as president. Of the five voting members present, two voted aye, one voted nay, and two abstained. Did the motion pass? Our constitution says it takes a majority to pass a motion but is vague on details.

[jstackpo]

Whether the two "yes" votes were enough to adopt the motion will depend on the exact wording of your bylaws. See p. 588 ff. for some advice on how to figure out the interpretation.

We are not in a position here to interpret the meaning of your (or anybody's) bylaws; RONR is quite enough for us, thank you.

[Guest Edgar]

Did the motion pass?

If all that was required was a majority vote, it passed 2-1. For that matter, even if a two-thirds vote was required, it passed.

[g40]

If you follow RONR, then the motion passed (assuming the motion required a majority). Two in favor, one against is a majority of those present and voting. (2 of 3 is more than half).

Do your bylaws say that you, as president, have no vote? If not, and you follow RONR, then under the rules in RONR for small boards of fewer than about a dozen members, you would have a vote.

[Tim Wynn]

If you follow RONR, then the motion passed (assuming the motion required a majority). Two in favor, one against is a majority of those present and voting. (2 of 3 is more than half).

Do your bylaws say that you, as president, have no vote? If not, and you follow RONR, then under the rules in RONR for small boards of fewer than about a dozen members, you would have a vote.

Failing a rule to the contrary in the bylaws, he would have a vote in any size assembly or committee of which he is a member. The original poster should see FAQ #1 for the details of when a presiding officer should vote.

[David A Foulkes]

At our board meeting last night a controversial motion was made. Out of 8 directors, six were present, I have no vote as president. Of the five voting members present, two voted aye, one voted nay, and two abstained. Did the motion pass? Our constitution says it takes a majority to pass a motion but is vague on details.

And just because it may be worth mentioning, abstentions should not be called for, nor do they have any effect on the voting result except in those rare cases when the voting threshold is "off the members present" or "of the entire membership." Of course, in a group of five, it may be difficult not to be aware of how many members abstained. Nonetheless, it typically bears not recording these non-votes.

[Trina]

Failing a rule to the contrary in the bylaws, he would have a vote in any size assembly or committee of which he is a member. The original poster should see FAQ #1 for the details of when a presiding officer should vote.

Barb Janicek' timestamp='1347980199' post='85305']

At our board meeting last night

...

The poster's name would appear to give a clue about (his or) her gender. I may be wrong, of course.