Agenda violation

[Guest Rob Woronuk]

The agenda starts with a special rules of order item which reorders items on the agenda. For example it moves an item to be dealt with on the next day to be moved immediately following the reading of the special rules of order. This results in many members missing that agenda item. This seems to be a violation of some principle. What is that principle and what is the status of motions addressed in the earlier time?

[Guest Edgar]

This results in many members missing that agenda item.

The agenda is not the agenda until it's adopted at the beginning of the meeting so "last-minute" changes are not prohibited. If members don't want to miss anything they should show up when the meeting is called to order (and remain until it's adjourned.) Even an adopted agenda could be changed during the meeting. Very little is "carved in stone" in parliamentary procedure since the assembly is usually free to change its mind.

See also FAQ #14.

[Trina]

The agenda starts with a special rules of order item which reorders items on the agenda. For example it moves an item to be dealt with on the next day to be moved immediately following the reading of the special rules of order. This results in many members missing that agenda item. This seems to be a violation of some principle. What is that principle and what is the status of motions addressed in the earlier time?

What's the nature of the 'next day' item? If it is something that requires notice, and if the notice given to the members told them that this particular matter would be dealt with on the next day, then the process you describe would violate notice requirements, and action taken on the item would be null and void.

However, if notice is not required, re-read Edgar's response.

[Bruce Lages]

And just to amplify Edgar's response, you can re-order the items on an agenda by a majority vote (or preferably unanimous consent) if it is done before the agenda is adopted at the beginning of the meeting. There is no need to get involved in a special rule of order to do this, especially since special rules of order have more stringent voting requirements.