Discussion Meetings Versus Voting Meetings

[Guest Brent]

Does Roberts Rules of Order allow for a question and discussion meeting only and then a voting meeting only at a later date? If so what section of the rules cover this?

[Chris Harrison]

Does Roberts Rules of Order allow for a question and discussion meeting only

Part of considering a motion includes voting on the question....and...

and then a voting meeting only at a later date?

Part of considering a motion is to have an opportunity to debate the merits of the question (unless the motion is not debatable). See RONR pp. 32-54. There is no mechanism under RONR to set up a meeting where one or more of those components is not allowed unless you adopt a Special Rule of Order which requires a 2/3 vote if previous notice was given or a majority of the ENTIRE membership if notice wasn't given (RONR p. 17 ll. 28-31).

[Sean Hunt]

Part of considering a motion is to have an opportunity to debate the merits of the question (unless the motion is not debatable). See RONR pp. 32-54. There is no mechanism under RONR to set up a meeting where one or more of those components is not allowed unless you adopt a Special Rule of Order which requires a 2/3 vote if previous notice was given or a majority of the ENTIRE membership if notice wasn't given (RONR p. 17 ll. 28-31).

I believe that if there were multiple meetings in the same session, this could be done, but this could not be done across different sessions.

[David A Foulkes]

Does Roberts Rules of Order allow for a question and discussion meeting only and then a voting meeting only at a later date? If so what section of the rules cover this?

Nothing (in RONR) prevents any number of members gathering unofficially (just don't call it a meeting) to discuss, debate, hammer out some compromises, what have you, and thus being prepared to go into the actual meeting later and bring the motion to the floor, and to a vote, perhaps with only a minor bit of additioanal debate.

Depending on the type of organization (some public entity perhaps), you may be subject to 'sunshine laws' which could be problematic in this. Otherwise, not.

[George Mervosh]

Does Roberts Rules of Order allow for a question and discussion meeting only and then a voting meeting only at a later date? If so what section of the rules cover this?

In one instance. "When a committee is to make substantive recommendations or decisions on an important matter, it should give members of the society an opportunity to appear before it and present their views on the subject at a time scheduled by the committee. Such a meeting is usually called a hearing. During actual deliberations of the committee, only committee members have the right to be present." RONR (11th ed.), p. 501, ll. 7-13

If this is what you're referring to, additional discussion could take place during the meeting at which the committee is presenting its recommendations, so it would not be a "voting meeting only".