Can the president table a discussion on their own?

[Guest MissOhPage]

The president of our board, facing some heavy criticism about her recent behavior, announced she was tabling the discussion unilaterallly, as allowed in Roberts Rules of Order. Can she do that?

[Josh Martin]

The president of our board, facing some heavy criticism about her recent behavior, announced she was tabling the discussion unilaterallly, as allowed in Roberts Rules of Order. Can she do that?

No. Robert's Rules allows no such thing. The motion to Lay on the Table requires a majority vote for adoption.

It's quite possible she meant some other motion, since the motion to Lay on the Table is frequently misused, but the other motions she might have had in mind also require a majority vote for adoption (or more, in some cases). See FAQs #12 and #13.

[Gary Novosielski]

The president of our board, facing some heavy criticism about her recent behavior, announced she was tabling the discussion unilaterallly, as allowed in Roberts Rules of Order. Can she do that?

Of course not. Unless you let her get away with it, which it sounds like you may have done.

[David A Foulkes]

I don't think you can table discussion, at least per RONR. Whether it's appropriate to have that discussion (as opposed to debate on a pending motion) is a whole other can of worms I'm not opening. Next time she tries to pull this as "allowed in Robert's Rules of Order", ask her to show you where it states that in the book. You might want to bring an overnight bag if you plan to wait for it.