Motion sequence

[Guest greg carlsted]

two questions:

1)Is the motion sequence as follows: motion made, someone seconds the motion, then there is debated/discussion of the motion then vote on the motion by the committee?

2) Does the chairman of the committee typically vote on motions made or only in a tie-breaking situation ?

[jstackpo]

1) Essentially correct, but see p. 32 ff. for some steps you have left out.

2) in a "small" committee (less than about 12 members) chair can be a full participant. It is up to the parent organization (that established the committee) to decide if the committee must follow stricter rules. See p. 500

[George Mervosh]

1) Essentially correct, but see p. 32 ff. for some steps you have left out.

2) in a "small" committee (less than about 12 members) chair can be a full participant. It is up to the parent organization (that established the committee) to decide if the committee must follow stricter rules. See p. 500

"The informalities and modifications of the regular rules of parliamentary procedure listed on pages 487-88 for use in small boards are applicable during the meetings of all standing and special committees, unless the committee is otherwise instructed by the society (see next paragraph); also, ......" RONR (11th ed.), p. 500, ll. 9-13

No mention of the 'about a dozen members present'. The rule is they will follow the modified rules, unless otherwise instructed.

[jstackpo]

Point well taken. I carried the "small" in the first paragraph into the second.

[Gary Novosielski]

2) Does the chairman of the committee typically vote on motions made or only in a tie-breaking situation ?

In a committee, the chair is expected to participate like any member.

And for future reference, even in large assemblies it is not true that the chair votes "only" in a tie-breaking situation. The chair may freely choose to vote whenever the vote is by ballot, or whenever his single vote would make a difference in the outcome. He may "break" (or create) a tie, afford (or deny) a 2/3 vote, or in any other case where he can (and wants to) affect the result.

But in no case does he get more than one vote.

[Josh Martin]

1)Is the motion sequence as follows: motion made, someone seconds the motion, then there is debated/discussion of the motion then vote on the motion by the committee?

The full motion sequence (for a committee) is as follows: a member makes the motion, the chair states the question on the motion, members debate the motion, the chair puts the question to a vote, and the chair announces the result of the vote.

Seconds aren't required in committees.

2) Does the chairman of the committee typically vote on motions made or only in a tie-breaking situation ?

In a committee, the chair typically votes on motions.

[Guest Edgar]

In a committee, the chair is expected to participate like any member.

If not more so (p.500, ll.17-19.)