Do committee reports and other such reports (simply containing information) need a motion to approve it?

[Guest Michael]

I read in RONR that no action is to be taken by the assembly on the Treasurer's report other than to file it or receive it (motion to approve it is not necessary). How about other reports such as committee reports, reports of the officers, etc. that only contain information and no recommendations? What is the proper action that the assembly should take? Should they vote to approve / accept these report? Or should these reports be simply filed / received just like the Treasurer's report? Any reference in RONR 11th ed that can help me? Thanks.

 

 

[Matt Schafer]

Reports from officers or committees that contain only information should simply be filed, just as with the treasurer's report.  If the assembly is not going to take any action on the report, then no motion is necessary (RONR 11th ed., p. 506, ll. 30-34, and p. 508, ll. 19-24).

 

More dangerous is a motion to accept the report.  This is a different way of saying that the assembly is going to adopt the entire report (p. 508, ll. 28-35).

 

The president should simply order the secretary to file the report after the officer or committee chairman reads it.

[Guest Michael]

Thanks very much! That helped a lot, especially the references!