Discussion by board members

[Guest Guest]

We have several board members that will go overboard in their speaking/comments at board meetings, sometimes causing havoc with board members and/or with the audience.   The discussion is usually regarding the agenda item but will go off track somewhat.  Can the board president (chairperson), stop or put an end to the comments/discussion and ask board members to cast their vote?  

 

[Chris Harrison]

If a member breaches decorum or goes off-topic during debate the Chair (or any member) can and should raise a Point of Order on the subject.  See RONR pp. 247-255 and pp. 391-394.  As for stopping debate unilaterally the Chair doesn't have that authority.

[Gary Novosielski]

The chair should stop a member from speaking if the member has exceeded the allotted time for a speech (by default 10 minutes, unless you have a different special rule), and should refuse to recognize a member who has made the allowed number of speeches on a single question (by default, two--and the second time only after all others who wish to speak have done so once).

 

The chair should also stop a member from speaking if all time for debate (as set by a special rule or motion to limit debate) had expired.

 

 

There are other situations such as the arrival of a time set for adjournment or for taking up a special order, etc., but in all cases the chair is merely enforcing rules adopted by the society, not making decisions on his own.

[Guest Guest]

Thanks.  This does help.