Past president

[Guest R Jscobs]

Question - Can a motion be brought to the group by the president?  My understanding is that the leader cannot intiate motions, but needs to wait for a member to do so

[Hieu H. Huynh]

See FAQ #1.

[Gary Novosielski]

2 hours ago, Guest R Jscobs said:

Question - Can a motion be brought to the group by the president?  My understanding is that the leader cannot intiate motions, but needs to wait for a member to do so

It depends upon the nature of "the group".   If it is a small board or committee, the president is free to make motions.  If it is a large assembly, the president should not.

[jstackpo]

8 hours ago, Guest R Jscobs said:

Question - Can a motion be brought to the group by the president?  My understanding is that the leader cannot intiate motions, but needs to wait for a member to do so

There is also no harm-no foul if the president does a bit of pre-meeting politicking to "encourage" a member to make the motion in question.  The president, when presiding, can then keep his/her impartiality intact.

That's called "leadership".

[Transpower]

From an old RONR FAQ, which as far as I can tell has not been contradicted by RONR (11th ed.):

"The chair's ability to 'assume' a motion that has not actually been made by another member exists to facilitate the business of the assembly, not to give the chair an opportunity to make a motion whose consideration he or she, as an individual member, believes would be desirable. Assuming a motion, rather than waiting or calling for the motion to be made, is appropriate as a means of saving the time of the assembly when it is obvious that the motion is necessary or appropriate in light of the pending business."