Guest Damon Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:28 PM Report Share Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:28 PM Our board has a tradition of any member being able to adjourn simply by saying: "I move we adjourn this meeting." Then we don't vote or anything, that is just it. Is this right? Is it good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:29 PM Report Share Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:29 PM No, it's not right, and no it's not good. A majority vote is required to adjourn a meeting. Raise a point of order. Tradition (what parliametarians call custom) falls to the ground in the face of a rule on paper--paper such as the pages of RONR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:33 PM Report Share Posted November 6, 2019 at 10:33 PM Ah, the "tyranny of consensus" again. It doesn't get any better than this. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted November 7, 2019 at 12:29 AM Report Share Posted November 7, 2019 at 12:29 AM 1 hour ago, Guest Damon said: Our board has a tradition of any member being able to adjourn simply by saying: "I move we adjourn this meeting." Then we don't vote or anything, that is just it. Is this right? Is it good? I generally concur with Mr. Novosielski, although I would also note that there are some circumstances in which the chair may declare a meeting adjourned on his own initiative. The most common of these is when the assembly has completed its entire order of business and no member seeks the floor to introduce new business. Is this the situation in your board, or are members moving to adjourn when there is still business remaining? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted November 7, 2019 at 01:05 AM Report Share Posted November 7, 2019 at 01:05 AM I doubt that "that is just it" is a proper way to handle a privileged motion to Adjourn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted November 7, 2019 at 02:42 AM Report Share Posted November 7, 2019 at 02:42 AM (edited) 2 hours ago, Josh Martin said: I generally concur with Mr. Novosielski, although I would also note that there are some circumstances in which the chair may declare a meeting adjourned on his own initiative. The most common of these is when the assembly has completed its entire order of business and no member seeks the floor to introduce new business. Is this the situation in your board, or are members moving to adjourn when there is still business remaining? That's true, as well as situations where danger threatens, but the question was about a member making a motion to adjourn. If this is merely being done at the normal ending time when its clear to all that the meeting has run its course, then it's a relatively harmless custom, but if members believe they can unilaterally shut down a meeting at will, that's a Bad Thing. At best, it's a bad habit. Edited November 7, 2019 at 02:43 AM by Gary Novosielski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Elsman Posted November 7, 2019 at 03:22 AM Report Share Posted November 7, 2019 at 03:22 AM I cannot imagine handling a formal motion to Adjourn by "that is just it", even if all the members would vote in favor, were it put to a vote. While it is true the chair may declare a meeting adjourned in lieu of a motion when it is clear there is no further business to transact, the chair does not have that power when a formal motion has been made. "That is just it" is absolutely no way for the chair to respond to a formal motion to Adjourn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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