Guest T. Jevyak Posted November 13, 2019 at 01:50 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 01:50 PM I am a little rusty on Roberts Rules, it has been awhile. At a recent meeting a motion was made to offer a resolution for consideration. It was duly seconded. However, no vote was taken on the acceptance of the motion. Someone did ask about a vote. They were told not needed. I think the concern was that we would be agreeing with the resolution. Our normal process is to have three readings of the resolution, then debating and voting on it. So, the question; is this a valid motion? My thought is that a vote was needed to advance the resolution through the normal process and is not acceptance of the resolution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:05 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:05 PM 10 minutes ago, Guest T. Jevyak said: Our normal process is to have three readings of the resolution, then debating and voting on it. Where does the three readings procedure come from? Is it in your bylaws? Your special rules of order? Custom? Nothing in RONR requires three or even two readings. Someone makes a motion, the motion is seconded, the motion is debated and possibly amended, and a vote is taken. It normally all transpires at the same meeting. So, based on the rules in RONR, it certainly sounds like a legitimate motion. However, your three reading process throws a monkey wrench into it and I don’t think we can answer your question without knowing more about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest T. Jevyak Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:26 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:26 PM Three readings is required to amend the by-laws, which this would be doing. Our custom is to read at the initial meeting, post in the newsletter the resolution for the second reading and the date and time we would be reading it the third time. At the announced date and time, we then debate and vote on acceptance or denial. But regardless of this particular situation, what happens when no vote was taken and recorded on a motion? Is any motion valid without a clear record of aye or nay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:49 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 02:49 PM 21 minutes ago, Guest T. Jevyak said: Three readings is required to amend the by-laws, which this would be doing. Our custom is to read at the initial meeting, post in the newsletter the resolution for the second reading and the date and time we would be reading it the third time. At the announced date and time, we then debate and vote on acceptance or denial. But regardless of this particular situation, what happens when no vote was taken and recorded on a motion? Is any motion valid without a clear record of aye or nay? Why would there be a vote prior to going through your three reading process? Or did that take place already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atul Kapur Posted November 13, 2019 at 03:39 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 03:39 PM Is this at the "third reading" stage? Did the presiding officer say why no vote was required? Did it pass by General Consent? Did the chair declare that the motion was adopted or lost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted November 13, 2019 at 05:49 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 05:49 PM i’m still waiting for an explanation as to where the three reading requirement is spelled out. Is it in the bylaws? A special rule of order? Custom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted November 13, 2019 at 06:06 PM Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 at 06:06 PM 3 hours ago, Guest T. Jevyak said: Three readings is required to amend the by-laws, which this would be doing. Our custom is to read at the initial meeting, post in the newsletter the resolution for the second reading and the date and time we would be reading it the third time. At the announced date and time, we then debate and vote on acceptance or denial. But regardless of this particular situation, what happens when no vote was taken and recorded on a motion? Is any motion valid without a clear record of aye or nay? In the ordinary case, if no vote is taken, and there is also no request for unanimous consent, then the motion is not adopted. It is not clear, however, how this applies in this instance. We are told that this assembly has a rule which requires three readings for an amendment to the bylaws. It is not clear from the facts provided whether a vote is required for each of these readings or if a vote is only required for the final adoption of the motion. RONR has no answer to this question since it does not require three readings. So ultimately, this question will need to be answered through carefully reviewing the rules in your bylaws on this matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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