Denise H. Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:20 PM Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:20 PM Before a motion is put to the members, can a chair ask for clarification (not debate) from the maker of a motion if the language of the motion is unclear, confusing, or vague? Should the chair put forth the motion and wait for a member to raise the lack of clarity of the motion? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:37 PM Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:37 PM 13 minutes ago, Denise H. said: Before a motion is put to the members, can a chair ask for clarification (not debate) from the maker of a motion if the language of the motion is unclear, confusing, or vague? Yes. Indeed, it is the chair's duty to do so. "If a motion is offered in a wording that is not clear or that requires smoothing before it can be recorded in the minutes, it is the duty of the chair to see that the motion is put into suitable form—preserving the content to the satisfaction of the mover—before the question is stated. The chair must never admit a motion that the secretary would have to paraphrase for the record. The chair—either on his own initiative or at the secretary’s request—can require any main motion (10), amendment (12), or instructions to a committee to be in writing before he states the question." RONR (12th ed.) 4:18 13 minutes ago, Denise H. said: Should the chair put forth the motion and wait for a member to raise the lack of clarity of the motion? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:44 PM Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 at 11:44 PM (edited) 23 minutes ago, Denise H. said: Before a motion is put to the members, can a chair ask for clarification (not debate) from the maker of a motion if the language of the motion is unclear, confusing, or vague? Should the chair put forth the motion and wait for a member to raise the lack of clarity of the motion? Thanks in advance. Yes, in fact RONR says the chair has a duty to help a member to properly phrase a motion or to use the right motion if the member is unsure what to do or is not expressing himself well. In doing so, it is permissible for the chair to ask the member questions in order to determine what it is the member is trying to accomplish. See RONR (12th ed.) 4.17 and 4.18 Edited to add: the chair need not wait for the member or anyone else to ask for help or clarification. Edited September 21, 2020 at 11:45 PM by Richard Brown Added last paragraph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryn Ann Harlos Posted September 22, 2020 at 12:15 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 at 12:15 AM 31 minutes ago, Richard Brown said: Yes, in fact RONR says the chair has a duty to help a member to properly phrase a motion or to use the right motion if the member is unsure what to do or is not expressing himself well. In doing so, it is permissible for the chair to ask the member questions in order to determine what it is the member is trying to accomplish. See RONR (12th ed.) 4.17 and 4.18 Edited to add: the chair need not wait for the member or anyone else to ask for help or clarification. Sarwark was the champ at that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise H. Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:30 AM Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:30 AM Thank you all so much. I thought I was going crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:37 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:37 AM 6 minutes ago, Denise H. said: Thank you all so much. I thought I was going crazy. Well, we haven't definitively ruled that out. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise H. Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:49 AM Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:49 AM 11 minutes ago, Gary Novosielski said: Well, we haven't definitively ruled that out. 🙂 LOL. Well, neither have I. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:59 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 at 01:59 AM 1 hour ago, Caryn Ann Harlos said: Sarwark was the champ at that. Yes, absolutely!! He is an outstanding presiding officer!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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