Obtaining the floor

[Guest Dan]

Hello, I am a Robert's novice.  Our organization is struggling with the question of when does a member obtain the floor for purposes of making a motion.  We generally follow an agenda, although the agenda does not call out new business.  Generally the agenda lists a series of motions which are to be voted and contains a sections for various reports. The chair has taken the position that only motions appearing on the agenda are in order because the agenda does not provide for new business.  A few members disagree.  Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Gary Novosielski]

6 minutes ago, Guest Dan said:

Hello, I am a Robert's novice.  Our organization is struggling with the question of when does a member obtain the floor for purposes of making a motion.  We generally follow an agenda, although the agenda does not call out new business.  Generally the agenda lists a series of motions which are to be voted and contains a sections for various reports. The chair has taken the position that only motions appearing on the agenda are in order because the agenda does not provide for new business.  A few members disagree.  Any assistance would be appreciated.

The chair is incorrect.

First, why does New Business not appear on the agenda?  Is the agenda adopted by the assembly at the start of the meeting, or is it just plopped down by the chair, and that's it?  If the latter, it is not binding at all.  If the former, anyone can move to add New Business to the agenda.

But even if there is no heading for New Business, it is not correct that this prevents people from making new motions.  When all the business on the agenda is disposed of, and before adjournment, a member may obtain the floor and make a motion as if under New Business.

[Richard Brown]

Unless you have a bylaw provision or a special rule of order to the contrary, your organization should be following the standard order of business listed in RONR, which has new business as the last item in the order of business. You cannot prevent the introduction of new business by adopting an agenda which doesn’t provide for it. Further, I suspect your organization is not formally adopting an agenda at each meeting, but is rather just following one which has been prepared by the president or secretary. If that is the case, the agenda is not binding but is merely a guide for the president’s  use in staying on track during the meeting.

Edited to add:  Even if  the agenda has been formally adopted, new business would be in order once all items on the agenda have been completed.

Edited February 23, 2021 at 10:58 PM by Richard Brown
Added last paragraph

[Joshua Katz]

1 hour ago, Guest Dan said:

Our organization is struggling with the question of when does a member obtain the floor for purposes of making a motion. 

This is the sort of question that makes me think something has gone very wrong prior to this point. 

[Richard Brown]

2 hours ago, Joshua Katz said:

This is the sort of question that makes me think something has gone very wrong prior to this point. 

My guess is that it is the agenda they follow and the way it is prepared and probably by whom it is prepared. 

[Rob Elsman]

In most cases a member rises to seek recognition for making a motion when no other member has been assigned the floor; however, there are instances when a member can interrupt in order to make a motion.  Your group needs to study RONR (12th ed.) §42.

As to the matter of an agenda, it is not customary for an assembly that regularly meets as frequently as the quarterly time interval to adopt an agenda at each meeting.  The standard order of business or a special order of business adopted by the organization should be used, instead, as the established order of business at each regular meeting.