Do we automatically follow the rules of "small boards" (RONR 12th - 49:21) if the board is 12 members or less, or does a motion need to be made to follow the small board rules?

[user]

What if there's a dispute as to whether we're following those rules or not? For example, what if a member tries to speak in debate more than twice, and one person argues it's ok since we're following the small board rules, and the another person argues we're not following those rules? There are many other possible examples also, such as whether the motion needs to be seconded or if informal discussion is permitted.

This seems to be complicated even more by the fact that the language sets the cutoff as "about a dozen members present" instead of a hard exact numerical cutoff.

[Josh Martin]

On 12/6/2021 at 5:07 PM, user said:

What if there's a dispute as to whether we're following those rules or not? For example, what if a member tries to speak in debate more than twice, and one person argues it's ok since we're following the small board rules, and the another person argues we're not following those rules? There are many other possible examples also, such as whether the motion needs to be seconded or if informal discussion is permitted.

This seems to be complicated even more by the fact that the language sets the cutoff as "about a dozen members present" instead of a hard exact numerical cutoff.

This flexibility is, in fact, intentional. It is ultimately up to a particular board to determine whether, and to what extent, it follows the small board rules. In the event there is a dispute over this matter, then it may well be desirable for the board to formally adopt a motion on the subject.

[user]

So let's say we have a small board and there was no motion to formally adopt the small board rules.

What if someone is speaking in debate a 3rd time (this process is usually kind of informal in small board), and someone raises a point of order trying to block it? What is the appropriate ruling? Or what if this happens with one of the other special small board rules (e.g. a second to the motion is skipped and someone raises a point of order saying it must be seconded)?

[Richard Brown]

FWIW, there are some threads in this forum about this very question in which some of our most knowledgeable members have opined that the application of the small board rules in small boards of no more than a dozen members is automatic.  That seems a bit problematic for me because of the imprecise language in RONR that the small board rules are applicable in boards "where there are not more than about a dozen members present".  RONR (12th ed.) §49:21 and 1:24.  A search of the forum using the search term "small board rules" will turn up several discussions on this issue.

 

[Josh Martin]

On 12/6/2021 at 7:46 PM, user said:

So let's say we have a small board and there was no motion to formally adopt the small board rules.

What if someone is speaking in debate a 3rd time (this process is usually kind of informal in small board), and someone raises a point of order trying to block it? What is the appropriate ruling? Or what if this happens with one of the other special small board rules (e.g. a second to the motion is skipped and someone raises a point of order saying it must be seconded)?

The appropriate ruling will depend on the board's customs in this regard.