Motions by presiding officer?

[Guest Nan]

May a committee's chairman (presiding officer) make or second a motion?  

[Bruce Lages]

Most likely, yes. According  to RONR committees operate under the small board rules (RONR, 12th ed., 50:25) unless they have been specifically instructed otherwise by their parent assembly. These more relaxed rules allow the chair to fully participate in the assembly's business, including making motions, debating, and voting on all matters. They also specify that seconds are not necessary in committees or small boards.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 1/14/2023 at 2:42 PM, Guest Nan said:

May a committee's chairman (presiding officer) make or second a motion?  

Quote

50:25
The informalities and modifications of the regular rules of parliamentary procedure listed in 49:21 for use in small boards are applicable during the meetings of all standing and special committees, unless the committee is otherwise instructed by the society (see next paragraph below); also, the rules governing the motions to Rescind, to Amend Something Previously Adopted, and to Reconsider are modified as stated in 35:2(7) and 37:35. In committees, the chairman is usually the most active participant in the discussions and work of the committee. In order that there may be no interference with the assembly’s having the benefit of its committees’ matured judgment, motions to close or limit debate (15, 16) are not allowed in committees. <emphasis added>

Note the bolded sentence.  And note as well that the procedure referred to in 49:21 provides that seconds are not required in the first place.

[Guest S.Hall Ottawa]

May a treasurer make the motion or second the motion made to board and members to adopt the budget and financial documents? 

[Gary Novosielski]

On 1/19/2023 at 11:54 AM, Guest S.Hall Ottawa said:

May a treasurer make the motion or second the motion made to board and members to adopt the budget and financial documents? 

For future reference, please post a new question as a new topic.

But anyway, yes, I would expect that, or the chair of the finance committee, but in many groups who have such a committee, the treasurer is often chair, ex-officio.  But it could really be anyone.

If seconds are even needed in your board, then a second from another member would be needed, but under small-board rules seconds are not needed.

What confuses me is that the "board and members" reference.  Is this a board meeting, or is it a membership meeting?  It can't be both at once.  If it's in a larger membership meeting then a second would be needed.  In the typical situation of most ordinary societies, the membership, and not the board, votes on the budget.

[Guest Grandma]

tks, helpful