Refer to Committee by Chair

[Guest Walter]

Can the chair in a meeting arbitrarily refer any motion to committee?  We have a controversial motion coming up and some who are against the motion are trying to delay it by saying it needs more discussion so should go to committee, and they also say that the chair can arbitrarily decide to send it to committee. I thought that a motion put on the floor must be voted on, and if a members wants it referred to committee, or tabled etc would have to make a separate motion that would require a seconder and then a vote on that motion by the entire group. Otherwise the chair would effectively have the power to delay any motion he or she dislikes.

[Joshua Katz]

On 3/1/2023 at 10:42 AM, Guest Walter said:

Can the chair in a meeting arbitrarily refer any motion to committee? 

No. The chair is a servant of the body, not its master.

 

On 3/1/2023 at 10:42 AM, Guest Walter said:

I thought that a motion put on the floor must be voted on, and if a members wants it referred to committee, or tabled etc would have to make a separate motion that would require a seconder and then a vote on that motion by the entire group.

This is a bit ambiguous, but I think you've got it right. If they want to refer it, they should move to refer.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 3/1/2023 at 11:42 AM, Guest Walter said:

Can the chair in a meeting arbitrarily refer any motion to committee?  We have a controversial motion coming up and some who are against the motion are trying to delay it by saying it needs more discussion so should go to committee, and they also say that the chair can arbitrarily decide to send it to committee. I thought that a motion put on the floor must be voted on, and if a members wants it referred to committee, or tabled etc would have to make a separate motion that would require a seconder and then a vote on that motion by the entire group. Otherwise the chair would effectively have the power to delay any motion he or she dislikes.

You're right.  The chair has no such power.  

I'd point out that the motion to Lay on the Table is rarely in order in ordinary societies.  You probably mean Postpone to a Certain Time.

[Alicia Percell, PRP]

Not unless your organization has a special rule giving the chair this special power, as RONR conveys no such power to the chair.  A motion to refer to a committee needs a majority vote for adoption.  One "vote" from the chair does not suffice...unless it's a very odd situation in which he is the only one choosing to vote and all the others abstain.

Edited March 2, 2023 at 07:36 PM by Alicia Percell, PRP
fixed a missing "no"

[Richard Brown]

On 3/2/2023 at 4:08 AM, Alicia Percell, PRP said:

Not unless your organization has a special rule giving the chair this special power, as RONR conveys such power to the chair. . . .

Did you perhaps intend to say that RONR conveys NO such power to the chair? 

[Alicia Percell, PRP]

Eeek!  Yes, I did intend to have a "no" there.  Thanks!  I edited to fix it.