Can President adjourn general body meeting on his own

[Jay M]

Our Not for profit association is scheduling a general body meeting. Some of the members are suspecting there will be some hot topics for discussion and the president may adjourn the meeting to avoid criticism from the members. I wonder what are the provisons available in Rberts Rules to challenge illegal adjournments? Thanks in advance

[Rob Elsman]

No, the president has no such power to adjourn the meeting to avoid criticism from the members.  He announces the meeting is adjourned when:

• The assembly has adopted a motion to adjourn; or, 
• The hour previously ordered to adjourn has arrived (and not set aside); or,
• There is no further business to transact; or,
• An emergency has arisen that puts the safety of attendees at serious risk (fire; explosion; flood; tornado; riot; active shooter; etc.).

On the other hand, the dealing in personalities is generally not allowed.  When idle criticism of the chair occurs, the chair should quickly intervene and rule that the dealing in personalities is not allowed on account that it breaches the rules of decorum.  The president should also not allow himself to be referred to by name; the proper manner of referring to the presiding officer (i.e., the president, in this case) is "the chair".

[Jay M]

On 10/14/2023 at 9:47 PM, Rob Elsman said:

No, the president has no such power to adjourn the meeting to avoid criticism from the members.  He announces the meeting is adjourned when:

• The assembly has adopted a motion to adjourn; or, 
• The hour previously ordered to adjourn has arrived (and not set aside); or,
• There is no further business to transact; or,
• An emergency has arisen that puts the safety of attendees at serious risk (fire; explosion; flood; tornado; riot; active shooter; etc.).

On the other hand, the dealing in personalities is generally not allowed.  When idle criticism of the chair occurs, the chair should quickly intervene and rule that the dealing in personalities is not allowed on account that it breaches the rules of decorum.  The president should also not allow himself to be referred to by name; the proper manner of referring to the presiding officer (i.e., the president, in this case) is "the chair".

Thanks Rob please give refere the corresponding section in RONR 

[Josh Martin]

On 10/14/2023 at 8:43 PM, Jay M said:

Our Not for profit association is scheduling a general body meeting. Some of the members are suspecting there will be some hot topics for discussion and the president may adjourn the meeting to avoid criticism from the members. I wonder what are the provisons available in Rberts Rules to challenge illegal adjournments?

"The privileged motion to Adjourn:
...
7. Requires a majority vote." RONR (12th ed.) 21:6

"If an hour for adjourning a meeting within a convention or other session of more than one meeting has been scheduled—either in an agenda or program or by the adoption of a motion setting a time—no motion to adjourn is necessary when that hour arrives. The chair simply announces the fact and declares the meeting adjourned, as described for a recess in 20:6. If the assembly does not then wish to adjourn, the matter is handled as a case of setting aside the orders of the day, as explained in 18:8 (see also 41:56). If such a meeting wishes to adjourn earlier, it is done by a main motion, which, however, can be adopted by a majority vote (see 21:3). The rules stated above regarding parliamentary steps that are in order after it has been voted to adjourn are applicable in this case also.

When it appears that there is no further business in a meeting of an ordinary local society that normally goes through a complete order of business (41) at each regular meeting (9), the chair, instead of waiting or calling for a motion to adjourn, can ask, “Is there any further business?” If there is no response, the chair can then say, “Since there is no further business, the meeting is adjourned.”" RONR (12th ed.) 21:14

"In ordinary practice a meeting is closed by adopting a motion simply “to adjourn”; or under certain conditions the chair can declare the adjournment without a motion, as explained in 21:14–15. The society meets again at the time provided in its bylaws or other rules, or as already established by the adoption of an earlier motion. If it does not expect to convene until the next “regular meeting” prescribed by rule or bylaw, the chair declares that the meeting “is adjourned,” and such an adjournment closes the session. On the other hand, if another meeting in the same session has been scheduled by any of the methods listed in the preceding paragraph, the chair announces the time as he declares the adjournment, saying, for example, that the “meeting is adjourned until 4 P.M. tomorrow.”

In the event of fire, riot, or other extreme emergency, if the chair believes taking time for a vote on adjourning would be dangerous to those present, he should declare the meeting adjourned—to a suitable time and place for an adjourned meeting (if he is able), or to meet at the call of the chair." RONR (12th ed.) 8:9-10

As to the manner of how to challenge an improper adjournment announced by the chair, see RONR (12th ed.) Section 23 (Point of Order), Section 24 (Appeal), and 62:2-15 (Remedies for Abuse of Authority by the Chair in a Meeting).

Like Mr. Elsman, however, I am curious as to what the reference to "avoid criticism from the members" is concerning, and I would suggest a review of the rules of decorum in debate, found in RONR (12th ed.) 43:19-28.

[Rob Elsman]

Thank you for the assist, Mr. Martin. It was past my bedtime. 

[Jay M]

Thanks Mr Martin. The president did some things with out baord approval and they may bring out those issues

 

[Josh Martin]

On 10/15/2023 at 8:30 PM, Jay M said:

Thanks Mr Martin. The president did some things with out baord approval and they may bring out those issues

To the extent that some motion is pending concerning these issues, then yes, I suppose discussion of them would be in order, which may involve criticism of the President to the extent that such comments are germane to the pending motion and within the bounds of decorum - for example, if a motion to censure the President is made, or one to remove the President from office.

In this connection, I would also note the following rule:

"Whenever a motion is made that refers only to the presiding officer in a capacity not shared in common with other members, or that commends or censures him with others, he should turn the chair over to the vice-president or appropriate temporary occupant (see below) during the assembly's consideration of that motion, just as he would in a case where he wishes to take part in debate (see also 43:29–30). The chair, however, should not hesitate to put the question on a motion to elect officers or appoint delegates or a committee even if he is included." RONR (12th ed.) 47:10

[Jay M]

On 10/16/2023 at 6:00 AM, Josh Martin said:

To the extent that some motion is pending concerning these issues, then yes, I suppose discussion of them would be in order, which may involve criticism of the President to the extent that such comments are germane to the pending motion and within the bounds of decorum - for example, if a motion to censure the President is made, or one to remove the President from office.

In this connection, I would also note the following rule:

"Whenever a motion is made that refers only to the presiding officer in a capacity not shared in common with other members, or that commends or censures him with others, he should turn the chair over to the vice-president or appropriate temporary occupant (see below) during the assembly's consideration of that motion, just as he would in a case where he wishes to take part in debate (see also 43:29–30). The chair, however, should not hesitate to put the question on a motion to elect officers or appoint delegates or a committee even if he is included." RONR (12th ed.) 47:10

Thanks Mr. Martin for more details