Seconds for motions

[Guest Chris M.]

If the deliberative body is small - six men on a church session (a minister & five ruling elders), is it necessary to have a second for a motion?

[Joshua Katz]

The assembly could adopt a special rule of order not requiring seconds. I think it's a bit much to require 1/3 support to discuss something, so I think it's a good idea. FWIW, RONR provides that Committees and small boards do not require seconds.

[Weldon Merritt]

I assume from our description od the deliberative body

On 10/18/2023 at 4:39 PM, Guest Chris M. said:

a minister & five ruling elders

that you are talking about a board. If so, then no, under the small board rules in RONR, seconds acre not necessary. RONR 49:28(2). 

[Guest Mamoon Raza]

On 10/18/2023 at 6:57 PM, Weldon Merritt said:

I assume from our description od the deliberative body

that you are talking about a board. If so, then no, under the small board rules in RONR, seconds acre not necessary. RONR 49:28(2). 

Can you please inform me as to what qualifies as a small board?

[Gary Novosielski]

On 10/18/2023 at 11:04 PM, Guest Mamoon Raza said:

Can you please inform me as to what qualifies as a small board?

RONR 12th ed. says:

49:21
Procedure in Small Boards. In a board meeting where there
are not more than about a dozen members present, some of
the formality that is necessary in a large assembly would
hinder business. The rules governing such meetings are
different from the rules that hold in other assemblies, in the
following respects:
1) Members may raise a hand instead of standing when
seeking to obtain the floor, and may remain seated while
making motions or speaking.
2) Motions need not be seconded.
3) There is no limit to the number of times a member can speak
to a debatable question. Appeals, however, are debatable
under the regular rules—that is, each member (except the
chair) can speak only once in debate on them, while the
chair may speak twice.
4) Informal discussion of a subject is permitted while no motion
is pending.
5) When a proposal is perfectly clear to all present, a vote can
be taken without a motion’s having been introduced. Unless
agreed to by unanimous consent, however, all proposed
actions must be approved by vote under the same rules as in
larger meetings, except that a vote can be taken initially by a
show of hands, which is often a better method in small
meetings.
6) The chairman need not rise while putting questions to a
vote.
7) If the chairman is a member, he may, without leaving the
chair, speak in informal discussions and in debate, and vote
on all questions.

Edited October 19, 2023 at 04:33 AM by Gary Novosielski
highlight (2)

[Josh Martin]

On 10/18/2023 at 10:04 PM, Guest Mamoon Raza said:

Can you please inform me as to what qualifies as a small board?

A small board is one in which there are not more than about a dozen members present. So assuming this is a board, it certainly seems to be a small board. The only question seems to be whether it's a board, since you had not used this term (although it sounds like it's probably a board). A board is defined as follows:

"A board, in the general sense of the term, is an administrative, managerial, or quasi-judicial body of elected or appointed persons that differs from several of the other principal types of deliberative assembly as follows:

a) boards are frequently smaller than most other assemblies; and
b) while a board may or may not function autonomously, its operation is determined by responsibilities and powers delegated to it or conferred on it by authority outside itself." RONR (12th ed.) 1:22

To the extent it is not a board, the assembly is also free to adopt a special rule of order providing that some or all of the small board rules shall be applicable.

"A society with a small assembly—such as one having a dozen or fewer members—may wish to adopt a rule that its meetings will be governed by some or all of the somewhat less formal procedures applicable to small boards (see 49:21)." RONR (12th ed.) 2:16

Edited October 19, 2023 at 10:27 AM by Josh Martin