Raising an Objection

[Mike Phillips]

Where in RONR is the authority for the premise that if an objection to a motion, procedure, or ruling by the chair is not made before the end of the meeting, the objection is waived, and the chair’s ruling stands?

[Atul Kapur]

The closest thing to what you are describing is the requirement that a point of order be made in a timely manner. The deadline is not the end of the meeting, however. The point of order must be made immediately unless there is a continuing breach.

[Josh Martin]

On 11/22/2023 at 11:06 PM, Mike Phillips said:

Where in RONR is the authority for the premise that if an objection to a motion, procedure, or ruling by the chair is not made before the end of the meeting, the objection is waived, and the chair’s ruling stands?

"Before the end of the meeting" understates how tight the timeliness requirement is, but the citation you are looking for is as follows:

"The general rule is that if a question of order is to be raised, it must be raised promptly at the time the breach occurs. For example, if the chair is stating the question on a motion that has not been seconded, or on a motion that is not in order in the existing parliamentary situation, the time to raise these points of order is when the chair states the motion. After debate on such a motion has begun—no matter how clear it is that the chair should not have stated the question on the motion—a point of order is too late. If a member is unsure of his point or wishes to hear what the maker has to say on behalf of the motion before pressing a point of order, he may, with the chair's sufferance, “reserve a point of order” against the motion; but after the maker has spoken, he must insist upon his point of order or withdraw it. Points of order regarding the conduct of a vote must be raised immediately following the announcement of the voting result (see 45:9)." RONR (12th ed.) 23:5

There are also, of course, exceptions to this rule.

"The only exceptions to the requirement that a point of order must be made promptly at the time of the breach arise in connection with breaches that are of a continuing nature, whereby the action taken in violation of the rules is null and void. In such cases, a point of order can be made at any time during the continuance of the breach—that is, at any time that the action has continuing force and effect—regardless of how much time has elapsed. Instances of this kind occur when:

a) a main motion has been adopted that conflicts with the bylaws (or constitution) of the organization or assembly, 2
b) a main motion has been adopted that conflicts with a main motion previously adopted and still in force, unless the subsequently adopted motion was adopted by the vote required to rescind or amend the previously adopted motion,
c) any action has been taken in violation of applicable procedural rules prescribed by federal, state, or local law,
d) any action has been taken in violation of a fundamental principle of parliamentary law (25:9), or
e) any action has been taken in violation of a rule protecting absentees, a rule in the bylaws protecting the secrecy of the members' votes (as on a ballot vote), or a rule protecting a basic right of an individual member (25:7, 25:10–11)." RONR (12th ed.) 23:6

Edited November 23, 2023 at 03:46 PM by Josh Martin

[Gary Novosielski]

On 11/23/2023 at 12:06 AM, Mike Phillips said:

Where in RONR is the authority for the premise that if an objection to a motion, procedure, or ruling by the chair is not made before the end of the meeting, the objection is waived, and the chair’s ruling stands?

See RONR (12th ed.) 23:5 for the rule on the timeliness requirement for points of order and 23:6 for exceptions to this rule for continuing breaches.

Edited to add:

And if you have read @Josh Martin's reply above, you have already seen them.  😏

Edited November 23, 2023 at 11:56 PM by Gary Novosielski

[Mike Phillips]

Just what I needed. Thanks to each of you.