Motions

[John W Robinson]

I am sure this is well-established:  is it appropriate for the chair to make a motion, or should the chair frame the motion and invite other members to make and second the motion?

[Richard Brown]

In regular assemblies, the chair should not make motions, participate in debate, or vote, except in cases where his vote can affect the outcome. If the chair has a motion that he would like to be made, he may try to arrange in advance for some other member to make the motion. However, that arrangement should be made privately in advance of the meeting, not in front of the assembly while the meeting is in progress.

However, in committees and small boards of no more than about a dozen members, the chair may make motions, participate in debate, and vote just like the other members. See the “small board rules” as discussed in sections 1:24, 49:21, and 50:25 of RONR (12th Ed.).

it is also permissible, if a member has asked a question or made a suggestion about doing something but without having actually made a motion, for the presiding officer to say “would you like to make a motion to that effect?”

See 43:29 of RONR (12th Ed.) for more information about the chair participating in debate. See also 43:33 regarding the chair assisting a member with making a motion.