Adding Motions to Agenda

[Guest Garl]

What is the process to add a motion under new business if the item is not on the agenda? 

[Richard Brown]

At the conclusion of the items of new business (technically, general orders), and prior to adjournment simply make your motion. As an alternative, you can also move to amend the agenda to add the item. After the agenda has been adopted, it requires a 2/3 vote to amend the agenda. The agenda can also be amended by a vote of a majority of the entire membership of the body that is meeting. RONR 41:63.

Edited September 22, 2024 at 02:51 AM by Richard Brown
Added last sentence with citation

[Guest Garl]

Who decides which method to use, by 2/3 vote to amend the agenda or by simply making the motion?

[Dan Honemann]

On 9/21/2024 at 10:41 PM, Guest Garl said:

What is the process to add a motion under new business if the item is not on the agenda? 

This presents, at least to me, a rather interesting question, and I think the answer may well depend upon the answers to the following questions:

Has Robert's Rules of Order been adopted as your parliamentary authority?

How frequently are your regular meetings held (monthly, quarterly, annually, something else)? 

What, exactly, do your bylaws say about the order of business to be followed during your regular meetings, and the agenda for those meetings?

 

[Joshua Katz]

On 9/22/2024 at 4:58 AM, Guest Garl said:

Who decides which method to use, by 2/3 vote to amend the agenda or by simply making the motion?

The person making the motion.

In addition to Mr. Honemann's questions, I would be curious if this is a public body of some sort.

[Guest Adding Motions to Agenda]

We are a private club who meet monthly. Our bylaws state that we use Roberts Rules for parliamentary procedure for meetings if not specified elsewhere in the bylaws, which this topic is not. Our agenda is pretty much standard with roll call, agenda approval, previous minutes approval, remarks/correspondence, treasurers/committee reports, unfinished business, new business, good of the order.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 9/22/2024 at 10:22 AM, Guest Adding Motions to Agenda said:

We are a private club who meet monthly. Our bylaws state that we use Roberts Rules for parliamentary procedure for meetings if not specified elsewhere in the bylaws, which this topic is not. Our agenda is pretty much standard with roll call, agenda approval, previous minutes approval, remarks/correspondence, treasurers/committee reports, unfinished business, new business, good of the order.

Do your bylaws state that you use an agenda?

 

 

 

[Rob Elsman]

The organization has an established order of business that should be followed without the use of an agenda. Take a look at RONR (12th ed.) §41.

[Dan Honemann]

On 9/22/2024 at 10:22 AM, Guest Adding Motions to Agenda said:

We are a private club who meet monthly. Our bylaws state that we use Roberts Rules for parliamentary procedure for meetings if not specified elsewhere in the bylaws, which this topic is not. Our agenda is pretty much standard with roll call, agenda approval, previous minutes approval, remarks/correspondence, treasurers/committee reports, unfinished business, new business, good of the order.

Based upon these facts, it is clear that the "standard" order of business described in RONR, 12th ed., 41:5-27 is the prescribed order of business for your regular meetings.  As a consequence, you need not (and actually should not) be adopting an agenda at the outset of your meetings.  Since the agenda you describe conflicts somewhat from your prescribed order of business, as set forth in RONR, its adoption will require a two-thirds vote (41:61).

As you can see from what is said in 41:27, when "new business" is reached during the course of your meetings, it is then when you should seek the floor and make whatever new motion it is that you have in mind.  There is no need to have it placed on the agenda, since consideration of new items of business is the reason why this subdivision in the standard order of business exists, and presumably the reason why it exists in the agenda you have been adopting.

So the question remains, what happens if you attain the floor while your agenda is being considered for adoption, and move that your motion be added to the agenda under "new Business"?  While an agenda is pending for adoption, its amendment requires only a majority vote (41:63). But is a motion to amend the agenda by inserting an item of business under "New Business" in order?  I'm inclined to think that it is not in order to do so.  Every item of business on an adopted agenda is either a general order or a special order (41:58), so adding something under "New Business" produces somewhat of an anomaly.

However, you say that the agenda ordinarily adopted at the outset of your meetings consists of "roll call, agenda approval, previous minutes approval, remarks/correspondence, treasurers/committee reports, unfinished business, new business, good of the order."  As previously noted, this agenda requires a two-thirds vote for its adoption since it's adoption is, in effect, a suspension of the rules. Under these circumstances, I suppose your motion can be inserted into your agenda anywhere you would like to insert it.  

But the real thing for you to take away from this is that you should stop adopting an agenda altogether.  

 

 

 

[Rob Elsman]

On 9/22/2024 at 10:58 AM, Dan Honemann said:

...you should stop adopting an agenda altogether.

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