Jump to content
The Official RONR Q & A Forums

Where in RONR does it specifcally state an odd number requirement for committee


Guest Jim Marino

Recommended Posts

Well, you could point out that if a committee (particularly a small one) has an odd number of members, it's easier to get a quorum.

Mmm, good idea, thereby perhaps ingratiating myself with Guest _Jim Marino_, who might get intrigued and start answering questions himself, dutifully double-checking in his copy of RONR, 10th Ed, to get his citations nailed, on this, the world's premier Internet parliamentary forum; thus maybe allowing Bob Fish, Mr Elsman, and me to maybe take a couple days off and go fishing in West Virginia or somethin.

So Jim, which familiarity I presume to take inasmuch as we've known each other for these thousands of words now. If we assume that the quorum of the committee is a majority of the committee's membership -- the default standard --then if the number of members of the committee is five, then a quorum is three. But the quorum is also three if the number of committee members is only four. With the larger, odd number of members, you have a larger pool of possible attendees -- members who might show up.

(That was more work than I expected. For a while I wrestled with the possibility that the larger number of members implied equally the possibility of more member who might NOT show up. I think maybe I'll rest some more with reminiscences of New York science-fiction fandom wars. O wait, that wasn't all that restful, was it. But less work. Maybe David and I should form the Innumerate Thug-like Parliamentarians Club. Maybe I'll write the bylaws, allow aspiring parliamentarians like me to get in.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mmm, good idea, thereby perhaps ingratiating myself with Guest _Jim Marino_, who might get intrigued and start answering questions himself, dutifully double-checking in his copy of RONR, 10th Ed, to get his citations nailed, on this, the world's premier Internet parliamentary forum; thus maybe allowing Bob Fish, Mr Elsman, and me to maybe take a couple days off and go fishing in West Virginia or somethin.

So Jim, which familiarity I presume to take inasmuch as we've known each other for these thousands of words now. If we assume that the quorum of the committee is a majority of the committee's membership -- the default standard --then if the number of members of the committee is five, then a quorum is three. But the quorum is also three if the number of committee members is only four. With the larger, odd number of members, you have a larger pool of possible attendees -- members who might show up.

(That was more work than I expected. For a while I wrestled with the possibility that the larger number of members implied equally the possibility of more member who might NOT show up. I think maybe I'll rest some more with reminiscences of New York science-fiction fandom wars. O wait, that wasn't all that restful, was it. But less work. Maybe David and I should form the Innumerate Thug-like Parliamentarians Club. Maybe I'll write the bylaws, allow aspiring parliamentarians like me to get in.)

Sign me up!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can the chairmen set the number of members to a committee?

No.

Exception: If a customized rule says that the chairman is the party who is authorized to populate a committee, then of course the party who does the appointing is free to appoint any number of people to a committee.

RONR says that a tellers committee, when an election is pending, is to be appointed by the chairman. But RONR does not spread this authority to any other kind of committee.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If a group of people attend a meeting with a "petition" in hand to bring before their council how do they get recognized? Do they not have to be put on the agenda before they can be invited to participate?

As your question has nothing to do with this topic (odd number of members), please start a new topic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, it does. See p. 629, l. 9-10. ;)

... If a person - whether a member of the assembly or not - refuses to obey the order of proper authority to leave the hall during a meeting, the chair should take necessary measures to see that the order is enforced, but should be guided by a judicious appraisal of the situation. The chair can appoint a committee to escort the offender to the door, or the sergeant-at-arms - if there is one - can be asked to do this. If those who are assigned that task are unable to persuade the offender to leave, it is usually preferable that he be removed by police ...

Oh! :o

I forgot all about this committee appointment in Chapter XX Section 61, the chapter on "discipline."

So I hereby modify my answer to imply, "RONR says that there are two instances where a chair may unilaterally appoint a committee." (viz., a tellers committee and an escort committee.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...