President making motions

[Cameron]

Can the president, in his capacity as the chair of an assembly, bring his own motions to be voted upon?

[George Mervosh]

See the answer to FAQ#1

[hmtcastle]

Can the president, in his capacity as the chair of an assembly, bring his own motions to be voted upon?

If the chair is a member of the assembly (which is typically the case), he enjoys all the rights of membership. So he can make a motion but, except at meetings of "small boards", he generally should not exercise that right. See also FAQ #1.

[MirelesMD]

If the chair is a member of the assembly (which is typically the case), he enjoys all the rights of membership. So he can make a motion but, except at meetings of "small boards", he generally should not exercise that right. See also FAQ #1.

See if this clears it up.

http://www.robertsrules.com/interp_list.html#2007_1

RONR Official Interpretations

2007-1 ASSUMPTION OF MOTIONS BY THE CHAIR

Q. If the chair of a large assembly is supposed to be impartial, why is the chair allowed to "assume" a motion?

A. Although "the presiding officer [if] a member of the society . . . has-as an individual- the same rights . . . as any other member" it is indeed true that "the impartiality required of the chair in an assembly precludes his exercising these rights while he is presiding." RONR (10th ed.), p. 382, l. 16-20. This means that the chair may not make or second motions. (The constraints on the chair are less in committees and small boards. RONR [10th ed.], p. 470-71; 483, l. 10-19.) There is a substantial difference, however, between the chair "making" a motion (the making of a motion is described in detail in RONR [10th ed.], p. 32-33) and the chair "assuming" a motion, which he or she does simply by stating (or, sometimes, by putting) the question on it.

The chair's ability to "assume" a motion that has not actually been made by another member exists to facilitate the business of the assembly, not to give the chair an opportunity to make a motion whose consideration he or she, as an individual member, believes would be desirable. Assuming a motion, rather than waiting or calling for the motion to be made, is appropriate as a means of saving the time of the assembly when it is obvious that the motion is necessary or appropriate in light of the pending business. Thus, when a committee report contains recommendations and the reporting member fails to move their adoption,

when the proper motion is a matter of clear-cut procedure and must necessarily be introduced to resolve the case, the chair may sometimes expedite matters by assuming the motion-that is, stating the question on it without waiting for it to be made-provided that the assembly is accustomed to this method.*

*Such a practice is justified by the fact that more than one person must have voted for the recommendation within the board or committee and must therefore wish it to come before the assembly.

RONR (10th ed.), p. 490, l. 3-9 & n.

Similarly, when a convention must be formally organized through the successive adoption of the reports of the Credentials, Rules and Program Committees, if no one promptly offers the motion to adopt one of these reports, "the chair can call for it, or can assume it by stating, for example, 'The question is on the adoption of the report of the Program Committee.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 591, l. 20-23.

Upon submission of a resignation from an office or other duty, which requires acceptance by vote of the assembly to become effective, "The chair, on reading or announcing the resignation, can assume a motion 'that the resignation be accepted.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 279, l. 14-16. When there is objection to a request for unanimous consent on a matter on which no motion has yet been made, the chair may ask if there is such a motion, "or he must at least put the question, assuming such a motion." RONR (10th ed.), p. 52, l. 15-16; see also p. 285 (when there is objection to a request to modify or withdraw a motion).

In none of these instances, it will be observed, does the chair's assumption of a motion give any indication that the chair has any personal views on the merits of the motion.

[Tim Wynn]

See if this clears it up.

http://www.robertsrules.com/interp_list.html#2007_1

RONR Official Interpretations

2007-1 ASSUMPTION OF MOTIONS BY THE CHAIR

Q. If the chair of a large assembly is supposed to be impartial, why is the chair allowed to "assume" a motion?

A. Although "the presiding officer [if] a member of the society . . . has-as an individual- the same rights . . . as any other member" it is indeed true that "the impartiality required of the chair in an assembly precludes his exercising these rights while he is presiding." RONR (10th ed.), p. 382, l. 16-20. This means that the chair may not make or second motions. (The constraints on the chair are less in committees and small boards. RONR [10th ed.], p. 470-71; 483, l. 10-19.) There is a substantial difference, however, between the chair "making" a motion (the making of a motion is described in detail in RONR [10th ed.], p. 32-33) and the chair "assuming" a motion, which he or she does simply by stating (or, sometimes, by putting) the question on it.

The chair's ability to "assume" a motion that has not actually been made by another member exists to facilitate the business of the assembly, not to give the chair an opportunity to make a motion whose consideration he or she, as an individual member, believes would be desirable. Assuming a motion, rather than waiting or calling for the motion to be made, is appropriate as a means of saving the time of the assembly when it is obvious that the motion is necessary or appropriate in light of the pending business. Thus, when a committee report contains recommendations and the reporting member fails to move their adoption,

when the proper motion is a matter of clear-cut procedure and must necessarily be introduced to resolve the case, the chair may sometimes expedite matters by assuming the motion-that is, stating the question on it without waiting for it to be made-provided that the assembly is accustomed to this method.*

*Such a practice is justified by the fact that more than one person must have voted for the recommendation within the board or committee and must therefore wish it to come before the assembly.

RONR (10th ed.), p. 490, l. 3-9 & n.

Similarly, when a convention must be formally organized through the successive adoption of the reports of the Credentials, Rules and Program Committees, if no one promptly offers the motion to adopt one of these reports, "the chair can call for it, or can assume it by stating, for example, 'The question is on the adoption of the report of the Program Committee.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 591, l. 20-23.

Upon submission of a resignation from an office or other duty, which requires acceptance by vote of the assembly to become effective, "The chair, on reading or announcing the resignation, can assume a motion 'that the resignation be accepted.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 279, l. 14-16. When there is objection to a request for unanimous consent on a matter on which no motion has yet been made, the chair may ask if there is such a motion, "or he must at least put the question, assuming such a motion." RONR (10th ed.), p. 52, l. 15-16; see also p. 285 (when there is objection to a request to modify or withdraw a motion).

In none of these instances, it will be observed, does the chair's assumption of a motion give any indication that the chair has any personal views on the merits of the motion.

All this information should be easily accessible on the site somewhere... oh wait, it is.

[Guest Nancy N.]

[Jose: ...]

All this information should be easily accessible on the site somewhere... oh wait, it is.

Tim, please do not bite the newbies.

Jose, on behalf of myself and everyone who agrees with me, welcome to this forum, and don't expect to be familiar with established customs that you don't know; although you find yourself gently kidded when you inadvertently violate one.

[hmtcastle]

Jose, on behalf of myself and everyone who agrees with me, welcome to this forum . . .

Isn't there some rule about a Guest not welcoming a Member?

[Gary Novosielski]

See if this clears it up.

http://www.robertsru...ist.html#2007_1

RONR Official Interpretations

2007-1 ASSUMPTION OF MOTIONS BY THE CHAIR

Q. If the chair of a large assembly is supposed to be impartial, why is the chair allowed to "assume" a motion?

A. Although "the presiding officer [if] a member of the society . . . has-as an individual- the same rights . . . as any other member" it is indeed true that "the impartiality required of the chair in an assembly precludes his exercising these rights while he is presiding." RONR (10th ed.), p. 382, l. 16-20. This means that the chair may not make or second motions. (The constraints on the chair are less in committees and small boards. RONR [10th ed.], p. 470-71; 483, l. 10-19.) There is a substantial difference, however, between the chair "making" a motion (the making of a motion is described in detail in RONR [10th ed.], p. 32-33) and the chair "assuming" a motion, which he or she does simply by stating (or, sometimes, by putting) the question on it.

The chair's ability to "assume" a motion that has not actually been made by another member exists to facilitate the business of the assembly, not to give the chair an opportunity to make a motion whose consideration he or she, as an individual member, believes would be desirable. Assuming a motion, rather than waiting or calling for the motion to be made, is appropriate as a means of saving the time of the assembly when it is obvious that the motion is necessary or appropriate in light of the pending business. Thus, when a committee report contains recommendations and the reporting member fails to move their adoption,

when the proper motion is a matter of clear-cut procedure and must necessarily be introduced to resolve the case, the chair may sometimes expedite matters by assuming the motion-that is, stating the question on it without waiting for it to be made-provided that the assembly is accustomed to this method.*

*Such a practice is justified by the fact that more than one person must have voted for the recommendation within the board or committee and must therefore wish it to come before the assembly.

RONR (10th ed.), p. 490, l. 3-9 & n.

Similarly, when a convention must be formally organized through the successive adoption of the reports of the Credentials, Rules and Program Committees, if no one promptly offers the motion to adopt one of these reports, "the chair can call for it, or can assume it by stating, for example, 'The question is on the adoption of the report of the Program Committee.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 591, l. 20-23.

Upon submission of a resignation from an office or other duty, which requires acceptance by vote of the assembly to become effective, "The chair, on reading or announcing the resignation, can assume a motion 'that the resignation be accepted.'" RONR (10th ed.), p. 279, l. 14-16. When there is objection to a request for unanimous consent on a matter on which no motion has yet been made, the chair may ask if there is such a motion, "or he must at least put the question, assuming such a motion." RONR (10th ed.), p. 52, l. 15-16; see also p. 285 (when there is objection to a request to modify or withdraw a motion).

In none of these instances, it will be observed, does the chair's assumption of a motion give any indication that the chair has any personal views on the merits of the motion.

I would have, had the question been: Q. If the chair of a large assembly is supposed to be impartial, why is the chair allowed to "assume" a motion?

[Tim Wynn]

Isn't there some rule about a Guest not welcoming a Member?

This makes me smile.