seconding a motion

[Guest Ann]

Is there a time frame that the chair must follow between the 1st & 2nd motion?

Or can the chair leave the 1st motion hanging out there as long as he wants....waiting for the 2nd.

[hmtcastle]

Is there a time frame that the chair must follow between the 1st & 2nd motion?

Or can the chair leave the 1st motion hanging out there as long as he wants....waiting for the 2nd.

The chair waits for a moment after asking and before declaring that the motion has died for lack of a second.

[Guest ann]

The chair waits for a moment after asking and before declaring that the motion has died for lack of a second.

[Guest ann]

Is there a specific time frame? And does it specify how many times he can ASK for a 2nd?

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Is there a specific time frame?

And does it specify how many times he can ASK for a 2nd?

• No, there is no time frame. (Seconds, Minutes, Hours, etc.)

• Yes, the chair prompts for a second once, clearly for all to hear, that is, The Book fails to mention, by rule or by example, a chair allowing "dead air" to fill the meeting room any longer than is psychologically tolerable.

(Exceptions? YES. - "In a large hall he may repeat the motion before [proceeding to other business]." [page 34] - implying that the chair must make sure everyone has heard the prompt at least once.)

Just as:

• When calling role, you don't wait 5 minutes for the member to shout "Here!".

• When taking a voice vote, you don't wait 5 minutes for the dead silence to be broken by the appropriate "Aye!" or "No!".

A chair has no right to waste the time of the assembly.

***

Rule of thumb:

If you are twiddling your thumbs while nothing is going on, that is Clue #1 that you are taking too much damn time.

[hmtcastle]

Is there a specific time frame?

A moment. Three Mississippis should do.

And does it specify how many times he can ASK for a 2nd?

Once is usually enough.

[Robert B Fish]

Once is usually enough.

...and this is a good time to state that the supposed 'rule' that the chairman must say, e.g. "Is there a second?" three times appears nowhere in RONR. Also, there is no requirement to call for additional nominations 3 times or to call for additional new business 3 times.

-Bob

[hmtcastle]

...and this is a good time to state that the supposed 'rule' that the chairman must say, e.g. "Is there a second?" three times appears nowhere in RONR. Also, there is no requirement to call for additional nominations 3 times or to call for additional new business 3 times.

Yes, the so-called "Ruby Slippers Rule" is found elsewhere.