New Business

[Guest Jane]

Does the President of a Church Board have the authority to declare that all new business must be submitted to a board memember to be put on the agenda prior to any and all meetings?

[George Mervosh]

No such authority is found in Robert's Rules.

[Gary Novosielski]

Does the President of a Church Board have the authority to declare that all new business must be submitted to a board memember to be put on the agenda prior to any and all meetings?

It depends what business you're talking about or, more to the point, what meetings you're talking about.

In board meetings, of course, all business must be raised by board members in the first place, since they are the only ones who can make motions in board meetings.

If you're talking about meetings of the entire membership, board members have no authority whatsoever, except that of an ordinary member. And the President has no such authority, unless it's granted in your bylaws. It's certainly not in RONR.

For more info, click on this FAQ.

Also realize that anyone can move a new main motion under New Business, unless some local rule prevents it.