Dear Parliamentarian Vol. 118 Jan. 2006
Dear Parliamentarian Vol. 118 Jan. 2006
Answers to your Parliamentary Questions
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"Dear Parlimentarian" is written by the author of Parliamentary Procedures Made Simple: The Basics, an 80 minute video that tells how to have better meetings.
Dear Parliamentarian
We have a committee and the chairman was not at the committee meeting and the co-chairman was. A vote was called for and approved to go forward on a project. When the chairman came back she stop the process saying it could not go forward unless first approved by her the chairman….My understanding is that a chairman is just to conduct the meeting not vote personally on issues or project…please let me know your opinion……Thanks,
Suzanne
Dear Suzanne,
Under Robert's Rules of Order the chairman is a member of the committee and has the same rights and obligations as all other members. The chairman is responsible for calling the meetings, informing the members of the meetings and what is going at meetings when absent and conducting the meetings. The chairman has a right to make motions, discuss motions and vote. I do not know what happened at your meeting. Usually if a majority of committee members want to do something and the chairman does not, the majority still rules. The only time a committee chairman might be restricted in making motions, debating and voting is if the committee is over 12 members.
The Parliamentarian
Jerry Sutton wrote:
Hello, my question is this, are firefighter union’s associated with the IAFF required to post an agenda for monthly meetings or is the rule “anything goes”? Thanking you in advance…Jerry
Dear Jerry,
An agenda usually isn't posted unless the union has adopted rules to that effect. So my answer is for you to go to your rules and see what they say.
The Parliamentarian