Meeting Administration & Parliamentary Procedure Flashcards
7 cards from real CMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Meeting Administration & Parliamentary Procedure flashcards as text
Under Robert's Rules of Order, what is the minimum number of members required to conduct business at a meeting?
Answer: A quorum as defined in the bylaws or governing law
A quorum is the minimum number of members required to transact official business, as defined in the organization's bylaws or applicable law.
Which motion takes precedence over all other motions and is not debatable?
Answer: Motion to Adjourn
The Motion to Adjourn is a privileged motion with the highest precedence and is generally not subject to debate.
When a council member wishes to speak against a motion they previously seconded, what must they do?
Answer: They may speak against it without restriction since seconding only shows interest in debate
Seconding a motion only indicates that another member wants the motion considered; it does not commit the seconder to supporting it.
What is an 'executive session' in the context of municipal meetings?
Answer: A closed, non-public meeting to discuss confidential matters permitted by law
An executive session is a closed meeting where the governing body discusses matters exempt from open meeting requirements, such as personnel or litigation.
The motion 'to lay on the table' is properly used to:
Answer: Temporarily set aside a motion when urgent business arises
Tabling a motion temporarily suspends its consideration so the body can address more urgent matters, with the intent to resume it later.
Under most state open meetings laws, what must a public body do before meeting in executive session?
Answer: Pass a motion in open session stating the legal basis for closing the meeting
Governing bodies must typically adopt a public motion announcing the specific legal exemption justifying the executive session before going into closed session.
A 'substitute motion' in parliamentary procedure is one that:
Answer: Proposes to replace an entire motion or a portion of it with different language
A substitute motion proposes entirely new language to replace the original motion or a paragraph thereof, and is treated as an amendment.