Board Development

PARLIAMENTARY  PROCEDURE 

Maintaining order during board meetings is always important. A well-run meeting is productive and builds public confidence in the board. The key to orderly meetings is Roberts Rules of Order, the basic primer for parliamentary procedure. Because a school board is a public representative body, a few exceptions are practiced.

 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE QUIZ

Circle the answer that you think is correct.

1.         1.  A board president votes only in case of a tie.

                        True                False 

2.         2.  At a meeting with four members present, a motion is made and seconded. The vote is 2-2. The motion is defeated.

                        True                False 

3.         3.  An agenda item may be postponed to the next meeting for action.

                        True                False 

4.         4.  On important questions before the board, you may limit the length of discussion on a motion.

                        True                False 

5.         5.  Unanimous vote is the same as consensus.

                        True                False 

6.         6.  A motion to adjourn need not wait until the agenda has been completed.

                        True                False 

7.         7.  A school board may not vote by secret ballot.

                        True                False 

8.         8.  A vote is not official until the chair announces it as carried or lost.

                        True                False 

9.         9.  The public has a legal right to address the board at an official meeting of the board.

                        True                False 

10.       10.  The board president does not enter into debate unless he/she yields the chair to the vice-president.

                        True                False 

11.       11.  For a motion to be reconsidered at the same meeting, a member voting with the majority in the previous vote must move for its reconsideration.

                        True                False 

12.       12.  If the public meeting does not begin at the announced time, it is illegal.

                        True                False 

13.       13.  With the exception of approving contracts, a majority of the quorum may approve a motion. Contracts, however, must be approved by a majority of all the members of the school board.

                        True                False 

14.       14.  The president may make a motion.

                        True                False 

15        15.  A board member asks for a Point of Order. You must

a.         give the board information about the substance of the debate.

b.         wait until there is a second from another board member.

c.         make a ruling on the procedure being followed.

16.      16.   When a main motion is on the floor,

a.    it may only be amended twice.

b.    the maker of the motion and the seconder must vote for it.

c.     it must be disposed of before you allow another main motion to be made.

17       17.   A member “calls the question.” This automatically ends debate on a motion.

                        True                                False 

18.       18.  You may allow a motion to be withdrawn, only if both the maker and seconder agree to withdraw it.

                        True                                False 

19.       19.  The president has discretionary authority to

a.         order the end of debate on a motion and bring the motion to a

            vote.

b.         refer a motion to a committee or postpone discussion of it.

c.         recognize one speaker before another.

20.       20.  An amendment to an amendment to a main motion, if passed, is added to the amendment to the main motion and not to the main motion itself.

                        True                                False 

21.       21.  The president may change the order of the agenda if it is deemed necessary to facilitate the work of the meeting.

                        True                                False 

22.       22.  Robert makes a motion, which is seconded, to “reconsider” an item which was decided 15 minutes earlier by 5-4 vote. You

a.         must accept the motion if Robert voted with the prevailing side 

            on the original motion.

b.         can only accept the motion if Robert and the seconder voted with

             the prevailing side on the original motion.

c.         cannot accept the motion until the next regular meeting.

23.      23.   Robert makes a motion, which is seconded, to "rescind" an item which was decided 15 minutes earlier by a 5-4 vote. You

a.        must accept the motion if Robert voted with the prevailing side on 

           the original motion.

b.         can only accept the motion if Robert and the seconder voted with 

            the prevailing side on the original motion.

c.         cannot accept the motion at this meeting.

24.       24.  A Motion to Table does not need a second.

                        True                                False 

25.       25.  A Motion to Table is not debatable.

                        True                                False 

26.       26.  When electing board officers, Jane nominates herself for Vice-President. No one seconds the nomination. Is Jane a candidate for Vice-President?

                        True                                False 

27.       27.  A board president votes on all matters.

                        True                                False 

28.       28.  Before speaking on an issue, the president must turn the meeting over to the vice president.

                        True                                False
 

Answers to Quiz: 

1. F,  2. T,  3. T,  4. T,  5. F,  6. T,  7. T,  8. T,  9. F,  10. F,  11. T,  12. F,  13. T,  14. T,  15. c ,  16. c,  17. F,  18. F,  19. c,  20. T,  21. F,  22. a,  23. c,  24. F,  25. T,  26. T,  27. T,  28. F

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