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Referencing the content of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised with contrasts noted in the minority report

Meeting Mechanics · Chapter 4

Quorum, agenda, minutes, and order of business

Plan - meeting structure

Why this chapter matters

The frame around the motions: how business gets sequenced and recorded responsibly.

Chapter outline

  1. A simple meeting flow
  2. What belongs in the minutes

Vocabulary (6)

agenda
The adopted or expected sequence of items in a meeting.
minutes
The official record of what was done in the meeting, not a transcript.
unfinished business
Items left pending from an earlier meeting and due to come before the assembly.
special order
A matter scheduled for a specific time or priority by rule or vote.
general orders
Items scheduled to come up when reached in the order of business.
adjourn
To close the meeting.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Parliamentor)

A simple meeting flow

Practice the flow until you can explain it without the screen.

  1. Confirm quorum
  2. Approve or follow the agenda
  3. Handle reports and unfinished business
  4. Take up new business
  5. Adjourn
What belongs in the minutes

Practice the flow until you can explain it without the screen.

  1. Record date, time, and place
  2. Note that quorum was present
  3. Record exact wording of main actions
  4. Record vote results when needed
  5. Record adjournment time

Quick fire sample (6 of 6 on Parliamentor)

Which term best matches this definition: The adopted or expected sequence of items in a meeting.
  1. agenda
  2. minutes
  3. unfinished business
  4. special order
Which term best matches this definition: The official record of what was done in the meeting, not a transcript.
  1. agenda
  2. unfinished business
  3. special order
  4. minutes
Which term best matches this definition: Items left pending from an earlier meeting and due to come before the assembly.
  1. minutes
  2. special order
  3. unfinished business
  4. agenda
Which term best matches this definition: A matter scheduled for a specific time or priority by rule or vote.
  1. unfinished business
  2. special order
  3. agenda
  4. minutes
Which term best matches this definition: Items scheduled to come up when reached in the order of business.
  1. general orders
  2. agenda
  3. minutes
  4. unfinished business
Which term best matches this definition: To close the meeting.
  1. agenda
  2. minutes
  3. unfinished business
  4. adjourn

Some topics in this course differ across field references. See when sources disagree on Parliamentor before you teach from this sheet alone.

Full scored drills are on Parliamentor at /courses/meeting-mechanics/chapters/04/print/. Answers are not marked on this sheet.