Even though the most popular handbook of rules for modern meeting behavior is “Robert’s Rules of Order,” it seems that few people have skimmed the book, fewer still have read the book in depth, and fewer still understand how the rules work together as a whole.
As a result, a lot of misinformation is being perpetuated, from generation to generation, by oral tradition.
All seven “myths” listed below are false, according to the current edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” (11th edition, published by DaCapo Press, 2011). That is, the myth either has no textual support in Robert’s Rules, or is outright contradicted by Robert’s Rules.
However, the “myth” may be true for your organization if that parliamentary rule is contradicted by a superior rule, like one’s bylaws, constitution, articles of incorporation, or applicable state corporations code, since where a contradiction exists between rules, the superior rule prevails over the conflicting rule in one’s parliamentary authority.
How many of these seven “myths” have you heard? How many have you believed?
1.) An installation ceremony must be held before the newly elected officers may serve.
False. Officers take their office upon election being final. No delay is necessary.
2.) A “vote of no confidence” removes an officer from office.
False. A vote of no confidence (or a vote of confidence) removes no one from office. It may express an opinion, but nothing more.
3.) It is proper for the nominees/candidates to be ordered to leave the meeting room when an election is about to begin.
False. A member cannot be ordered to leave a room, except via a disciplinary measure.
4.) A person who is absent cannot be nominated, and cannot be elected.
False. A person can be nominated in absentia. If elected, the absentee electee must give his assent before the election is to be considered final. If the absentee electee declines the office, the election is considered incomplete, and another round of balloting is in order.
5.) After a committee report, it is proper for someone to move, “That the committee report be accepted.”
False. If a report contains a recommendation, then the recommendation itself is moved, not the entire text of the report. Some reports contain no recommendations. Such reports need no extra motion, since the report is to be filed automatically by the secretary into the proper archive. However, exceptions to this general practice are possible, such as a historian’s report, where the entire text of the report is indeed intended to be officially adopted as the official statement of the organization, despite containing no recommendations therein.
6.) Minutes must include the name of the seconder.
False. Minutes are not to include the name of seconders. Robert’s Rules of Order does say that the name of the mover is to be included for main motions, but not the name of any seconder.
7.) Minutes do not have to be taken in an executive session (also known as “in-camera session” or “secret session” or “closed meeting”).
False. Robert’s Rules of Order does say that such minutes are to be handled in a more secure fashion than regular minutes, such as being read and approved in executive session.
