What Constitutes A Quorum?

[susanxx]

A committee has 7 members but at the first meet only 4 turn up. A vice chair has to be elected, can this be done?

[dr b]

A quorum is "a minimum number of persons necessary for transaction of business in any body", which would have to be defined in the committee's by-laws.

[dr b]

According to the Wiki: "In the absence of such a provision in the bylaws of a society or assembly, what constitutes a quorum differs. Robert's Rules provides that in such a case, a quorum in an assembly "whose real membership can be accurately determined at any time—that is, in a body having an enrolled membership composed only of persons who maintain their status as members in a prescribed manner—the quorum is a majority of the entire membership, by the common parliamentary law."

[Peter Pedant]

You have to look at the committee's terms and conditions

It should be defined

However if the four are unanimous you may have a point.

You should also have rules for elections.

The Royal College of Paeds could only elect a prez in March. When one died in office in June they were unable to transact business for the rest of the year.

The Royal College of Surgeons had a pres with terminal ca who wouldnt resign and was too ill to be Prez.....

Royal College of Anaesthetists - had to elect at the first meeting in March at 9 am. Of the 21 councillors, 11 were delayed by late trains....
and were excluded by their involuntary absence.

[susanxx]

Thanks guys, but I'm more confused than before I asked the question!!

[dr b]

is this a hypothetical situation or an actual committee? Does the committee have written bylaws?

[Zacs-Master]

I think what they're saying is...look at your committees constitution. There's no 'one rule suits all'.

[Peter Pedant]

yes we are Zacs