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[802SEC] Quorum Rules in IEEE 802

Mat,

	I would like to clarify the quorum rules in IEEE 802.

	I changed the subject line of this email since it is not
specifically regarding the recent 802.18 meeting, but the rules for 802
in general.

	I have also heard the rumor that "if no one asks a quorum is
assumed."  However, I have not been able to locate any text stating
that.

	I did some searching in Roberts Rules to see what I could find.
I did find the following,

Call to Order; Order of Business
When the time of a meeting has arrived, the presiding officer opens it,
after he has determined that a quorum is present, by calling the meeting
to order. He takes the chair (that is, occupies the presiding officer's
station in the hall), waits or signals for quiet, and, while standing,
announces in a clear voice, "The meeting will come to order," or, "The
meeting will be in order."

	This says the one of the tasks for the presiding officer is to
determine if a quorum is present.

	Under "Adoption of a Motion or Action Without a Motion, by
Unanimous (or General) Consent" it says,

Whenever it is stated in this book that a certain action or the adoption
of a certain motion "requires a two-thirds vote," the same action can,
in principle, also be taken by unanimous consent. If much hinges on the
outcome, however, it is usually better to take a formal vote. Action by
unanimous consent requires the presence of a quorum, just as for the
transaction of business by any other method.

	So once again it looks like quorum is required.  Robert Rules
even says that,

The prohibition against transacting business in the absence of a quorum
cannot be waived even by unanimous consent, and a notice (pp. 116-18)
cannot be validly given.

	So it looks like any motion to wave a quorum is invalid.

	So I have been unable to locate any text in Robert Rules stating
that "If no one asks a quorum is assumed."

	So my conclusion is that it is the responsibility of the chair
to determine if a quorum exists before transacting formal business at an
interim session.

	Please tell me if you can find any rules contrary to this.

Regards,
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Sherman, Matthew J. (US SSA)
[mailto:matthew.sherman@baesystems.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 6:21 AM
To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
Subject: Re: [802SEC] Five day approval process

The decision is Paul's, but for the record .....

I believe the issue here is not whether a quorum is required (it is
required by the 802. P&P and I don't believe you can over rule that with
a motion) but under what condition is a quorum assumed.  In the absence
of a record that show a quorum was or was not present, the fact that the
meeting and vote was held implies a quorum. This should only be called
into question at the time of the vote, not after the fact.  I believe
this is consistent with the guidance in Roberts Rules, and to do
otherwise would greatly impact some of our larger groups who must take
many votes at interims and should not be required to prove presence of a
quorum at every vote.  It should only be if that quorum is questioned at
the time of the vote.

Just my 2 cents...

Mat

Matthew Sherman, Ph.D.
Senior Member Technical Staff
BAE SYSTEMS, CNIR
Office: +1 973.633.6344
email: matthew.sherman@baesystems.com

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