Deliberative assembly

A deliberative assembly is a gathering of members (of any kind of collective) who use parliamentary procedure to make decisions.

Etymology

In a speech to the electorate at Bristol in 1774, Edmund Burke described the British Parliament as a "deliberative assembly," and the expression became the basic term for a body of persons meeting to discuss and determine common action.[1][2]

Characteristics

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised describes the following characteristics of a deliberative assembly:[3]

  • A group of people meets to discuss and make decisions on behalf of the entire membership.
  • They meet in a single room or area or under equivalent conditions of simultaneous oral communication.
  • Each member is free to act according to their own judgement.
  • Each member has an equal vote.
  • The members at the meeting act for the entire group, even if there are members absent.

Rights of members

A member of a deliberative assembly has the right to attend meetings, and make motions, speak in debate, and vote.[4] Organizations may have different classes of members (such as regular members, active members, associate members, and honorary members), but the rights of each class of membership must be defined (such as whether a "member" in a class has the right to vote).[4][5] There may also be ex-officio members, or persons who are members by virtue of some other office or position they hold.[6] Ex-officio members have the same rights as other members.[6]

Types

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised identifies several types of deliberative assemblies.

Mass meeting
Main article: Mass meeting

A mass meeting, which is an unorganized group meeting open to all individuals in a sector of the population who are interested in deliberating about a subject proposed by the meeting's sponsors. Examples include meetings to discuss common political concerns or community interests.[7]

Local assembly of an organized society
Main article: Voluntary association

A local assembly of an organized society, which is a membership meeting of a local chapter or branch of a membership organization.[8] Examples include local chapter meetings of organizations like the Sierra Club.

Convention
Main article: Convention (meeting)

A convention, which is a meeting of delegates who represent constituent units of a population. Conventions are not permanently established bodies, and delegates are normally elected for only one term. A convention may be held by an organized society, where each local assembly is represented by a delegate.[9]

Legislative body
Main article: Legislature

A legislative body, which is a legally established public lawmaking body. It consists of representatives chosen by the electorate. Examples include national legislatures such as parliaments, and local government councils such as state legislatures, regional assemblies and city councils.[10]

Board
Main article: Board of directors

A board, which is an administrative, managerial, or quasi-judicial body. A board derives its power from an outside authority that defines the scope of its operations. Examples include an organized society's or company's board of directors and government agency boards like a board of education.[11]

Committees
Main article: Committee

A committee is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly.[12]

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See also

References

Citations
  1. Burke 1854, p. 447
  2. Robert 2011, p. xxix
  3. Robert 2011, pp. 1-2
  4. Robert 2011, p. 3
  5. Robert 2011, pp. 571-572
  6. "Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 2)". The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site. The Robert's Rules Association. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  7. Robert 2011, pp. 5-6
  8. Robert 2011, pp. 6-7
  9. Robert 2011, pp. 7-8
  10. Robert 2011, p. 8
  11. Robert 2011, pp. 8-9
  12. Robert 2011, p. 489

Sources
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