Can the Board Chair call The Question to close debate and lead to vote on a motion?

Or does The Question need to come from a different member? Does it need to be in the form of a motion?

Answer: The Chair would not need to call the question to end debate. They would just end debate (though they could be overturned by the membership if they weren’t ready to end debate). 

The motion to “call the question” should come from another member. When a member says “I call the question”, it’s just another accepted way of saying “I move to call the question”. 

This does NOT automatically end debate. 

Once a member calls the question, another member would need to second the motion for the Chair to entertain the motion to call the question.  Once a member has called the question, and another member has seconded it, the chair should say something along the lines of “Member A has moved to call the question, which would end debate on this issue. All those in favor of ending debate please raise your hand (wait for vote). All those opposed to ending debate please raise your hand (wait for vote). 

It requires a 2/3’s vote to end debate, which is why this vote should be done by a show of hands in order to know exactly who voted for the motion.  

If the Aye’s have it (2/3’s voted in favor), the chair would then proceed by saying something like “The Aye’s have it, debate is ended. We will now vote on the main motion (and proceed as normal)”. 

If the Nay’s have it, the chair would say “The Nay’s have it, debate is not ended, and may continue” (and proceed with the debate). 

Read more answers to frequently asked questions at Ask AASB

Got a question? Email Timi Tullis, Tiffany Jackson or Jenni Lefing.

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