Flow Requests

Flow Requests affect or set the flow of the meeting. They manipulate the items on the agenda and the discussion about them. The most common ones add, remove and change agenda items. Other flow requests refer an agenda item to a committee, postpone it to a later time, call for a vote on a current discussion, or set them aside.

Request to Add

The Request to Add enters an item into the agenda.

• Discussion is allowed.
• It may be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• Prior to approval of the agenda, items are accepted without a vote from any member of the meeting body.
• A simple majority vote decides.

A Request to Add does not require a vote when it is made before the agenda is approved. Each of the members of the meeting body have a right to add items (if they are appropriate to the topic of the meeting) to the agenda while it is still open. However, after approval of the agenda, the contents of the agenda belong to the meeting body. Then changes including additions must be approved by the body.

Prior to the meeting, the secretary may be assigned to collect agenda items or maintain the system where members may submit them. Upon convening the meeting, the meeting chair oversees the process. Each of them is authorized to perform filtering of agenda items to ensure they are on-topic for the meeting.

For example, if a member has a side business selling hammocks, that member's right to add an agenda item does not apply to off-topic subjects - so a sales presentation would not be allowed at a meeting about wireless networking. Although perhaps it might be allowed if the hammock has a wireless access point built in. Any kind of sales presentation might be denied at a non-profit organization's board of directors due to incompatibility with IRS 501(c)3 rules that the organization must adhere to.

Request to Delete

The Request to Delete removes an item from the agenda.

• Discussion is allowed.
• It may be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• A simple majority vote decides.

If the vote passes, the item is removed from the agenda. The group may still change its mind and add it back later. But if it is anticipated that it will be added back later, it would be appropriate to make a Request to Set Aside instead.

Request to Amend

The Request to Amend may modify (amend) an agenda item or a request currently under discussion.

• Discussion is allowed.
• It may be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• A simple majority vote decides.

The discussion may consider the exact wording of the amendment to the agenda item or request. Unlike Robert's Rules, straw polls to determine acceptability of the wording, such as "is everyone OK with this?", are allowed and encouraged.

Request to Refer

A Request to Refer takes an item off the current meeting's agenda and transfers (refers) it to the agenda of a committee.

• Discussion is allowed.
• It may be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• A simple majority vote decides.

If approved, the referral of the item will add it to the agenda of the next meeting of that committee. It may include specific requests of what needs to be researched or what recommendations are needed. This comes with the expectation that the committee will return it to the meeting body with its results. It is the ongoing responsibility of the meeting chair to ensure that the parties follow through with these actions.

Request to Postpone

The Request to Postpone delays discussion of an agenda item until a later time or a condition is met.

• Discussion is allowed.
• It may be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• A simple majority vote decides.

A Request to Postpone must include either a time or a condition, such as when an individual arrives at the meeting, for the topic to be continued during the current meeting. If the intent is to delay it until another meeting, it would be appropriate to use a Request to Set Aside instead.

Request to Vote Now

The Request to Vote Now asks the group to close discussion on a current request.

• Discussion is not allowed.
• It may not be amended or reconsidered.
• It must be seconded, unless the attendees of the meeting represent constituencies.
• A simple majority vote decides.

The vote on this request is whether to end discussion and hold a vote on a current request which is under discussion. If it passes, another vote will immediately be held on the current request.