Meetings Question Vault · Meeting procedure
What a point of order is, what it isn’t, how to raise one properly, and what the chair must do next.
“A well-placed point of order, raised at the right moment, is a precision instrument. Treat it like one.”
What is a point of order, and what isn’t?
A point of order is one of the most powerful procedural tools available in a meeting. It’s also one of the most abused. When it’s misused, it derails meetings, frustrates good people, and makes the person raising it look like they have no idea what they’re doing. So let’s get this right.
A point of order exists for one purpose: to draw attention to a genuine breach.
That might be a breach of the rules, an irregularity in procedure, a speaker going off the topic or repeating themselves, or a decision that contradicts something already resolved. It is not, I repeat not, a way of expressing disagreement with what someone is saying.
How to raise a point of order correctly
“Point of order.” Then wait for the chair to acknowledge you.
Even if your meeting doesn’t normally stand to speak. It signals something serious and identifies you to the chair.
Clearly and concisely, the moment the breach happens. Not five minutes later. Not after someone else has spoken.
What a valid point of order looks like
These pass the test
“Point of order. The speaker is not addressing the motion.”
“Point of order. The speaker’s time has expired.”
“Point of order. This motion contravenes our by-laws.”
“Point of order. The language being used is offensive.”
“Point of order. We no longer have a quorum.”
These are not points of order (but I hear them all the time)
“Point of order. I disagree with that.”
“Point of order. That’s not true.”
“Point of order. How long do we have to listen to this?”
What the chair must do
The moment a point of order is raised, the chair stops the meeting and the speaker sits down. The chair listens, then rules on the spot. There’s no debate on the ruling. A point of order isn’t an invitation to argue. It’s a procedural checkpoint.
The only three responses
Can the chair’s ruling be challenged?
If someone believes the chair’s ruling is wrong, the procedural motion “dissenting from the chair’s ruling” (if your governing documents allow it) can be moved immediately, seconded, and put to a vote without debate. The vote decides.
My strong recommendation: include a specific clause in your constitution allowing challenges to the chair’s ruling. Ambiguity here is your enemy.
One final caution
Raise them too often, or incorrectly, and you’ll quickly lose the room. People stop listening. Your credibility evaporates. And the genuinely valid points you raise get dismissed along with the rest.
A point of order is a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
Questions
A way of drawing the chair’s attention to a genuine breach of the rules or procedure, such as a speaker straying from the motion, time expiring, a motion breaching the by-laws, offensive language or the loss of a quorum.
No. You don’t move a point of order, you raise it. It doesn’t need a seconder and it isn’t debated. The chair rules on it immediately.
Immediately the breach occurs. Not minutes later, and not after someone else has spoken.
No. Disagreement is opinion, and opinion belongs in the debate. A competent chair will rule “That is not a point of order.”
If your governing documents allow it, a motion dissenting from the chair’s ruling can be moved immediately, seconded and put to a vote without debate. It’s wise to include a clause in your constitution that covers this.
Meet with confidence
David Julian Price has 40+ years of experience helping organisations run meetings that are fair, focused and effective. Get in touch.
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