What is the effect of calling a meeting to order?

Calling a meeting to order signifies the official start of the structured and formal proceedings of that meeting. At this point, the chairperson or presiding officer announces that the meeting has commenced, setting the stage for discussions, presentations, and the consideration of motions. This action transitions the gathering from an informal assembly into a formal meeting where rules of order are followed, and participants are expected to adhere to established procedures.

While a quorum, the minimum number of members required to conduct business, is critical for making decisions within a meeting context, the act of calling the meeting to order does not, by itself, ensure that a quorum is present. The presence of all participants allows for various aspects of business to be addressed but is not an automatic effect of calling the meeting to order.

Additionally, the act does not directly permit voting on motions or open the floor for new business; these actions are typically governed by formal rules and can occur once the meeting is underway and following specific procedural steps. Thus, the primary outcome of calling a meeting to order is to initiate the formal proceedings, making it essential to the overall structure and organization of meetings.