• A deliberative assembly typically has several distinctive characteristics: (1) it is a group of people who meet all together to propose, discuss, and possibly vote on courses of action to be undertaken in the group’s name; (2) participants are free to use their own judgment; (3) enough people participate that a certain degree of formality in proceedings is desirable; (4) each participant has one vote and may dissent without fear of expulsion; and (5) when some members are absent, the members actually present have the authority to act for the entire group (subject to quorum and other requirements). See Henry M. Robert, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised§ 1, at 2 (10th ed. 2000).
deliberative assembly
Parliamentary law. A body that transacts business according to parliamentary law.
