What Is A Consent Agenda?

What Is A Consent Agenda?

A consent agenda is a section of a meeting agenda that bundles together routine, non-controversial items so they can be approved in a single vote, allowing meeting time to focus on important business. Any board member can request removal of an item from the consent agenda for separate discussion.  Ask your board to formally adopt a rule of order allowing the use of consent agendas.

Once a board has decided to use a consent agenda, the secretary or chair will identify the routine items to be included, and distribute them as part of the meeting agenda well ahead of the meeting. Each board member is expected to have reviewed the materials in the consent agenda in advance of the meeting. Board members are welcome to ask questions in advance of the meeting.

During your meeting, the chair asks if any items should be discussed separately, removes requested items. After any such items are moved, the remaining items are presented as a single motion and approved by one vote, rather than individually.

As with any board meeting, the key to using a consent agenda successfully is having board members who come prepared to the meeting. Consent agendas expedite your meeting while giving your board members more time to prepare and ask questions.

Suggested items for a consent agenda:

• Approval of previous meeting minutes

• Routine reports

• Non-controversial procedural decisions (e.g. staff or committee appointments)

• Informational items that do not require discussion