Is a quorum required to approve minutes under Robert's Rules

Quorum and Approval of Minutes

Yes, a quorum is required to approve minutes in a standard meeting setting. Any official action of an assembly — including approval of minutes — requires a quorum to be present.

The Basic Rule

A quorum must be present to conduct business. Approving minutes is an act of the assembly, so it falls under this requirement. (RONR §40)

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Important Nuances

1. Reading and Approval at the Next Meeting Minutes are typically approved at the beginning of the next meeting. If a quorum is present at that meeting, minutes can be approved in the normal course of business.

2. If Quorum Is Lost If quorum is lost during a meeting, the assembly cannot transact business, including approving minutes. The proper course is to adjourn or recess.

3. Minutes Approval Committee Some organizations appoint a minutes approval committee to approve minutes between meetings. This is especially useful when:

• Meetings are infrequent
• The next meeting is far away
• Annual conventions need to approve the previous meeting's minutes without waiting (RONR §48)

4. No Quorum Present If a meeting is called but quorum is never achieved, no business can be conducted — but the secretary still records who was present and the fact that the meeting adjourned due to lack of quorum.

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Bottom Line

A quorum is required for all official business, including approving minutes.