Is calling a meeting to order considered part of the order of business?

Calling a meeting to order is a fundamental step in the meeting process, but it is not considered a formal part of the order of business. The order of business typically refers to the structured agenda items that are planned for discussion during the meeting, such as minutes approval, reports, old business, new business, and so on.

While calling the meeting to order is an important procedural element that signals the official start of the meeting and helps establish the authority of the assembly, it does not fit into the category of business items being addressed. It serves as a prelude to the order of business, laying the groundwork for the agenda items that will follow, rather than being classified as an agenda item itself.

Other options may suggest varying interpretations based on context or assembly-specific rules. However, the core understanding is that the meeting’s opening is a distinct procedural act and this clarity is essential for a proper grasp of parliamentary procedure.