What role does the chair play during a meeting?

The role of the chair during a meeting is fundamentally centered around facilitating discussion and managing the agenda. The chairperson is responsible for guiding the meeting, ensuring that all relevant topics are addressed as scheduled, and maintaining an orderly flow of conversation among participants. This includes introducing agenda items, encouraging participation from members, and summarizing discussions to keep everyone focused on the objectives of the meeting.

While other roles such as taking minutes or voting can be part of the meeting process, they do not define the primary responsibility of the chair. The chair does not typically draft official minutes; this task is often assigned to a secretary or designated note-taker. In formal settings, the chair may call for votes but is not required to vote on all motions—they typically have the power to break ties rather than vote on every issue, making votes more about decision-making than their responsibility. Lastly, while there may be guidelines on when to speak, a chair’s role generally involves active participation to steer discussions effectively, rather than waiting for permission from other members to contribute.