A member notices a quorum is no longer present but correctly waits for another member to finish speaking. Is a Point of Order still timely?

• A. Yes, at any time as long as another member isn't speaking
• B. Yes, only when the chair calls for a pause in debate
• C. No, it must be raised before any member has spoken
• D. No, it cannot be raised while someone is speaking

Answer: (A)

A Point of Order is a procedural check used to enforce the meeting’s rules, not to debate substance. It’s timely to raise one as soon as you detect a rule is being violated, such as the lack of a quorum that would make any further business improper. In this scenario, the member notices the quorum issue but waits for the current speaker to finish. That waiting doesn’t invalidate the point—your concern about the quorum remains valid, and you raise it at the first opportunity when the floor is not occupied. The chair would then verify whether a quorum exists and decide the proper next step (recess, adjournment, or other action).

So, a Point of Order is still timely here because the procedural issue is acknowledged and addressed at a natural pause, rather than ignoring the rule.