Which statement best describes the meaning of 'business' in parliamentary procedure?

• A. The items listed on the posted agenda or the items entertained by the group in an official meeting
• B. All motions that require a vote
• C. The minutes of the meeting
• D. The financial reports presented

Answer: (A)

In parliamentary procedure, business means the matters the group has placed on the agenda to discuss and decide during the meeting. It’s the scope of what the assembly plans to handle, defined by the posted agenda or by items the group chooses to entertain in the session. This is why describing business as the items listed on the posted agenda or the items the group will address in an official meeting is the best fit. Minutes are just the written record of what happened, not the items the group is set to discuss. Financial reports are specific items that may appear on the agenda, but they’re examples of business content rather than the definition itself. And motions that require a vote are actions that can be part of business, but the concept of business covers the full range of topics the group intends to consider, not only those that will be voted on.