Legal Definitions - meeting

In legal and parliamentary contexts, a "meeting" refers to:

• Meeting

  A gathering of individuals who come together to discuss, deliberate, or make decisions on matters of common interest. This event typically begins with a formal "call to order" and concludes when the assembly "adjourns."

  • Example 1: The members of a local historical society gather in the community hall to discuss the upcoming preservation project for an old landmark building and vote on funding proposals.
  • Explanation: This illustrates a group with a shared interest (historical preservation) convening to discuss and act on a specific matter.
  • Example 2: A university's faculty senate convenes to debate and approve changes to the student academic integrity policy.
  • Explanation: This is a deliberative assembly (the faculty senate) meeting to transact official business (approving policy changes).
• Adjourned Meeting

  A meeting that has officially ended. While sometimes loosely used to mean a "continued meeting" (which is a meeting that has paused and will resume), in its precise sense, an adjourned meeting is one that has concluded its business and is no longer in session.

  • Example 1: After a lengthy discussion and several votes, the city council president announced, "This meeting is now adjourned," signaling the official end of the session.
  • Explanation: This signifies the formal conclusion of the council's gathering.
  • Example 2: The neighborhood watch committee finished reviewing all agenda items and decided to adjourn their monthly meeting until the next scheduled date.
  • Explanation: The committee has completed its work for the current session and formally ended it.
• Annual Meeting

  A yearly gathering held by an organization, typically to elect or install new officers or directors, review financial reports, and conduct other routine organizational business as specified in its governing documents.

  • Example 1: The shareholders of a major technology company attend their annual meeting to vote on the board of directors, approve the company's financial statements, and discuss future strategic plans.
  • Explanation: This is a mandatory yearly event for corporations to conduct essential governance functions.
  • Example 2: A condominium association holds its annual meeting to elect new board members, approve the budget for the upcoming year, and address any community-wide issues.
  • Explanation: This is a regular, yearly gathering for the association to manage its affairs and elect leadership.
• Business Meeting

  A formal gathering specifically called to consider and transact official business, such as making decisions, voting on proposals, or reviewing reports, as opposed to purely social or educational events.

  • Example 1: During a weekend conference for a professional association, there was a dedicated two-hour slot for a "business meeting" where members voted on proposed changes to the association's bylaws and elected new committee chairs.
  • Explanation: This session was specifically for official decision-making and governance, distinct from the conference's educational workshops or social mixers.
  • Example 2: The school board convened a business meeting to formally approve the new school year calendar and allocate funds for a new athletic facility.
  • Explanation: The board gathered to make official decisions and conduct administrative tasks.
• Continued Meeting

  A meeting that has been paused or recessed and will be resumed at a later time, without officially ending the original meeting. This is distinct from an "adjourned meeting," which implies the meeting has concluded.

  • Example 1: The city planning commission was debating a complex zoning change that required more research, so they voted to "continue" the meeting to the following week rather than starting a new one, allowing them to pick up exactly where they left off.
  • Explanation: The original meeting was not ended but merely paused and will resume, maintaining its original status and agenda.
  • Example 2: A parliamentary committee took a two-day "recess" to allow members to review newly submitted documents, with the understanding that the same meeting would resume on the third day to conclude their deliberations.
  • Explanation: The meeting was temporarily suspended but not terminated, indicating it would continue at a later date.
• Creditors' Meeting (also known as Meeting of Creditors or 341 Meeting)

  A mandatory gathering in bankruptcy proceedings where the debtor (the person or entity filing for bankruptcy) is questioned under oath by the U.S. Trustee and their creditors about their financial affairs, assets, and liabilities. The term "341 meeting" refers to Section 341 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which mandates this meeting.

  • Example 1: After filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Ms. Chen attended her 341 meeting where the bankruptcy trustee and several of her creditors asked detailed questions about her income, expenses, and property.
  • Explanation: This is the required meeting for a debtor to provide information to the trustee and creditors under oath.
  • Example 2: A small business that declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy had its creditors' meeting, during which representatives from banks and suppliers questioned the business owner about the proposed reorganization plan and the value of the company's assets.
  • Explanation: This illustrates the formal process where creditors can inquire about the debtor's financial situation and plans.
• Mass Meeting

  A large gathering of an unorganized body of people, typically open to anyone interested, called to discuss a particular issue, express collective sentiment, or organize for a specific purpose.

  • Example 1: Residents concerned about a proposed new landfill held a mass meeting in the town square to discuss strategies for opposing the project and to gauge public support for forming an action committee.
  • Explanation: This is a large, open gathering focused on a specific community issue and potential collective action.
  • Example 2: Students and faculty organized a mass meeting in the university auditorium to debate the implications of a new campus free speech policy and decide on a unified response.
  • Explanation: This represents a large, open forum for discussion and potential organization around a specific policy issue.
• Organizational Meeting

  A meeting held to formally establish a new organization, or for a newly constituted deliberative assembly (like a legislative body after an election) to elect officers, adopt rules, and otherwise prepare for its ongoing operations.

  • Example 1 (New Organization): Following a successful mass meeting about local environmental concerns, a smaller group of committed volunteers held an organizational meeting to draft bylaws, elect a provisional board of directors, and formally register their new non-profit group.
  • Explanation: This meeting is crucial for formally setting up the structure and governance of a new entity.
  • Example 2 (New Term for Existing Body): After the general election, the newly elected members of the state assembly convened their organizational meeting to elect the Speaker of the House, adopt the rules of procedure for the new legislative session, and assign members to various committees.
  • Explanation: This illustrates an existing body re-establishing its leadership and operational framework for a new term.
• Regular Meeting (also known as Stated Meeting)

  A periodic meeting held at a predetermined time and place, as specified in an organization's governing documents or established schedule.

  • Example 1: The board of directors for a non-profit charity holds its regular meeting on the third Wednesday of every month at 6 PM, as outlined in their corporate bylaws, to review programs and finances.
  • Explanation: This is a scheduled, recurring meeting that occurs consistently according to the organization's rules.
  • Example 2: The city council's regular meeting is scheduled for the first and third Monday of each month, where they address routine municipal business and public hearings.
  • Explanation: These are predictable, pre-scheduled gatherings for ongoing governance.
• Special Meeting (also known as Called Meeting)

  A meeting that is not part of the regular schedule, called for a specific, often urgent, purpose, usually between regular meetings.

  • Example 1: The homeowners' association board called a special meeting to address an unexpected emergency, specifically a major roof leak in the clubhouse that required immediate repair decisions.
  • Explanation: This meeting was unscheduled and convened specifically to handle an urgent issue that couldn't wait for the next regular meeting.
  • Example 2: A company's board of directors held a special meeting to discuss an urgent, unsolicited takeover bid that required a quick response, outside of their quarterly scheduled meetings.
  • Explanation: This illustrates an unscheduled gathering called for a particular, time-sensitive business matter.