Legal Definitions - serial consideration

Serial consideration refers to a process where a group or individual examines or evaluates a series of items, proposals, or candidates one by one, in a specific order, rather than simultaneously. This method ensures each item receives individual attention before moving to the next, often leading to a more thorough and structured decision-making process.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Legislative Review of Amendments

  Imagine a state legislature debating a complex new environmental bill. Numerous amendments have been proposed by different representatives. Instead of discussing all amendments at once, the legislative body engages in serial consideration. They take up Amendment A, debate its merits, vote on it, and only then move on to Amendment B, repeating the process until all proposed changes have been individually considered and decided upon. This ensures each amendment receives full attention and a distinct vote.

• Example 2: University Admissions Committee

  A university's graduate admissions committee is tasked with reviewing hundreds of applications for a limited number of spots. To ensure fairness and thoroughness, the committee employs serial consideration. Each application is assigned to a primary reviewer, then a secondary reviewer, and finally discussed by the full committee one by one. They complete the evaluation and discussion for Applicant 1 before moving on to Applicant 2, and so forth, allowing them to focus on the unique qualifications and challenges of each candidate sequentially.

• Example 3: Corporate Project Proposal Evaluation

  A company's executive board needs to decide which of five new product development proposals to fund for the upcoming fiscal year. Rather than holding a general discussion about all five at once, the board decides on serial consideration. They dedicate a specific segment of their meeting to Proposal Alpha, reviewing its budget, market analysis, and potential risks. Once a decision or recommendation is made for Alpha, they then move to Proposal Beta, giving it the same focused, individual attention before proceeding to the next. This structured approach helps prevent proposals from being overlooked or conflated.