An agenda is a list of meeting activities in
the order in which they are to be taken up, beginning with the call
to order and ending with adjournment. It usually includes one or
more specific items of business to be considered. It may, but is
not required to, include specific times for one or more
activities.
Etymology
Originally agenda was a plural word, a Latin term for "actions to
be taken". What is now known as an agenda is a list of individual
items, each of which was originally referred to as an agendum. In
modern English, however, it is equally acceptable, and more common,
to refer to the list as a whole as the agenda for the meeting. This
modern English word is singular, and has a plural of agendas.
Explanation
In business meetings of deliberative bodies, the agenda may also be
known as the orders of the day. The agenda is usually distributed
to a meeting's participants prior to the meeting, so that they will
be aware of the subjects to be discussed, and are able to prepare
for the meeting accordingly.
In parliamentary procedure, an agenda is not binding upon an
assembly unless its own rules make it so, or unless it has been
adopted as the agenda for the meeting by majority vote at the start
of the meeting. Otherwise, it is merely for the guidance of the
chair.
If an agenda is binding upon an assembly, and a specific time is
listed for an item, that item cannot be taken up before that time,
and must be taken up when that time arrives even if other business
is pending. If it is desired to do otherwise, the rules can be
suspended for that purpose.
Form of agenda
The agenda is usually headed with the date, time and location of
the meeting, followed by a series of points outlining the order of
the meeting.
Points on a typical agenda may include:
* Welcome/open meeting
* support for absence
* Approve minutes of the previous meeting
* Matters arising from the previous meeting
* a list of specific points to be discussed this section is where
the bulk of the discussion in the meeting usually takes
place.
* Any other business (AOB) allowing a participant to raise
another point for discussion.
* Arrange/announce details of next meeting
* Close meeting
