Board Portal Glossary
Our Board Portal glossary is a helpful guide to understanding the language used in board meetings and governance. We want to make it easier for board professionals to understand the technical terms and acronyms that are often confusing. By bookmarking this page, you'll always have access to important definitions related to board meetings, governance and board portals.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us, we are here to help.
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Abstention
What Is An Abstention? Discover what abstention means in board meetings, learn about different types of abstention and the consequences of abstention.
Ad Hoc Committee
What is an Ad Hoc Committee? Learn about the different types of ad hoc committee and how they can help address specific challenges.
Adjournment
What Is an Adjournment in Meetings? Discover the definition of adjournment in organisational proceedings. Learn the differences between adjournment and recess.
Advisory Board
What Is an Advisory Board? An advisory board is different from a board of directors. Find out how and what its role is within a business.
Alternate Director
What Is an Alternate Director? Boards sometimes require an alternate director to take the place of a sitting board member. This page explains why that might happen and what the rules are.
Anglo-American Governance Model
What Is the Anglo-American Governance Model? The Anglo-American governance model is a popular board framework in English speaking countries, but what is it and how does it work?
Annotations
What Are Board Document Annotations? Find out about board document annotations, how they benefit decision making and the different types of annotation.
Annual General Meeting
What Is an Annual General Meeting? An annual general meeting is a regular event that brings together board members and shareholders. This page explains how it works.
Annual Operating Plan
What Is an Annual Operating Plan? A company’s annual operating plan is an important document for helping achieve its goals, but how does it work and what does it contain?
Audit Committee
What Is the Audit Committee? The audit committee is pivotal to the running of the board. This article explains what the committee does and who sits on it.
Board Administrator
What Is A Board Administrator? Discover the crucial role of board administrators and their impact on effective governance. Learn about their responsibilities and qualifications.
Board Book
What Is A Board Book? Learn what a board book is, what it should include and how to use it to maximise the efficiency and transparency of your board meetings.
Board Committee
What Are Board Committees? Gain insight into the vital role of board committees in corporate decision-making and oversight.
Board Committee Charter
What Is a Board Committee Charter? A board committee charter plays an important role in guiding the work of committees, but what does it contain and how does it aid governance?
Board Diversity
What Is Board Diversity? Board diversity is a hot topic in the world of governance, and this article explains what it is and the different types of diversity.
Board Manual
What is a Board Manual? Every board needs a board manual, and this article explains what should be included and why you need to keep it up-to-date.
Board Meeting Agenda
What Is A Board Meeting Agenda? Learn what a board meeting agenda is, what to include in it and how to use it to keep your meeting on track.
Board Meeting Etiquette
What Is Board Meeting Etiquette? Find out what board meeting etiquette is and why failing to enforce it in your directors can be detrimental to your meetings.
Board Member Agreement
What Is A Board Member Agreement? A board member agreement is an important document for ensuring the board runs as it should. Find out how here.
Board of Trustees
What Is a Board of Trustees? How does a board of trustees differ from a board of directors and what function does it hold within an organisation?
Board Officer
What Is a Board Officer? A board officer is one of the key elements of the board, but which positions do officers hold, what do they do and how are they elected?
Board Portal
What Is A Board Portal? Find out what a board portal is and how it can help you streamline your board meetings and make informed decisions.
Board President
What Is A Board President? Learn what a board president is and explore the qualifications and traits necessary to successfully fill this role.
Board Recruitment
What Is Board Recruitment? Board recruitment is essential to fill gaps and improve governance for the business. This article explains the process of recruiting directors.
Board Resolution
What Is A Board Resolution? Find out what a board resolution is, discover the different types of board resolutions and how they are used to make important decisions.
Board Secretary
What Is a Board Secretary? The board secretary is one of the key roles in corporate governance and this page explains how the secretary serves the board to help it achieve its goals.
Byelaws
What are Byelaws? Get a deep dive into what byelaws are, what they cover, and how they ensure effective governance.
Call the Question
What Is “Call the Question”? Occasionally in board meetings, a member will call the question. But what does that mean and what effect does it have?
Call to order
What is a Call to order? In most meetings, there are many topics on the agenda to be covered in a limited window of time. Therefore, it’s important to be formal and keep the board members focused on the matters at hand.
Casting Vote
What Is a Casting Vote? The casting vote might be used in a meeting as a way of breaking a deadlock. This page explains who has the vote, how they use it and when they cannot.
CEO Report
What Is a CEO Report? The CEO report is a regular analytic tool for assessing the progress of the organisation. This article shows you what it should include.
Chairman of the Board
What Is a Chairman of the Board? The chairman of the board, or chairperson, is the highest authority figure on the board of directors. Their function is specified in their organisation's bylaws.
Chairperson of a Committee
Who Is the Chairperson of a Committee? Find out how to appoint the chairperson of a committee and what their responsibilities are in relation to both the committee and the main board.
Chatham House Rule
What Is The Chatham House Rule? Discover the purpose and key features of the Chatham House Rule – the guideline that promotes confidentially and open discussions.
Citizen Engagement
What Is Citizen Engagement? Citizen engagement is an important part of local government, but how does it work, what forms does it take and what are the benefits?
Code of Conduct
What Is a Code of Conduct? Having a code of conduct for your board is essential for compliance and risk management. This page explains more about what is involved.
Committee Management System
What is a Committee Management System? A committee management system is a useful resource for a government agency. Found out how it helps governance within councils and other bodies here.
Committee Report
What Is a Committee Report? A committee report is a key tool in distributing the findings and recommendations on topics to the board as a whole. Find out how it works here.
Conflict of Interest
What Is A Conflict of Interest for Board Members? During the board’s work there may be a conflict of interest arise for a board member. Find out how to identify and mitigate conflicts.
Consensus
What is Consensus in Board Meetings? Sometimes board meetings reach decisions by consensus, but what is consensus in a board meeting and how do you record decisions?
Consent Agenda
What Is a Consent Agenda? Find out what a consent agenda is for a board meeting, what it usually includes and how it benefits the work of the board.
Corporate Governance
What Is Corporate Governance? Good corporate governance is essential for companies to operate to thief full potential. But what is it and how do boards achieve it?
D and O
What are D and O? D and O stands for directors and officers, but what does that mean and what do they do on a board? Find out here.
De Facto Director
What Is a De Facto Director? A company might have a de facto director on the board, but what does that mean and what role do they play in governance
Determination Letter
What is a Determination Letter? What is a determination letter for the board of a non-profit organisation? Find out what it is and what that means in this article.
Digital Accessibility
What Is Digital Accessibility? Digital accessibility is essential for government organisations in order to allow all citizens to participate in the process. This page explains more.
Director
What Is a Director? A director serves on the board of a company, but what are their roles and responsibilities, and what attributes make a successful director?
Disclosure Committee
What Is a Disclosure Committee? The disclosure committee plays a pivotal role in compliance, and this article explains its obligations and composition.
Ex-Officio Board Member
What Is an Ex-Officio Board Member? An ex-officio board member joins a board to impart their expertise, but can they vote and what are their responsibilities? Find out here.
Executive Committee
What Is the Executive Committee? The executive committee is separate from the main board but answers to it. Find out who sits on the executive committee and what its role is.
Executive Session
What Is an Executive Session? An executive session is a meeting within a meeting, but how do you conduct it and record the outcomes?
Extraordinary General Meeting
What Is an Extraordinary General Meeting? An extraordinary general meeting is a meeting of the board and shareholders held between AGMs. Find out what it is and why companies hold them.
Fiduciary Duty
What Is Fiduciary Duty? Directors have a fiduciary duty to the company and its stakeholders. This page explains more and puts the term in context.
Good Governance
What Is Good Governance? Good governance is at the heart of effective organisations, but what are the principles of good governance and how to apply them?
Groupthink
What Is Groupthink? Groupthink on a board should be avoided as much as possible as it can lead to a number of negative outcomes. This page shows you what to look for.
Independent Director
What Is An Independent Director? An independent director provides a point of difference on a board, but what do they bring to the table and what are their responsibilities?
Managing Director
What Is a Managing Director? A managing director is a senior executive with a role to play in running a company. Find out what the position involves on this page.
Meeting Action Items
What are Meeting Action Items? Find out what meeting action items are, why they are important, what elements they should contain and best practices for effective governance.
Meeting Approval
What Is A Meeting Approval? Get a clear understanding of what a board meeting approval is, when it is needed and which factors should be considered.
Meeting Attendance
What Is Meeting Attendance? Companies can track board meeting attendance. Find out why accountability is important and what the consequences are of poor attendance.
Meeting Minutes
What are meeting minutes? Meeting minutes are detailed written notes created during official company meetings. These notes describe everything that takes place during meetings.
Meeting motions
What are Meeting Motions? Learn what meeting motions are, the different types and how to vote on a motion at a meeting.
Motion Seconded
What Is a Motion Seconded? What does motion seconded mean and how does it affect the procedure of a board meeting? This article explains more.
Nomination Committee
What Is the Nomination Committee? Find out what the nomination committee is, who sits on it and what its responsibilities are, as well as learning about its relationship with the board.
Non-Executive Director
What Is a Non-Executive Director? A non-executive director can play a key role in the board’s work, but what does that involve and how is it different from an independent director?
Notice of Meeting
What Is a Notice of Meeting? Learn what a notice of meeting is in board meetings, when to send it and what to include in it.
Order of Business
What Is the Order of Business? The order of business in a board meeting helps you maintain focus and efficiency. Find out what it involves and how it helps.
overboarding
What Is Overboarding? Overboarding is a trending topic for boards and investors across the world, but what does it mean and what are the risks involved?
Plenary Session
What Is A Plenary Session? What is a plenary session for a board of directors, why is it important and how does it differ from other types of meeting?
Point of Information
What Is A Point of Information? Members can use a point of information, or request for information, in a meeting, but when is it appropriate and what should you avoid?
Point of Personal Privilege
What Is A Point of Personal Privilege? In the midst of a discussion, a board member might request to make a point of personal privilege, but what does that mean?
Private board
What Is a Private Board? A private board is one that serves in a company that does not sell shares to the public. Find out how that affects how the board works.
Public board
What is a Public Board? A public board is the board of directors of a publicly listed company. This page explains how it is structured and who holds it accountable.
Public Meeting
What is a Public Meeting? A public meeting is one in which citizens can witness the workings of local government. This article describes the types of public meetings and why bodies hold them.
Quorum
What is a Quorum? Get a clear, concise overview of what quorum is and its significance in modern organisations.
Remuneration Committee
What Is the Remuneration Committee? The remuneration committee is one of the committees of a board of directors and this page explains what it does and how it contributes to the board’s work
Roll Call Vote
What Is A Roll Call Vote? Learn what a roll call vote is in board meetings and how it can help increase transparency and accountability.
Shadow Director
What Is a Shadow Director? A shadow director can sit on a board even though they are not an official director. Understand more about this role on this page.
Succession Planning
What Is Succession Planning? Succession planning is key to an organisation’s long term future and success. This page explains what it is and the process to achieve it.
Tie Vote
What is a Tie Vote? A tie vote in a board meeting requires a resolution. This article explains what it is and how to resolve it.
Timekeeper
What Is a Timekeeper? Definition This page features a timekeeper definition to help you understand the role that this person plays in a board meeting.
Two-Tiered Board Structure
What Is a Two-Tiered Board Structure? A two-tiered board structure is a popular governance device in some parts of the world. Find out what it is and how it works on this page.
Vote of no confidence
What Is a Vote of No Confidence? On occasion, there might be a need to call a vote of no confidence, but under what circumstances and what is the correct procedure?