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.
annotations
What Are Board Document Annotations? Find out about board document annotations, how they benefit decision making and the different types of annotation.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
Quorum
What is a Quorum? Get a clear, concise overview of what quorum is and its significance in modern organisations.
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.
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?