For a timed agenda to be effective, what must the presiding officer do?

• A. Ignore time limits to allow discussion.
• B. Delegate all timing to a staff member.
• C. Politely insist that time limits be obeyed and postpone incomplete items.
• D. Cancel the agenda and reschedule.

Answer: (C)

Keeping a timed agenda effective comes down to the presiding officer enforcing the set time for each item and handling items that can’t be finished in the allotted period. When the chair politely insists that time limits be obeyed, meetings stay on track, every item gets if not full discussion, at least appropriate visibility, and decisions can be reached within the scheduled duration. If an item won’t be finished, moving it to a future meeting or setting it aside as a parking lot topic preserves the flow of the remaining agenda and respects everyone’s time.

Ignoring time limits lets discussions run long, pushes other items aside, and can derail decisions. Relying entirely on staff to manage timing removes the chair’s direct control over the meeting’s focus and pace. Cancelling the agenda outright is a last resort that wastes preparation and requires rescheduling; better to enforce limits and postpone items when needed.