An agenda is a list of points to be discussed at a meeting.

Etymology

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Originally agenda was a plural term, 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

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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.

Form of agenda

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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
• Apologies 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

Parliamentary procedure | Meetings

Dagsorden | Tagesordnung | Dagordning