chairmanship

Chairmanship refers to the office or tenure of holding the chair of a deliberative body, such as a board, committee, legislature, or nonprofit organization. It can denote the person who serves as chair or the period during which they hold the position. The chair is the presiding officer responsible for guiding meetings, maintaining order, and ensuring the body conducts its business according to rules and bylaws.

Key duties commonly include setting the meeting agenda, recognizing speakers, ruling on points of order, presiding over votes, appointing or supervising committees, and acting as the public representative of the body. In many organizations the chair also works with the chief executive or secretary to communicate decisions, implement policy, and oversee governance processes, including oversight of compliance and performance. The chair’s influence varies: in some contexts the role is largely ceremonial; in others it is a strong leadership position with agenda-setting authority and leverage in nominations and strategy.

Selection and tenure: chairs are typically elected by the body or appointed by its governing framework, often for a defined term and with the possibility of renewal. Some bodies provide for an acting or interim chair when the current chair steps down or is unavailable. The chair may have a vice-chair, deputy, or co-chair to provide continuity and succession planning.

Context and issues: chairmanship has governance implications, including debates over independence, neutrality, and inclusivity. In corporate boards, a separate chair and chief executive arrangement is sometimes pursued to balance leadership and oversight; in parliamentary settings, the chair is expected to remain impartial during proceedings. The term derives from the chair’s seat of authority within a meeting.