Which term describes the official decision of the presiding officer?

• A. Ruling
• B. Resolution
• C. Decision
• D. Advice

Answer: (A)

In parliamentary procedure, the official action a presiding officer takes to interpret rules or to decide how the meeting should proceed is called a ruling. This is the chair’s formal decision on a point of order or on how a procedure should be handled, and it guides what happens next in the meeting.

A ruling is the right term here because it conveys authority over process and interpretation of the rules, not merely a formal statement of opinion. A resolution, by contrast, is a formal document expressing the group’s will or stance. A decision can be more general and may come from the body rather than the chair on procedural matters. Advice is guidance, not an enforceable procedural determination.