The traditions caution against hasty decision making – a group conscience is obtained with patience. So more than one business meeting may be needed in order to hear all viewpoints and reach an informed decision. MA’s founders were wise enough to provide meetings with 6 months to discuss, reach an informed group conscience, and return their vote on matters of importance such as proposed changes to the MA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, so that decision making would not need to be rushed.
If there is no sense that a collective view has been reached by the group, or that everyone with an opinion (especially minority opinions) has been able to speak about their viewpoint, the issue can be dealt with over the course of multiple business meetings to allow all voices to be heard, and all the relevant information to be reviewed before the meeting votes. In obtaining a group conscience, members should remain wary of dominant opinions and be reminded by MA traditions to place principles before personalities.