What is the Difference Between Agenda and Minutes?

The main difference between an agenda and minutes lies in their purpose and content. Here are the key differences:

• Agenda:

1. A list of items of business to be transacted in a meeting.
2. Useful to the chairperson to take items for discussion according to the agenda.
3. Prepared prior to the meeting and sent to the members well in advance with the notice.
4. Always written in the future tense.
5. Prepared by the secretary and approved by the chairperson, not required to be approved by the members.

• Minutes:

1. The statutory record of the business transacted, decisions taken, and resolutions passed in a meeting.
2. Serve as an authentic proof of the decisions taken in a meeting and can be accepted as evidence in a court of law.
3. Recorded after the conclusion of a meeting.
4. Always written in the past tense.
5. Prepared by the secretary and approved by the members after some discussion.

In summary, an agenda is a list of topics to be discussed during a meeting, while minutes are a written record of what was discussed and decided during the meeting. The agenda is prepared in advance and distributed to attendees, while minutes are recorded after the meeting and serve as a legal record of the proceedings.

Comparative Table: Agenda vs Minutes

The difference between an agenda and minutes can be summarized as follows:

In summary, the agenda is prepared before the meeting and outlines the topics to be addressed, while the minutes provide a written record of what was discussed and decided during the meeting.