There is no legal requirement that a corporate meeting be conducted formally. Usually, the bylaws will describe the procedure for holding meetings. As a practical matter, the larger the company, the more formal the meetings tend to be. Smaller companies tend to be more informal with their meetings. The essential elements should include notice to all participants, the opportunity for discussion and voting on issues, and written minutes documenting the actions taken at the meeting. The meeting agenda will vary depending on the purpose of the meeting. For example, the agenda for the annual shareholders’ meeting will usually involve the election of directors, ratification of accountants and auditors, etc. The agenda for a special shareholders meeting will include particular business to be addressed by the group.