Parliamentary ProcedureParliamentary Procedure

Lesson IIILesson III

MotionsMotionsBring business (Topics) to the assembly in an Bring business (Topics) to the assembly in an orderly manner.orderly manner.

Types of motions:Types of motions: Main Motions, Subsidiary, Main Motions, Subsidiary, Privileged, and IncidentalPrivileged, and Incidental

Motions are ranked or have an order of Motions are ranked or have an order of precedence (Privileged-highest, Subsidiary-precedence (Privileged-highest, Subsidiary-next highest, Main & Incidental-no rank)next highest, Main & Incidental-no rank)

Motions begin with the words, “I move that…”Motions begin with the words, “I move that…”

MotionsMotions

Motions are short and to the point-no Motions are short and to the point-no discussion or excessive description is needed, discussion or excessive description is needed, this can be included in the debate.this can be included in the debate.

Only one motion can be considered at a timeOnly one motion can be considered at a time. .

Ranked MotionsRanked MotionsMain motionsMain motions – – Introduces all businessIntroduces all business

Subsidiary motionsSubsidiary motions – Aid the assembly in – Aid the assembly in treating or disposing of a Main motion treating or disposing of a Main motion during debate. (ex: modify, delay action on, during debate. (ex: modify, delay action on, or disposing of it).or disposing of it).

Privileged motionsPrivileged motions – Relate directly to the – Relate directly to the members and the organization, and not to members and the organization, and not to main motions or pending business. They main motions or pending business. They deal with matters of urgency, that without deal with matters of urgency, that without debate, can interrupt everything else.debate, can interrupt everything else.

Ranked MotionsRanked Motions

Incidental motionIncidental motion – deal with questions – deal with questions of procedure and arise out of other of procedure and arise out of other motions or items of businessmotions or items of business

Main MotionsMain MotionsHas No RankHas No Rank

Requires a second. If not received, the Requires a second. If not received, the motion dies.motion dies.

Are debatableAre debatable

Are amendableAre amendable

Require a majority voteRequire a majority vote

May be reconsideredMay be reconsidered

Cannot interrupt the speakerCannot interrupt the speaker

Allows a question previously disposed of to come Allows a question previously disposed of to come again before the assembly as if it had not been again before the assembly as if it had not been considered. (only a member from the prevailing or considered. (only a member from the prevailing or winning side can make this motion)winning side can make this motion)

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is debatable only if the original motion to be Is debatable only if the original motion to be reconsidered is debatablereconsidered is debatable

Not amendableNot amendable

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt another Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt another speaker with the floorspeaker with the floor

ReconsiderReconsiderHas No RankHas No Rank

Voids a motion previously passedVoids a motion previously passed

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is debatable and amendableIs debatable and amendable

Simply majority if prior notice given, if not a 2/3 Simply majority if prior notice given, if not a 2/3 vote is requiredvote is required

Cannot interrupt a speaker who has the floorCannot interrupt a speaker who has the floor

RescindRescindHas No RankHas No Rank

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsLay on the TableLay on the Table

Delay action on Delay action on another motion another motion because something because something more important has more important has arisenarisen

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is not debatableIs not debatable

Is not amendableIs not amendable

Cannot be Cannot be reconsideredreconsidered

Cannot interrupt Cannot interrupt another speakeranother speaker

Majority voteMajority vote

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsPrevious QuestionPrevious Question

Immediately stop Immediately stop debate on the debate on the pending question pending question and move to vote.and move to vote.

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is not debatableIs not debatable

Is not amendableIs not amendable

Passed by a 2/3 Passed by a 2/3 votevote

Cannot interrupt Cannot interrupt another speakeranother speaker

State “I move the State “I move the previous question.”previous question.”

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsPostpone definitelyPostpone definitely

Defers action on Defers action on another motion to a another motion to a specific day, place, specific day, place, and timeand time..

•Requires a secondRequires a second

•Is not debatableIs not debatable

•Is amendableIs amendable

• 2/3 vote required 2/3 vote required because it restrictsbecause it restricts

• May be reconsideredMay be reconsidered

•Cannot interrupt one Cannot interrupt one who has the floorwho has the floor

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsCommit or ReferCommit or Refer

Gives a motion more Gives a motion more detailed attention or detailed attention or permits it to be handled permits it to be handled in a smaller group or by in a smaller group or by a committee before the a committee before the body votes.body votes.

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is debatableIs debatable

Is amendableIs amendable

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

May be reconsideredMay be reconsidered

Cannot interrupt one who Cannot interrupt one who has the floorhas the floor

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsAmendmentsAmendments

To modify or change a pending motion by To modify or change a pending motion by deleting, inserting, or adding.deleting, inserting, or adding.Requires a secondRequires a secondIs debatable if main motion is debatableIs debatable if main motion is debatableAmendment of the first degree may be Amendment of the first degree may be amended by amendment of the second amended by amendment of the second degreedegreeSecond degree amendments cannot be Second degree amendments cannot be amendedamended

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsAmendments Cont…Amendments Cont…

Related to motion pendingRelated to motion pending

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

May be reconsidered only until the main May be reconsidered only until the main motion is adopted, otherwise whole main motion is adopted, otherwise whole main motion may be reconsideredmotion may be reconsidered

May not interrupt one who has the floorMay not interrupt one who has the floor

Subsidiary MotionsSubsidiary MotionsPostpone IndefinitelyPostpone Indefinitely

Disposes of the question without Disposes of the question without having to vote on ithaving to vote on it..

Requires a secondRequires a second

Is debatableIs debatable

Not amendableNot amendable

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

Cannot be reconsideredCannot be reconsidered

Cannot interrupt one who has Cannot interrupt one who has the floorthe floor

Privileged MotionsPrivileged MotionsAdjournAdjourn

Terminates the meetingTerminates the meeting

““I move that we adjourn.”I move that we adjourn.”

Requires a secondRequires a second

Not debatableNot debatable

Not amendableNot amendable

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt the Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt the one who has the floorone who has the floor

Privileged MotionsPrivileged MotionsRecessRecess

Requires a secondRequires a second

Not debatableNot debatable

Not amendableNot amendable

Majority vote requiredMajority vote required

Cannot be reconsideredCannot be reconsidered

Cannot interrupt the one who has the Cannot interrupt the one who has the floorfloor

Incidental MotionsIncidental Motions

Point of InformationPoint of Information: wants facts about the business : wants facts about the business at hand (“I rise to a point of information,” and can at hand (“I rise to a point of information,” and can happen at any time)happen at any time)

Parliamentary InquiryParliamentary Inquiry:: requests chair’s opinion requests chair’s opinion

Division of AssemblyDivision of Assembly: calls for verification when a : calls for verification when a member doubts the accuracy of a voice votemember doubts the accuracy of a voice vote

Withdraw a MotionWithdraw a Motion: permits a member to remove his : permits a member to remove his or her question from consideration even after the or her question from consideration even after the motion has been restated by the Chair (“Mr. President, motion has been restated by the Chair (“Mr. President, I move that I be allowed to withdraw the motion.”)I move that I be allowed to withdraw the motion.”)

Point of OrderPoint of Order: Challenges an error in procedure and : Challenges an error in procedure and requires a ruling by the Chair. ( “I rise to a point of requires a ruling by the Chair. ( “I rise to a point of order”)order”)