Parliamentary Procedure

An original main motion is a main motion that

A. Amends another motion

B. Introduces a substantive question as a new subject

C. Is related to the business of the assembly or its past or future action

D. Allows the maker of the motion to serve as a chairman if it's referred to a committee

B

An incidental main motion

A. Can be made only with the permission of the assembly

B. Is in order if an original main motion is the immediate pending question

C. Proposes an action that is defined under parliamentary law and described by a particular parliamentary term

D. Is the same as a main motion, except it only can be proposed when an incidental motion is pending

C

The main motion is a motion that

A. Takes precedence over everything

B. Can be applied to no other motion

C. Can be moved at any time

D. Always requires a majority vote

B

All subsidiary motions can be applied to

A. An original main motion

B. A point of order

C. Themselves

D. Third degree amendments

A

Main motions

A. Take precedence over all motions

B. Are not debatable

C. Always require a two-thirds vote to be adopted

D. Are out of order when another member has the floor

D

Main motions are not in order which

A. Conflict with national laws

B. Conflict with or present the same question as one which has been temporarily but not finally disposed of

C. Propose action outside the scope of the organization's bylaws or charter unless authorized by a two-thirds vote

D. All of the above

D

The motion to Postpone Indefinitely is used by

A. The chair to place a main motion on the agenda at the next regular meeting

B. A member to send a main motion to a standing committee

C. Members wish to change the pending main motion

D. The assembly to show that it does not wish to take a position on the main motion

D

If the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is adopted, what happens to the pending main motion?

A. An ad hoc committee studies it and reports back at the next regular meeting

B. It is brought back under the heading of Unfinished Business at the next regular meeting

C. It is killed for the duration of the session

D. It is automatically passed without debate

C

The subsidiary motion to Postpone Indefinitely takes precedence over

A. All other subsidiary motions

B. A secondary amendment

C. Nothing except the main question to which it is applied

D. The privileged motion to adjourn

C

The primary purpose of using the subsidiary motion to Amend is to

A. Eliminate the main purpose of the main motion

B. Alter the original main motion

C. Lengthen the debate time on the main motion

D. Call for an immediate vote on the original main motion

B

When an amendment to a main motion is adopted, the motion that was amended

A. Is also adopted

B. Is voted on immediately

C. Remains pending

D. Is postponed to the next regular meeting or until the adopted amendment is acted on

C

Rejection of the subsidiary motion to Amend leaves the pending motion

A. Rejection also

B. Worded as it was before the amendment was made

C. Closed for additional debate

D. Postponed to the next regular meeting

B

If a member votes in favor of the motion to amend when the vote is taken on the which the amendment applies, the member

A. Must also vote in favor of the amended motion

B. Must abstain

C. Is not obligated to vote in any particular way

D. Can withdraw the vote on the amendment

C

The subsidiary motion to Amend can be

A. Referred to a committee

B. Applied to any main motion or any motion with a variable factor

C.Postponed definitely

D. Laid on the table

B

A primary amendment to a main motion

A. Is always debatable but not amendable

B. Can be amended but not reconsidered

C. Is debatable whenever the motion to which it applies is debatable

D. Can introduce an independent question

C

The purpose of the motion to Commit or Refer is to send a pending question to a committee so that

A. It may be delayed

B. They can amend it and take action without permission from the assembly

C. The question may be carefully investigated and put into better condition for the assembly to consider

D. They can Lay it on the Table during informal discussions at a committee meeting

C

The chief advantage of committees is that they allow greater freedom of debate on motions. This means,

A. Three times on each topic

B. Only two times, but as long as they wish

C. On motions even after they are adopted

D. As many times as they wish

D

The motion to Refer to a Committee can be applied to

A. Points of order

B. Main motions

C. All secondary motions

D. Privileged motions

B

The motion to Commit(or Refer)

A. Need not be seconded

B. Is not debatable

C. Can be applied to main motions with any amendments that may be pending

D. May be proposed when another member has the floor provided debate has not begun

C

A special committee appointed with power means that the committee

A. Must report to the assembly before acting

B. Can act for the society in all cases that are similar

C. Can act for the society in specific cases

D. Must meet until all committee members agree on a solution to their assigned task

C

The motion to Postpone to a Certain time can be made while

A. The main motion with an amendment is pending

B. The motion to Lay on the Table is pending

C. Another member has the floor

D. Another member is debating a main motion

A

The subsidiary motion to Postpone to a Certain time takes precedence over the motion to

A. Adjourn

B. Limit Debate

C. Lay on the Table

D. Amend

D

Which one of the following subsidiary motions is debatable?

A. Lay on the Table

B. Postpone to a Certain Time

C. Previous Question

D. Limit or Extend Limits of Debate

B

The motion to Postpone to a Certain Time

A. Always includes a clock time

B. If adopted, makes the item postponed a special order

C. When a subsidiary motion, is debatable, amendable and may be reconsidered

D. Is identical to Lay on the Table except for terminology

C

In an assembly that does not meet as often as quarterly, a question

A. Cannot be postponed beyond the end of the present session

B. Cannot be postponed beyond the end of the next session

C. Can be postponed beyond the end of the next session

D. Cannot be postponed

A

The previous question can be used to close debate immediately and the making of all subsidiary motions except to

A. Commit (Refer)

B. Lay on the table

C. Amend

D. Postpone indefinitely

B

Which motion below would you use at a meeting to stop debate immediately and vote on a pending question?

A. Question of Privilege

B. Division of the House

C. Previous Question

D. Reconsider the question

C

If adopted, the previous question is a motion that stops

A. The making of all subsidiary motions

B. Debate and the making of amendments on the pending question

C. The making of privileged question

D. All incidental motions

B

The unqualified form of previous question can apply only to

A. All pending amendments

B. Debatable motions

C. The immediately pending question

D. All incidental motions

C

If a motion for the previous question fails to gain the necessary votes,

A. Debate is stopped on it

B. The motion to which it was applied is lost

C. Debate continues on the pending motion as if this motion had not been made

D. Members may not ask the maker of the motion questions directly for the duration of the meeting

C

The motion to Lay on the Table enables an assembly to lay a pending question aside

A. Temporarily when something else of immediate urgency has arisen

B. To consider any motion decided upon by the chairman

C. So that the assembly may conduct a standing vote

D. So that it can be brought up as a general order at the next meeting

A

The motion to Lay on the Table

A. Can be debated if the chairman allows the maker of the motion to speak first

B. Kills the motion and avoids a direct vote on it

C. Can be amended

D. Sets the pending question aside temporarily and there is no set time for taking up the matter again

D

A subsidiary motion to Lay on the Table takes precedence over

A. The motion the Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn

B. All privileged motions

C. All subsidiary motions

D. The motion to adjourn

C

Which one of the following subsidiary motions can be applied to the motion to Lay on the Table?

A. Postpone Indefinitely

B. Refer to a Committee

C. Previous Question

D. None of the above. No subsidiary motion can be applied to the motion to Lay on the Table

D

The motion to Lay on the Table is out of order when

A. Both a main motion and an amendment are pending

B. Another member has the floor

C. A motion has been adopted to extend the limits of debate

D. There is another subsidiary motion pending

B

The motion to Raise a Question of privilege is a device which

A. Is ruled upon by the chair, and the ruling can be reconsidered

B. Has a higher precedence than any incidental motion

C. Requires a second and its debatable

D. May permit action otherwise not in order

D

Raising a question of privilege while business is pending

A. Cannot usually interrupt a member speaking

B. Requires recognition from the chairman to state the request

C. Cannot be made while an amendment is pending

D. Requires a two-thirds vote in order to be adopted

B

The motion to raise a question of privilege takes precedence over all the motions below except the motion to

A. Amend

B. Commit (or refer)

C. Limit debate

D. Recess

D

A member who has been assigned the floor may be interrupted for the purpose of

A. Amending a motion

B. Limiting debate

C. Raising a question of privilege

D. Moving the previous question

C

The privileged device, raise a question of privilege, is not

A. Amendable

B. Debatable

C. Seconded

D. All of the above

D

A recess may be taken to

A. Count ballots

B. Secure information

C. Allow for informal consultation

D. All of the above

D

When a motion to recess is made while another motion is pending it is a (an)

A. Incidental motion

B. Privileged motion

C. Incidental main motion

D. Main motion

B

The privileged motion to Recess is a motion that a recess begins

A. After the motion on the floor is disposed of

B. Immediately

C. When the member who proposed the pending motion grants permission

D. Upon a decision of the chair

B

A motion to recess that is made when no business is pending is a

A. Privileged motion

B. Main motion

C. Incidental motion

D. Unclassified motion

B

Which of the following is true of the privileged motion to recess?

A. It may provide to for a recess at a later time

B. It requires that the duration of the recess be included in the motion

C. The vote may be reconsidered

D. It is "privileged" only when it is proposed while another question is pending

D

Which one of the following would be an example of the privileged motion to Adjourn?

A. Obtain the floor any say, " I move that we adjourn at 7:30 p.m."

B. Rise and without obtaining the floor say, "I move that we adjourn sine die."

C. Obtain the floor and say, "I move to adjourn."

D. Rise, and without obtaining the floor say, "I move that we now adjourn to meet at 7:30 p.m. on May 15th"

C

The privileged motion to Adjourn is

A. Always moved in an unqualified form

B. A motion to close the meeting immediately

C. Made when no time for adjourning has been set

D. All of the above

D

A motion to Adjourn is always privileged when

A. The time for adjournment has been set ahead of time

B. It sets a time to adjourn (is qualified)

C. No time for adjournment has been set (is unqualified)

D. Another member has the floor

C

If a motion to adjourn is qualified in any way ( example: "I move we adjourn in ten minutes."), it is classified as a (an)

A. Main motion

B. Privileged motion

C. Subsidiary motion

D. Incidental motion

A

A motion to Adjourn at or to a future time while business is pending

A. May be adopted anytime during a recess, without a quorum

B. Should be completed prior to debate on the pending motion

C. Is permissible if the chair allows it

D. Is always out of order

D

A Point of Order yields to all

A. Privileged motion

B. Secondary motion

C. Subsidiary motion

D. Main motion

A

If a Point of Order is raised while an amendment is immediately pending, the

A. Point of Order is ignored

B. Amendment is disposed of first, and the point of order next

C. Point of order is disposed of first

D. Chair asks for a second on the point of order and then it is ruled on

C

After a member makes a Point of Order, the chair should always

A. Ask for a second

B. Determine if the maker wishes to debate it first

C. Make certain that the amendments that are applied to it are germane

D. Try to make a ruling on it

D

The normal grounds for a member to rise to a Point of Order are

A. To ask the maker of the motion a question

B. Uncomfortable conditions

C. A breach of rules

D. To obtain parliamentary information from the parliamentarian

C

Which statement below is true regarding a Point of Order?

A. Points of order should be called on minor irregularities

B. A parliamentary inquiry has the same purpose as a point of order

C. If a motion is not seconded, and is debated and then adopted, a point of order is too late

D. A member must rise and be recognized by the chair before raising a point of order

C

If you call for a division of the assembly at a meeting of seventy members, this means that the vote must be taken again by

A. Voice

B. Rising

C. Raising hands

D. Paper ballot

B

A member can call for a division of the assembly on a motion form the time a voice vote is taken and up until

A. Adjournment

B. The chair announces the outcome of the vote

C. Adjournment at the next regular meeting

D. The chair has stated the question on another motion

D

The motion to call for the division of the assembly

A. Is debatable

B. Does not require a second

C. Requires a vote

D. Is amendable

B

The Chairman has announced the results of a voice vote on an amendment. The result was close. What could you say from your seat, without obtaining the floor, to demand that the chair take another vote by rising?

A. "Division"

B. "I call for a division"

C. "I doubt the result of the vote"

D. Any of the above

D

An example of a legal method of voting other than a voice vote is by

A. Ballot

B. Roll call

C. Conducting a standing vote

D. All of the above

D

Which one of the following is a motion that brings a question again before the assembly?

A. Lay on the table

B. Reopen nominations

C. Postpone definitely

D. Take from the table

D

The motion to take from the table can be moved when

A. A motion is pending

B. The chairman decides it is appropriate

C. A member wishes to postpone a motion to the next regular meeting

D. A motion is not pending

D

The motion to take from the table can be made

A. Under unfinished business

B. Under new business

C. During the same session it is laid on the table

D. All of the above

D

The motion to take from the table is in order

A. When another member has the floor

B. Only when the chair calls for unfinished business

C. When some other business has been transacted

D. Made by the member who laid the original main motion on the table

C

The motion to take from the table must be

A. Seconded

B. Passed by a two-thirds vote

C. Debated by members for and against the motion of the table

D. Made by the member who laid the original main motion on the table

A

Before members can make a motion or debate, they must rise and address the chair and

A. Then must be recognized by the chair

B. Ask the chair if they may speak

C. Then speak in favor of the proposed motion

D. Ask the assembly for recognition and then speak

A

The presiding officer may recognize a member after he or she has risen and addressed the chair by

A. Announcing the member's name or title

B. Announcing the place or unit that the member represents

C. Nodding if only one person has addressed the chair

D. Any of the above

D

When a member is assigned the floor by the chairman, the member may

A. Debate the pending motion

B. Move a secondary motion

C. Debate a pending motion and conclude by moving a secondary motion

D. Any of the above

D

Generally, if two or more members rise at about the same time to claim the floor, the chair should recognize the member who rose and addressed the chair

A. In the loudest voice

B. First after the floor was yielded

C. Before the floor was yielded

D. With a raised hand

B

Members should be given preference in recognition for debate from the chair if they

A. Made a committee report and want to implement a motion

B. Moved to take a motion off the table

C. Made a motion and have not already spoke

D. All of the above

D

Before a motion may be debated upon by the assembly, it must be

A. Amended

B. Explained by the chair regarding its merits

C. Debated by the maker of the motion and then seconded

D. Made, seconded, and stated by the chair

D

In debate, a member's remarks must have bearing on whether the pending motion should be adopted. In other words the debate mus

A. Be always affirmative

B. Be germane

C. End with a subsidiary motion

D. Attack the motives of the member who made the motion

B

The word majority means

A. Exactly half

B. Less than half

C. More than half

D. 51%

C

If 40 votes are cast, a majority is

A. 20

B. 21

C. 19

D. 18

B

In order to have a majority vote with 51 cast votes, there must be an affirmative vote of at least

A. 25

B. 26

C. 27

D. 34

B

A society has a total membership of 180, and 91 members are needed for a quorum. There are 120 members present at a regular meeting. If all the members present vote, the minimum vote required to adopt a main motion is

A. 60

B. 61

C. 90

D. 91

B

If sixty votes are cast, a minimum two- thirds vote is

A. 30

B. 31

C. 40

D. 41

C

When no special title has been assigned, the presiding officer of an assembly is generally called the

A. Chairperson or moderator

B. Chairman

C. Preside or presiding officer

D. Chairwoman or chairmen

B

In writing minutes, a proficient secretary will

A. Include personal observations and conclusions on the debate

B. Summarize motions and include all debate

C. Include all motions in one paragraph

D. Use the exact wording of motions that are acted upon

D

Which motion below has the lowest precedence?

A. Fix the time to which to adjourn to

B. Lay on the table

C. Call for orders of the day

D. Main motion

D

All of the privileged motions are

A. Debatable

B. Undebatable

C. Amendable

D. Able to be laid on the table

B

Which series of motions below is arranged from the lowest to highest precedence?

A. Main motion, adjourn, amend

B. Amend, adjourn, main motion

C. Main motion, amend, adjourn

D. Adjourn, amend, main motion

C

If an adjournment is made as a main motion, it

A. May be reconsidered

B. Requires a two-thirds vote to be adopted

C. Is debatable and amendable

D. Does not require a second

C

Both of the motions to Amend a pending motion and to Amend an Amendment of a pending motion

A. Are subsidiary motions

B. Must be seconded

C. Require a majority vote for adoption

D. All of the above

D

The motion to Postpone Indefinitely can be

A. Applied to all subsidiary motions

B. Referred to a committee

C. Laid on the table

D. Applied only to the main question

D

The motion to postpone indefinitely can be reconsidered when it has received a (an)

A. Plurality vote

B. Negative vote

C. Affirmative vote

D. Tie vote

C

The suppression of a motion that was postponed indefinitely at a convention that has several meetings continues

A. Throughout the next convention also

B. Until the presiding officer wants it debated

C. Only for the meeting it was suppressed

D. Throughout the entire series of meetings

D

When the Previous Question is ordered on a series of pending motions, they are voted on in the

A. Same order in which they were proposed

B. Order as determined by the chairman

C. Reverse order in which they were made

D. Order that the purposer of each motion demands

C

A vote that has ordered the Previous Question can be reconsidered

A. Before any of the motions affected by the order have been voted on

B. After any of the motions affected by the order have been voted on

C. At any time

D. If the chairman has voted on the prevailing side

A

To properly call for the Previous Question members should

A. Call out "Question" from their seats without being recognized

B. Say "I demand the question" without obtaining the floor

C. Say "I move the previous question" without obtaining the floor

D. Raise a question of privilege without being recognized by the chair

C

The motion to Lay on the Table is commonly misused in meetings in the place of the motion to

A. Adjourn

B. Postpone to a certain time

C. Reconsider

D. Commit (or refer)

B

It is out of order to move to lay a pending question on the table if

A. The motion on the previous question is pending

B. The motion to be laid on the table has an amendment already applied to it

C. Another member has already moved to lay the matter on the table during the same meeting

D. There is evidently no other matter urgently requiring immediate attention

D

Assume that a main motion is being debated and you become aware that something else of immediate urgency has arisen. What should you do?

A. Obtain the floor and say, "I move to lay the question on the table."

B. Rise, and without obtaining the floor say, "I move to postpone the motion."

C. Obtain the floor and say, "I move to lay the question on the table until 10:00 a.m."

D. From your seat, and without obtaining the floor say, "I move to postpone the motion indefinitely until after we decide the urgent matter of..."

A

The privileged motion to Call for the Orders of the Day is used primarily to

A. Order the chairman to take an immediate recess

B. Require that a meeting confirm to its agenda

C. Indicate to members when a point of order may be called

D. Write orders for all committees to complete their tasks by a specific time

B

The orders of the day can be called by

A. One member proposing the motion and a second

B. A two-thirds vote without notice

C. Any member

D. The officers after they confer in executive session and adopt it by a two-thirds vote

C

The privileged motion to Call for the Orders of the Day may not be

A. Seconded

B. Debated

C. Amended

D. All of the above

D

The orders of the day can be set aside by

A. A two-thirds vote

B. Any member who objects

C. The chairman if there is an important item being debated

D. A motion to Reconsider

A

Once an assembly had refused to proceed to the orders of the day, the orders of the day cannot be called for again until pending business

A. Has been debated by at least one member in favor and one member opposed to it

B. Has been amended

C. Is adopted

D. Is disposed of

D

Assume that there is a meeting in progress and the assembly has digressed from the agenda to such an extent that the important items on the agenda may not be considered because of a lack of time. What would you do?

A. Rise, and without obtaining the floor say, "Madam President, I order you to consider the agenda."

B. Rise, and without obtaining the floor say, "Madam President, I move we reconsider the agenda."

C. Rise, and without obtaining the floor say, "Madam President, I call for the orders of the day."

D. Obtain the floor and say, "I move that we order the consideration of our agenda."

C

Who makes the initial ruling on the motion of raise a question of privilege?

A. Members

B. The chairman

C. The parliamentarian

D. The vice president

B