parlimentarian study guide

Commitee

a group created by an assembly to be accountable for some specific function; it usually is much smaller than the assembly.

Standing Committee

typically established in an organization's bylaws and serve a permanent and continuing function for the organization

Special Committees

(also known as an "ad hoc committee") created by a motion to form a committee to carry out a clearly defined, temporary function. These committees exist until they complete their work and report to the assembly

Motion

a formal proposal by a member of an assembly that some action be taken. Usually, in order for a motion to be considered, a member other than the motion's sponsor must second the motion

Second

a verbal expression of agreement that a suggested motion should be considered (typically from someone who isn't the motion's sponsor)

Main Motion

Introduce a unique, substantive proposal. For example, a motion that the assembly purchase a new property

Subsidiary Motion

Assist the assembly in handling some other motion. For example, a motion to amend the current motion

Privileged Motions

Deal with immediately pressing questions that are not directly relevant to the motion being considered. For example, the motion to take a recess

Incidental Motion

Affect how the assembly considers the current motion, usually by enforcing or changing the rules of order. For example, the motion to suspend a rule

Restorative Motion

Allow the assembly to reverse or reconsider the decision previously made on some other motion. For example, the motion to reconsider a main motion

Postpone Indefinitely

(Subsidiary Motion) This motion avoids uncomfortable decisions. Adopting this motion means that your assembly has agreed to not cast a vote on the motion to which this is applied. It requires a majority.

Amend

(Subsidiary Motion) The most commonly used subsidiary motion; used to offer a substantive change to the motion that is being considered. It requires a majority.

Commit or Refer

(Subsidiary Motion) This motion sends a motion to a committee, special or standing. With this motion, the committee can research or take some action, and report back at a later meeting. It requires a majority.

Previous Question

(Subsidiary Motion) Used to immediately end debate and vote on one or more of the motions being considered. It requires a two-thirds vote, since it affects the rights of members.

Postpone Definitely

(Subsidiary Motion) This motion reschedules the consideration of the pending motion to another time during the present session or the next regular session. It requires a majority.

Limit or Extend Limits of Debate

(Subsidiary Motion) This motion is used to change the amount of time that members have to speak, the number of times they may speak, or to set a time to end debate. It requires a two-thirds vote

Lay On the Table

(Subsidiary Motion) This motion temporarily sets aside the pending motion in order to handle pressing business. If it is not taken from the table by the end of the next session, it dies. It requires a majority.

Call for Orders of the Day

(Privileged Motion) This motion is used to keep the meeting on schedule, with the meeting's agenda. It is required on demand of a single member. A two-thirds vote is required to reject this call.

Raise a Question of Privilege

(Privileged Motion) This motion is used when a member asks for consideration of a request or a motion relating to the rights of the assembly or some members. The chair rules whether it is a valid question of priviledge, and if it is, either rules on the request or puts the motion before the assembly

Recess

(Privileged Motion) This motion provides a short break in the proceedings. It allows the members to have some time to take care of personal business without disrupting the meeting. It requires a majority.

Adjourn

(Privileged Motion) This motion is a proposal to end the meeting. It requires a majority.

Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn

(Privileged Motion) This motion sets the time for an adjourned meeting. It is used to schedule another meeting that is a continuation of the current one. It requires a majority.

Point of Order

(Incidental Motion) This is called when there is a breach of the rules; it requires that the issue be immediately considered. No vote is taken on this motion, the chair simply states the ruling of the point.

Appeal

(Incidental Motion) This is a way to express dissatisfaction with the chair's ruling. It brings the chair's ruling into consideration by the assembly. A majority is required to overturn the chair's ruling.

Suspend the Rules

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to temporarily set aside rules governing the body. It requires a two-thirds vote if it is a rule of order, or a majority if it a standing rule of the assembly. This motion cannot be used to suspend any rules contained in the bylaws or constitution.

Objection to the Consideration of a Question

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to prevent an original main motion from being considered and discussed. It requires a two-thirds vote.

Division of a Question

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to separate one motion into two or more motions to be considered separately. It can only be applied to main motions or amendments. It requires a majority.

Consider By Paragraph (Seriatim):

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to separate a lengthy motion into parts for debate and vote on each piece separately before a vote on the whole. It requires a majority.

Division of the Assembly

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to question the result of a voice vote or show of hands vote by calling for a standing vote. This motion cannot demand any type of vote beyond a standing vote. It is required on demand of a single member.

Motions Related to Method of Voting and the Polls

(Incidental Motion) These motions are used to propose that a vote be taken by ballot, roll call, or counted standing vote, and include motions to open or close ballot polls. They typically require majority votes; there are some special cases that require two-thirds votes.

Motions Related to Nominations

(Incidental Motion) These motions designate a method for taking nominations or open or close nominations. They typically require majority votes, but there are some special cases that require two-thirds votes.

Request to Be Excused from a Duty

(Incidental Motion) A member may make this motion to shed oneself, or another member, of a compulsory obligation of membership or office. It requires a majority.

Parliamentary Inquiry

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to pose a question about parliamentary rules. There is no vote nor a binding ruling; the chair answers the question or refers it to another member.

Point of Information/Request for Information

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used by a member wanting information about the pending motion. There is no vote; the chair answers the question or refers it to another member.

Request for Permission to Withdraw or Modify a Motion

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used by the maker of a motion to withdraw or change a motion. If it has already been stated by the chair, a majority is required. If it has not yet been stated, the maker can withdraw or change the motion without permission.

Request to Read Papers

(Incidental Motion) This motion is a request to read something to the assembly. It requires a majority.

Request for Other Privilege

(Incidental Motion) This motion is used to make any request not defined by another incidental motion, such as a member requesting to speak or make remarks when no business is pending. It requires a majority.

Rescind

(Restorative Motion) Also known as repeal, this motion is used to nullify an adopted resolution, motion, bylaw, section, or paragraph. It requires a majority with previous notice, or a two-thirds vote.

Amend Something Previously Adopted

(Restorative Motion) This motion is similar to rescind, except it amends the adopted motion rather than nullifys it. It requires a majority with previous notice, or a two-thirds vote.

Reconsider

(Restorative Motion) This motion allows the assembly to bring back into consideration a motion previously voted on during the same session. This motion can only be made by someone who voted on the winning side of the original motion. It requires a majority.

Take from the Table

(Restorative Motion) This motion is used to bring a motion previously laid on the table back into consideration. It requires a majority.

Discharge a Committee

(Restorative Motion) This motion proposes to take a matter out of a committee's hands and allows the assembly to deal with the motion. It requires a majority with previous notice, or a two-thirds vote.

Quorum

The minimum number of members that must be present to consider business at a meeting. Unless bylaws prescribe otherwise, it is the majority of membership.

Majority

Passes only if more than half of the votes cast are in the affirmative.

Two-thirds

Passes only if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in the affirmative. A standing vote, roll call vote, or ballot vote must be taken for motions requiring two-thirds.

Previous Notice

Notification of members about intent to consider a motion some amount of time before the session, usually at the prior meeting or in the announcement of the meeting.

Abstention

A member's choice to cast neither an affirmative nor a negative vote. For calculating majority or two thirds, an abstention is treated as if no vote were cast.

Voice

(Voting Method) Members indicate their votes by saying "aye" or "nay" when prompted.

Show of Hands

(Voting Method) Members indicate their votes by raising their hands when prompted.

Standing

(Voting Method) Members indicate their votes by standing when prompted; may be counted in small assemblies.

Roll Call

(Voting Method) Names or positions are called, with members indicating their votes by responding with "aye" or "nay."

Ballot

(Voting Method) Members indicate their votes by submitting written votes.

Unanimous Consent

(Voting Method) Passage of a motion that is obviously uncontroversial is sometimes attained by asking for objections. If none are offered, the motion passes.

Restorative Motions

Motions that allow the assembly to reverse or reconsider decisions previously made on other motions.

Deliberative Assembly

A group of individuals convened to discuss, debate, and make decisions on matters of common concern, following established rules of order.

Yes

Do main motions need to be seconded?

Yes

Are main motions debatable?

Yes

Are main motions amendable?

Majority (except when previous notice is used, rights of members are affected, etc.)

What type of vote is required for a main motion?

Yes

Can Main Motions be reconsidered?

Privileged

What type of motion is adjournment?

No

Can adjournment interrupt a speaker?

Yes

Does the motion to adjourn need a second?

No

Is adjournment debatable?

No

Is adjournment amendable?

Majority

What vote does adjournment need to pass?

No

Can adjournment be reconsidered?

Main

What type of motion is adjournment to a future time?

No

Can a motion to adjourn at a future time interrupt a speaker who has the floor?

Yes

Does the motion to adjourn at a future time need a second?

Yes

Is a motion to adjourn at a future time debatable?

Yes

Is a motion to adjourn at a future time amendable?

Majority

What type of vote is required to pass a motion to adjourn at a future time?

No

Can adjournment at a future time be reconsidered?

Main

What type of motion allows a report to be accepted/adopted/agreed to?

No

Can the motion to adopt a report interrupt a speaker who has the floor?

Yes

Does the motion to accept a report need a second?

Yes

Is the motion to adopt a report debatable?

Yes

Is the motion to adopt a report amendable?

Majority

What type of vote does a report acceptance need?

Yes

Can report adoption/rejection be reconsidered?

Main

What type of motion adopts bylaws or a constitution?