Parliamentary Procedure Motions

 Parliamentary Procedure Motions

\ Fix Time at Which to Adjourn

Purpose: Set time for another meeting

How to say:: I move that we fix the time at which to adjourn, so that we stay adjourned until our next scheduled meeting

Privileged Motion

Is amendable but not debatable

Requires second

Majority Vote

#1

\ Adjourn

Purpose: Terminates meeting

How to say: I move that we adjourn this meeting

Privileged Motion

Is not amenable or debatable

Requires second

Majority vote

#2

\ Recess

Purpose: To take a break in the meeting

How to say it: I move that we take a 5 minute recess

Privileged Motion

Is amendable but not debatable

Requires second

Majority vote

#3

\ Question of Privilege

Purpose: to ask for something hence forth “privilege” and can be followed by an appeal and suspension of rules

How to say it: I rise to a question of privilege

Chairman: Please state your question

You: It is rather warm in here, may we remove our FFA jackets?

Privileged Motion

Is not amendable or debatable

Decided by the chair

#4

\ Lay on the Table

Purpose: Put a motion aside

How to say it: A guest speaker just walked in so i move that we lay this motion on the table

Subsidiary Motion

Is not amendable or debatable

Requires second

Majority vote

#6

\ Previous Question

Purpose: immediately close debate and the making of subsidiary motions (except lay on the table)

How to say it: I move the previous question

Subsidiary Motion

Is not amendable or debatable

Requires second

2⁄3 vote

#7

\ Extend or Limit Debate

Purpose: Control Debate

I move that the total debate on the pending motion be limited to 10 minutes.

Subsidiary Motion

Is amendable but not debatable

Requires second

2⁄3 vote

#8

\ Postpone Definitely

Purpose: To put off action on a pending motion (set a time)

How to say it: I move that we postpone this motion to our next scheduled meeting.

Subsidiary Motion

Is amendable and debatable

Majority Vote

#9

\ Refer to a Committee

Purpose: refer to for further research

How to say it: I move that we refer this motion to a committee of three appointed by the chair to research and report back at our next scheduled meeting

Subsidiary motion

Is amenable and debatable

Requires second

Majority vote

#10

\ Amend

Purpose: Alter a motion by striking or adding

How to say it: I move that we amend this motion by striking “_________” and adding “_______” (or just striking or just adding), so that it reads  “_______”

Subsidiary motion

Is amendable and debatable

Requires second

Majority vote

#11

\ Postpone Indefinitely

Purpose: drop a motion without a direct vote (AKA to “kill” the motion)

How to say it: I move that we postpone this motion indefinitely

Subsidiary Motion

Is not amendable but is debatable

Requires second

Majority Vote

#12

\ Main Motion

Purpose: be the topic of discussion; get things done

How to say it: I move that “________”

Subsidiary Motion

Is amendable and debatable

Requires second

Majority Vote

#13

\ Parliamentary Inquiry

Purpose: Obtain information about parliamentary law

How to say it: I rise to a parliamentary inquiry

Chairman: Please state your inquiry

You: What vote does this motion require

Incidental Motion

Is not amenable or debatable

Decided by the chair

Unranked

\ Appeal

Purpose: You don’t think that chairman is right, so you ask the assembly to vote if you think they are or not

How to say it: I appeal the decision of the chair

Incidental Motion

Is not amenable or debatable

Majority vote

unranked

\ Point of Order

Purpose: enforce rules of assembly

How to say it: I rise to a point of order

Chairman: Please state your point

You: You did not call on the maker of the motion

Incidental Motion

Is not amenable or debatable

Decided by the chair

Unranked

\ Division of the Assembly

Purpose: Revote

How to say it: I rise to a division of the assembly

Incidental motion

Is not amenable or debatable

Majority vote

No vote

unranked

\ Suspend

Purpose: Suspend rules

How to say it: I move that we suspend that standing rule that states we can not view our budget until our next quarterly meeting

Incidental Motion

⅔ vote for rules of order, majority vote for standing rules

Unranked

\ \ Important Notes:

  • You can only debate on each motion up to two times
  • Motions are divided into three main categories: privileged motions (take precedence over any other motion), subsidiary motions (relate to the main debate or focus of the meeting), and incidental motions (a random motion that relates in varying ways to the main motion and other parliamentary motions)
  • A parliamentary procedure debate should last 10 minutes
  • A motion’s ranking indicates how much priority it takes over other motions
  • You can only amend the ends of a motion (not the middle), and can’t include the words “not” or “don’t” to make it negative
  • An amendment of a motion motion is called a primary amendment, an amendment of an amendment is called a secondary amendment
  • An amendment is only debatable if the motion it applies to is debatable
  • The make of a motion can vote against a motion, but can’t debate against it
  • If a privileged motion is made when there is no other pending business, the motion loses its privilege
  • All debate on a motion must be germane - meaning it must relate to the motion

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