Roberts Rules Club Presidents Need to

Know

MotionsMotions are used in Parliamentary

Procedure to bring a topic up for discussion.

Motions require a second, the item is then up for discussion, after discussion is closed the presiding officer calls for the vote.

The presiding officer will ask all in favor as well as all opposed. Announces carried or defeated, and moves to next item of business.

Motion to Reconsider

This motion is used when a member wishes to have the vote reconsidered. This requires a majority of the voting body to pass. Once passed the original voted question is again brought to a vote.

Motion to AmendWhen an item of business has been moved and

seconded, there can be a motion to amend. Once the amendment is seconded, discussion would be allowed. After discussion there would be a vote on the amendment. Once the amendment is passed, discussion and voting can continue on the original motion AS AMENDED.

The amendment motion can’t itself be amended, but can be debated if the original item is debatable.

To Postpone to a Stated DateA motion has been made and seconded. A

member may then make a motion to postpone the vote to a specific date. There would be a second, than a vote on whether to postpone. This motion can be amended and can be debated.

To Postpone Indefinitely

A motion is made and seconded. Then a member would move to postpone the item indefinitely, there would be a second. The postponement would be voted. This motion can be amended and debated.

Motion to Table

After a motion is made and seconded, a motion could be made to table this original motion. Tabling requires a second and a vote.

The motion can not be debated or amended.

Motion to Suspend the Rules

This motion is used to take action on an item of business out of the usual order of business. This can not be debated or amended.

This motion would be moved, seconded and so voted. This can be a vote unless doubted in lieu of a roll call vote.

Assuming passage there would be a motion to pass the item of business in question, seconded and so voted after discussion.