PRINCIPLE RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS
| Privileged Motions Adjourn Recess Question of Privilege |
Subsidiary Motions Postpone Temporarily Close Debate Limit Debate Postpone Definitely Refer to Committee Amend |
Main Motions The Main Motion Specific Main Motions Reconsider Rescind Resume Consideration |
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS
| Motions Appeal Suspend Rules Consider Informally |
Requests Point of Order Parliamentary Inquiry Withdraw a Motion Division of Question Division of Assembly |
QUICK REFERENCE TOOLS
Interrupt Speaker | Requires a Second | Debatable / Amendable | Vote RequiredMotion to Adjourn
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO (see notes)
Amendable?: NO (see notes)
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: HIGHEST
Applies to?: NO OTHER MOTION
Other Motions?: The motion to withdraw
Notes:
"unqualified" form (i.e., "I move that we adjourn.") is privileged motion.
"Qualified" form (i.e., "I move that we adjourn at 3:00 pm.") is the same as a Main Motion.
Make sure no important business is still pending.
Motion to adjourn at previously fixed time can be undone by a suspension of the rules, or setting a new time to adjourn.
Business interrupted by adjournment becomes the first item under unfinished business at the next meeting.
Motion to Recess
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES Restricted to time, duration and need of recess
Amendable?: YES restricted to time and duration of recess
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: HIGH over all other motions except to adjourn
Applies to?: NO OTHER MOTION
Other Motions?: To amend and to withdraw
Notes:
This motion suspends the meeting to a later time. The same meeting continues as opposed to the motion to adjourn, which ends the meeting.
The only limit on time is the end of the meeting.
As a privileged motion, it is only "privileged" when a main motion is pending. It the motion to recess is proposed when no main motion is pending, it is a main motion.
Question of Privilege
Interrupt Speaker?: YES if it requires immediate decision and action
Second?: NO because it is a request and not a motion
Debatable?: NO, since it is decided by the Speaker
Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE
Precedence: HIGH over all other motions except to adjourn or recess
Applies to?: NO OTHER MOTION
Other Motions?: To withdraw
Notes:
A question of privilege may be in the form of a request to be decided by the Speaker or a motion to be decided by the House.
A delegate has a right to request decision and action by the Speaker or by the House on urgent question involving the immediate convenience, comfort, rights, or privileges of the House, or of another Delegate, or of himself or herself.
Questions relating to a privilege of the House have to do with the rights, safety, integrity, comfort or convenience of the House.
Questions relating to the personal privileges of a Delegate pertain to an individual member and usually relate to his or her rights, reputation, conduct, safety, or convenience as a member of the House.
The Speaker may decide that a motion is not a proper question of privilege and rule it out of order.
A question of privilege related to the House takes precedence over a question of privilege related to a delegate.
Sometimes when a main motion is pending, it is necessary to propose another main motion to take care of an emergency. The emergency motion can only interrupt as a question of privilege. The Speaker can decide that the emergency motion is "in order" and temporarily set aside the pending business to dispose of the emergency. If the Speaker decides that the emergency motion neither urgent nor a question of privilege, it is ruled "out of order" until the pending business is decided.
Motion to Postpone Temporarily
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: Majority (2/3 when used to supress a motion without further debate) (see notes) Precedence: Over the motion to close debate, to limit debate, to postpone definitely, to refer, and to amend
Applies to?: MAIN MOTION only
Other Motions?: to withdraw
Notes:
A motion temporarily postponed cannot be brought up at the same House as a new motion.
When a main motion is temporarily postponed, all pending adhering amendments are also postponed with it. If the House votes to resume consideration, all pending adhering amendments come with it and are disposed of in the regular order.
If the motion to limit or close debate was passed before the motion was postponed temporarily, these motions remain in effect once consideration is resumed.
To prevent misuse of the motion to postpone temporarily, a 2/3 vote should be required if this motion is being used to cut off debate, which is consistent with the principle that debate can only be ended by a 2/3 vote.
The motion to postpone temporarily does not literally kill a motion. By a majority vote anytime before the end of the meeting, a temporarily postponed motion can be taken from the table by a motion to resume consideration.
Temporarily postponed motions are effectively killed at the end of the House if a motion to resume consideration is not adopted.
Motion to Close Debate
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: TWO THIRDS
Precedence: Over the motion to limit debate, to postpone definitely, to refer, and to amend
Applies to?: DEBATABLE MOTIONS only
Other Motions?: to withdraw
Notes:
Applies to the immediately pending motion only unless otherwise stated to specifically apply to other pending motions.
If the motion to close debate is adopted to cover more than the immediate pending motion, they are disposed of in reverse order one by one.
The motion to close debate terminates at the end of the meeting at which it is adopted by the House. If the motion to close debate carries and is immediately followed with a motion to postpone temporarily (A higher precedence motion), the House postpones the main motion temporarily but resumes consideration of it later at the same House. The motion to close debate is still applies once consideration resumes. If the main motion is postponed to the next House, the motion to close debate dies at the end of the House.
Motion to Limit or Extend Debate
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES, restricted to type and time of limitations
Amendable?: YES, restricted to limitations, extensions, or removal of limitations on debate
Vote: TWO THIRDS
Precedence: Over the motion to postpone definitely, to refer, and to amend
Applies to?: Debatable motions only
Other Motions?: To amend and to withdraw
Notes:
This motion usually relates to number of speakers, who may participate, the length of time alotted to each speaker, the total time alotted to the discussion of the motion, or some combination of the above.
If one form of the motion to limit or extend debate is pending before the House, another form that does not conflict with the first may be moved as an amendment (i.e., if the motion to limit speakers to five minutes is pending, another amendment may be proposed to limit the number of speakers to three from each side).
A motion to limit or extend debate may be applied to all pending debatable motions, to some of them, or to only the immediately pending motion.
If no main motion is pending, and a motion is made to limit or extend debate on a motion that is to come up later, it is treated as a main motion.
Motion to Postpone Definitely
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES, restricted to reasons for, or time of, postponement
Amendable?: YES, restricted to time of postponement
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: Over the motion to refer, and to amend
Applies to?: MAIN MOTION only
Other Motions?: To amend, to close debate, to limit debate and to withdraw
Notes:
A motion cannot be postponed definitely to a meeting that has not been scheduled.
A motion cannot be postponed definitely to a time that is too late for the proposed motion to be effective.
A postponed definitely main motion becomes a "general order." It is taken up immediately at the prescribed time, unless another piece of business is pending before the House. Once that pending business is resolved the motion postponed definitely is immediately taken up.
If a motion to postpone definitely is designated by the proposer as a "special order," and approved by the House, it is taken up immediately at the designated time--regardless of other pending business. As it interrupts pending business, this designation requires a 2/3 majority vote to pass. If the House does not want to take up a special order, if can be again postponed, but only with another 2/3 majority vote.
The time set for the motion to postpone definitely can be non-specific, and can refer to another item of business on the agenda (e.g., "I move that XYZ be postponed definitely until the end of the reference committee C report.").
Motion to Refer to Committee
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: YES
Debatable?: YES, restricted to brief discussion on the selection, membership, or duties of the committee, or instructions to it
Amendable?: YES, restricted to such details as the selection, membership, or duties of the committee, or instructions to it
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: Over motion to amend
Applies to?: The main motion only
Other Motions?: To close debate, to limit debate, and to withdraw
Notes:
A motion to refer takes all pending adhering amendments with it.
A motion that has been referred to committee can be withdrawn by the House at any time. The House can refer to another committee or decide the question immediately.
Motion to Amend
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: YES
Debatable?: YES, unless applied to an undebatable motion
Amendable?: YES
Vote: MAJORITY, even though the motion to which it applies requires a higher vote Precedence: Over the main motion
Applies to?: The main motion, to amend, to refer to committee, to postpone definitely, to limit debate, and to recess
Other Motions?: To close debate, to limit debate, and to withdraw
Notes:
The only motions that may be amended without restriction are the main motion and the motion to amend.
Four (4) motions are open to restricted amendment: 1) Postpone definitely, 2) limit debate, and 3) to recess may be amended as to time. The motion to refer to committee may be amended as to the details of the selection and composition of the committee as well as the time to report back to the House.
Amendments must be "germane" to the subject of the pending motion.
An amendment which would change one type of motion into another is never in order.
Amendments to the motion are "first rank" amendments.
Amendments to a pending amendment are "second rank" amendments.
Amendments of the "third rank" are never in order.
Only one motion of each rank can be pending at one time.
It is sometimes better to to reword a motion and propose it as an "amendment by substitution."
Amendments can be withdrawn by the proposer prior to the Speaker stating the amendment to the House. Once it has been stated to the House, it can only be withdrawn by vote of the House or general consent.
If a motion is referred to committee, all adhering pending amendments go with it.
The Main Motion
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES (see notes)
Amendable?: YES (see notes)
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: LOWEST
Applies to?: NO OTHER MOTION
Other Motions?: all subsidiary motions, specific main motions and the motion to withdraw
Notes:
The main motion is the basic motion for the transaction of business.
A main motion can only be proposed when there is no other motion pending in front of the House.
The proposer of a main motion may rephrase or withdraw the motion at any time before it is stated by the Speaker to the House. After the speaker has stated the motion to the House, it can only changed or withdraw with the permission of the House.
Main motions should be stated in the affirmative to avoid confusion.
As soon as the main motion is stated to the House by the Speaker, it is open for debate. It cannot be debated before this unless a motion has been passed to discuss it informally (see Sturgis).
Once a main motion has been stated to the House, some action must be taken on it.
When a main motion has been acted on and lost, it cannot be renewed at the same House in the same or substantially the same words. It may be "reconsidered." It may also be presented as a new motion to a future House.
Reconsider The Main Motion
Interrupt Speaker?: YES
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES Limited to the reasons for reconsideration of the motion Amendable?: NO
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: LOWEST
Applies to?: VOTES ON MAIN MOTIONS TAKEN AT THE SAME MEETING Other Motions?: To close debate, to limit debate and to withdraw
Notes:
The purpose of this motion is to set aside a vote on a main motion taken at the same House and to consider the motion again as though no vote had been taken on it.
The motion to reconsider can only be applied to the main motion. The same result is accomplished for all other motions by more simple and direct means. Other motions that have lost can be proposed again and renewed as soon as, in the judgement of the Speaker, the vote might result differently. Other motions (e.g., Motion to refer, motion to postpone temporarily) that have carried can be easily changed by procedural motions.
The motion to reconsider is a specific main motion and can be offered at anytime during a meeting.
It may be proposed even though other business is under consideration. Proposal of the motion to reconsider suspends any action provided for in the motion that is proposed for reconsideration until the motion to reconsider is decided.
While the motion to reconsider can be made while there is pending business in front of the House, it is not considered until the pending business has been decided.
Rescind a Main Motion
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES opens to debate the motion it proposes to recind
Amendable?: NO
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: LOWEST
Applies to?: MAIN MOTIONS TAKEN AT A PREVIOUS HOUSE
Other Motions?: To close debate, to limit debate and to withdraw
Notes:
Any main motion that was passed, no matter how long ago, may be rescinded unless as a result of the vote something has been done that the House cannot undo.
The motion to rescind, if passed, affects only the present and the future, since it is not retroactive.
A simple motion to rescind requires a majority vote. However, a motion that required more that a majority vote can only be rescinded by the same vote that was required to approve it.
Resume Consideration
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: LOWEST Over other new main motions only
Applies to?: Main motions that have been postponed temporarily
Other Motions?: To withdraw
Notes:
The purpose of this motion is to enable the House to take up and consider a motion that was postponed temporarily during the same House.
If the main motion that was postponed temporarily had subsidiary motions attached to it, these motions still adhere to it when consideration is resumed and must be disposed of in the usual order.
If the motion to close debate or limit debate has been passed before the main motion was postponed temporarily, these motions are still in effect when consideration is resumed.
Motion to Appeal
Interrupt Speaker?: YES
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: YES
Amendable?: NO
Vote: MAJORITY in the negative to overule the Speaker
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: Rulings and decisions of the Speaker
Other Motions?: To close debate, limit debate and to withdraw
Notes:
An appeal is the motion by which the House may review a ruling or decision of the Speaker.
Any decision of the Speaker involving a judgement is subject to appeal.
An appeal is permissible only immediately after the Speaker's decision has been rendered. If any other business has intervened, an appeal is not in order.
If the Speaker's explanation convinces the delegate who has appealed that the decision is correct, the delegate may withdraw the appeal.
If the delegate's reasons for the appeal are compeling, the Speaker may change the ruling, and the appeal is automatically dropped.
The Speaker's decision or ruling is sustained on a majority or tie vote.
Motion to Suspend the Rules
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: TWO THIRDS
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: NO OTHER MOTION
Other Motions?: To withdraw
Notes:
The purpose of the motion to suspend the rules is to take some action that otherwise would be prevented by a procedural rule or by a program already adopted.
Motion to Consider Informally
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: REQUIRED
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: MAJORITY
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: MAIN MOTION
Other Motions?: None
Notes:
This motion is used when it is desirable to have a discussion of a problem precede the proposal of a motion concerning it so that some agreement may be reached on the type and wording of the motion that is needed.
If no motion is pending and a motion for informal consideration carries, it permits consideration of a subject or problem before a motion concerning it is presented.
If a motion is already being considered by the House, the motion to consider the pending motion informally is an incidental motion. If it carries, the pending motion is considered informally until the delegates decide to take a vote on it. This vote terminates the informal discussion.
Sometimes the House may want to consider a problem that is not sufficiently understood or formulated for a delegate to propose a clear and adequate motion covering it. There may not be time to refer the problem to a committee. Informal discussion often brings understanding and agreement and makes evident how a motion should be worded. Rather than offer a poorly thought out motion, which will consume time and effort to perfect by amendment, it is better to consider the problem "informally" and then formulate a good motion.
Once a problem or an idea is clarified, a delegate should offer a motion embodying the idea. This motion automatically terminates the informal discussion, and the motion is considered and voted on under the regular rules of debate.
If no agreement on the problem can be reached, informal discussion may be terminated by a motion to end the informal discussion.
Point of Order
Interrupt Speaker?: YES because a mistake should be corrected immediately
Second?: NO because it is a request
Debatable?: NO unless the Speaker refers it to the House for discussion and decision Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE, since it is a request and is decided by the Speaker
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: ANY MISTAKE, VIOLATION OR OMISSION
Other Motions?: To withdraw
Notes:
Whenever a delegate violated a rule, whether intentionally or not, the Speaker should call attention to the violation and either require the member to conform to the rule or declare the delegate's action out of order.
If the Speaker fails to enforce a rule, or does not notice an error made by a delegate, or if an error is made by the Speaker, it is the right of any delegate to call attention to the violations by rising to a point of order.
Rising to a point of order is a request that the Speaker give a ruling or decision on the point raised by the delegate.
A point of order must be raised immediately after a mistake, error or omission occurs. It cannot be brought up later unless the error involves a violation of law, or of the bylaws, or the accuracy of the minutes.
Since it is important that a mistake be corrected immediately, a point of order may be raised at any time, even though another delegate has the floor.
As soon as a delegate has stated a point of order, the Speaker must rule on it, declaring that the point is "well taken" or "not well taken." The Speaker may state the reasons for the decision if desired.
If the Speaker is in doubt as to the correct decision, the ruling may be delayed briefly. Meanwhile action on the matter affected by the point of order is deferred.
When a point of order raised a complicated or important question and the Speaker is uncertain of the matter, it may be referred to the House for a decision.
When the Speaker refers a point of order to the House, discussion is not in order unless the speaker invites it.
No appeal may be taken from a decision of the Speaker on a point of order.
A delegate wishing to challenge a decision of the Speaker on a point of order must appeal from the decision of the Speaker.
Parliamentary Inquiry
Interrupt Speaker?: YES only if it requires an immediate answer
Second?: NO because it is a request
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE, since it is decided by the Speaker
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: ALL MOTIONS
Other Motions?: NONE except the motion to withdraw
Notes:
The purpose of a "parliamentary inquiry" is either: 1) to enable a delegate to ask the Speaker a question relating to procedure in connecting with the pending motion or with a motion the member may wish to bring before the House, or for information on the meaning or effect of the pending question; or 2) to ask a delegate with the floor or the proposer of the motion a question about the pending motion.
Parliamentary inquiry questions are always addressed to the Speaker.
The Speaker decides if the parliamentary inquiry is in order, and if an immediate answer is required.
Interrupting a delegate with a parliamentary inquiry is not a right, it is a "privilege" which may or may not be granted by the Speaker.
Motion to Withdraw
Interrupt Speaker?: YES
Second?: NO because it is a request
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE REQUIRED. Decided by the Speaker (see notes)
Precedence: HIGHEST as an "incidental" motion, and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: ALL MOTIONS
Other Motions?: NONE
Notes:
Any motion may be withdrawn. Before a motion has been stated by the Speaker, the proposer may change or withdraw the motion.
Once stated to the House, the motion is the property of the House. The proposer can request that it be withdrawn, but if anyone objects to the withdrawal, then someone must move that the "proposer be allowed to withdraw the motion." No second is required, this action is not debatable or amendable, and requires a majority vote.
A motion can be withdrawn by the proposer, up to the moment that the final vote is taken, if there is no objection. When a motion is withdrawn, all other motions adhering to it are also withdrawn.
Division of Question
Interrupt Speaker?: NO
Second?: NO because it is a request
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE, since it is decided by the Speaker
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: MAIN MOTIONS ONLY
Other Motions?: NONE except the motion to withdraw
Notes:
The purpose of a request of "Division of Question" is to divide a motion that is composed of two or more independent parts into individual motions that may be considered and voted on separately.
A Delegate has the right to request a division of a motion that has two or more separate and distinct propositions. Each portion of a divided resolution must be able to "stand alone" on its own merits. This means that a each portion is not dependent on the success of the other part of the division.
A division of the question is out of order when the two portions are dependent on each other and cannot stand alone and independent.
Division of Assembly
Interrupt Speaker?: YES because it requires immediate decision
Second?: NO because it is a request
Debatable?: NO
Amendable?: NO
Vote: NONE, since it is decided by the Speaker
Precedence: HIGHEST as an incidental motion and must be decided immediately
Applies to?: INDECISIVE VOICE OR HAND VOTES
Other Motions?: NONE
Notes:
The purpose of a "Division of the Assembly (House)" is to verify an indecisive voice or hand vote by requiring the voter to rise and, if necessary, to be counted.
Any Delegate, without waiting for recognition, may call for division as soon as the question has been put to a vote and even before the vote is announced. This right continues even after the vote has been announced and another speaker has claimed the floor, but the right must be exercised promptly.
A Delegate cannot use this privilege to obstruct business by calling for a division on an obviously decisive vote.
Motions that may/may not Interrupt the Speaker
Motions that may/may not Require a Second
Debatable / Amendable Motions
| Motion | Debatable | Amenable |
| Adjourn | NO | NO |
| Recess | YES (Restricted to time, duration and the need for a recess) |
YES (Restricted to time, duration and the need for a recess) |
| Question of Privilege | NO | NO |
| Postpone Temporarily | NO | NO |
| Close Debate | NO | NO |
| Limit Debate | YES (Restricted to time and type of limitations) |
YES (Restricted to limitations, extensions, or removal of limitations on debate) |
| Postpone Definitely | YES (Restricted to reasons for, or time of, postponement) |
YES (Restricted to time of postponement) |
| Refer to Committee | YES (Restricted to brief discussion on the selection, membership, or duties of the committee, or instructions to it) |
YES (Restricted to such details as the selection, membership, or duties of the committee, or instructions to it) |
| Amend | YES | YES |
| The Main Motion | YES | YES |
| Specific Main Motions | ||
| Reconsider | YES | NO |
| Rescind | YES | NO |
| Resume Consideration | NO | NO |
| Appeal | YES | NO |
| Suspend Rules | NO | NO |
| Consider Informally | NO | NO |
| Point of Order | NO | NO |
| Parliamentary Inquiry | NO | NO |
| Withdraw a Motion | NO | NO |
| Division of Question | NO | NO |
| Division of Assembly | NO | NO |
Vote Required
| Motion | Vote Required |
| Privileged Motions | |
| Adjourn | Majority |
| Recess | Majority |
| Question of Privilege | None |
| Subsidiary | |
| Subsidiary Motions | |
| Postpone Temporarily | Majority |
| Close Debate | 2/3 |
| Limit Debate | 2/3 |
| Postpone Definitely | Majority |
| Refer to Committee | Majority |
| Amend | Majority |
| Main Motions | |
| Main Motion | Majority |
| Reconsider | Majority |
| Rescind | Majority |
| Resume Consideration | Majority |
| Incidental Motions | |
| Motions | |
| Appeal | Majority |
| Suspend Rules | 2/3 |
| Consider Informally | Majority |
| Requests | |
| Point of Order | None |
| Parliamentary Inquiry | None |
| Withdraw a Motion | None |
| Division of Assembly | None |
| Division of Question | None |
