Types of Motions

  1. Main Motions
    2.
    1. Original main motions
      2.
      1. Introduce a new subject
      2. Must pose a substantive question
    2. Incidental main motions
      3.
      1. Proposes action defined by parli-pro (ex)
        1. Limit the length of speeches
        2. Recess
      2. Further steps in a matter with previous involvement
        1. Adopt—committee recommendations that weren’t referred
        2. Ratify—emergency action that was taken without quorum
    3. When not in order
      4.
      1. Conflicts with
        1. Federal, state, or local laws
        2. Constitution and By-Laws
      2. Presents substantially the same question as a motion already rejected at that meeting
      3. Conflicts with a previously passed motion—you may, however
        1. Rescind the previous motion
        2. Amend something previously adopted
        3. Reconsider the previous motion (in the same session)
  2. Subsidiary Motions
    3.
    1. Take precedence over main motions
      2.
    2. Assist assembly in treating or disposing of main motions
      3.
    3. What are they? (in order of precedence)
      4.
      1. Postpone indefinitely
        1. Can only be applied to the main motion
        2. Cannot itself be tabled or postponed definitely—unless attached to main
        3. Requires a simple majority to pass
        4. Debatable
        5. If passed—main motion is killed for the current session
        6. Used if a member doesn’t think the assembly should give an opinion
      2. Amend—most widely used
        1. Passage merely changes the wording of the main motion
        2. Loss—simply leaves the main motion "as is"
        3. Must be germane to the main motion—no new subject matter
        4. The first amendment is the primary amendment
          1. It can be amended—this is secondary
          2. The secondary amendment cannot be amended
        5. Cannot themselves be committed, postpones definitely, or tabled
        6. Debatable—confine to the desirability of amendment (germane)
        7. Only one primary and one secondary amendment on the floor at a time
        8. Passes by majority—even if the main motion requires a 2/3 majority
        9. Can be reconsidered
        10. Those that are out of order
          1. Not germane to the question
          2. Make the motion opposite of the original intent
          3. Make motion identical or contrary to one already considered this session
          4. Can’t change form of primary amendment (chg strike to insert)
          5. Can’t convert parliamentary motions (postpone to 2 to "strike 2")
          6. Can’t strike enacting words like "resolved"
          7. Frivolous or absurd
          8. Incoherent or no rational proposition
          9. Converts primary to improper form
      3. Commit or refer
        1. Cannot be definitely postponed or tabled alone
        2. Debatable—limit to the desirability of committing
        3. Amendable
          1. To which committee
          2. Composition of special committee—if necessary
        4. Majority decision to pass
        5. Reconsider able if the committee has not considered it yet
        6. Be specific
          1. Committee of the whole, quasi committee, informal consideration
          2. Which standing committee
          3. Make up of special committees
          4. Instructions to the committee
      4. Postpone definitely
        1. Debatable—limit to necessity of postponement of main motion
        2. Amendable—as to time
        3. Majority decision required
        4. Can be reconsidered
      5. Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate
        1. Increase or decrease the # of speeches per question
        2. Set a time to stop debate and put the question before the body
        3. NOT debatable
        4. Amendable—amendment is also not debatable
        5. 2/3 majority—because it suspends the rules
        6. Can be reconsidered without debate
      6. Previous question
        1. Stops debate & all subsidiary motions, except Lay on the Table
        2. Can be applied to the immediate motion and all others—IN ORDER
        3. Not debatable
        4. Not amendable
        5. 2/3 majority required to pass
        6. Can be reconsidered—BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN
      7. Lay on the Table
        1. Should be used when something else is more urgent
        2. No set time to bring the motion back
        3. Resume consideration at the will of the majority
        4. It is out of order when it is intended to kill a measure
        5. Not debatable
        6. Not amendable
        7. Simple majority required to pass
        8. Cannot be reconsidered
  3. Privileged Motions
    4.
    1. Do not relate to pending business
      2.
    2. Relate to special matters of immediate concern
      3.
    3. Can interrupt the consideration of anything else
      4.
    4. Precedence over other classes, except
      5.
      1. Pending amendments
      2. Previous question
    5. What are they? (in order of precedence) (not all inclusive)
      6.
      1. Recess
        1. Precedence except over adjournment
        2. Motions that can be applied to it
          1. Amend
          2. Previous question
        3. Must be recognized
        4. Not debatable—except when made as a main motion
        5. Amendable as to length (amendment not debatable)
        6. Majority vote required to pass
        7. Cannot reconsider
      2. Adjourn
        1. Not in order during the voting process
        2. Yields to incidental motions and Fix Time to Adjourn
        3. Not applied to other motions or has others applied to it
        4. Out of order unless the member has been recognized
        5. Not debatable
        6. Not amendable
        7. Majority vote to pass
        8. Cannot reconsider
      3. Fix Time to Adjourn
        1. Highest precedence
        2. Cannot be applied to any motions
        3. Not debatable
        4. Amendable as to: (not debatable)
          1. Date
          2. Time
        5. Majority vote to pass
  4. Incidental Motions
    5.
    1. Point of order
      2.
      1. Precedence over ANY pending question—must dispose of immediately
      2. Applied to any breach of rules
      3. May interrupt speaker
      4. No second is required
      5. Not debatable—the chair may permit explanation
      6. Not amendable
      7. Handled as a ruling from the chair—no vote
      8. Cannot reconsider
    2. Appeal the decision of the Chair
      3.
      1. Takes precedence
      2. Can be applied to any ruling—except
        1. Point of order
        2. Any ruling without two reasonable options
      3. Must appeal IMMEDIATELY, you may interrupt the speaker
      4. Debatable—unless
        1. Relates to indecorum or transgression of the rules
        2. Relates to the priority of business (agenda)
        3. If immediately pending question is not debatable
      5. Not amendable
      6. Requires a majority or tie vote to sustain the decision
      7. Can be reconsidered
  by Sean Higgins, Grand Counselor, 2005-07