Guidelines for Conduct at Meetings

 

MOTION

REMARKS

PHRASING

SECOND

DEBATABLE

AMENABLE

VOTE

Main

I move that R2 …note specific action

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Amendment

I move to amend the pending Motion by striking out or inserting the following words

Yes

Yes, if motion to be amended is debatable

Yes

Majority

Amendment to an Amendment

I move to amend the pending Amendment by striking out or inserting the following words

Yes

Yes, if motion to be amended is debatable

No

Majority

Substitute

I move to substitute the following for the Motion pending

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Postpone to a Definite Time

Should be used to readdress Motion at a specific time

I move that the pending Motion be postponed until (note time)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Postpone Indefinitely

Can be used to “kill” a Motion

I move to postpone indefinitely

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

Refer to a Committee

Standing of Ad Hoc (can be appointed at any time)

I move to refer the issue to a committee

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Leave to Withdraw

Only used by maker of Motion

I ask permission to withdraw the Motion

Yes

No

No

Majority

Division of Question

Used to consider multiple aspects of a Motion one at a time or in seriatim

I call for a division of the question

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

Division of Assembly

Request for verification of a voting result

I call for a Division

No

No

No

None Required

Secret ballot

I move we take this vote by secret ballot

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

 

MOTION

REMARKS

PHRASING

SECOND

DEBATABLE

AMENABLE

VOTE

Lay on the Table

(Table)

When used to “kill” a Motion, Chair can rule it out of order. As part of Motion, maker may state time they intend to take item from the table during remainder of the meeting or the next meeting

I move to table the Motion

Yes

No

No

Majority

Take from the Table

At current or next meeting only

I move to take from the table the Motion relating to…

Yes

No

No

Majority

Previous Question

Used to stop debate

I move to previous question or I call the question

Yes

No

No

Two-thirds

Parliamentary Inquiry

Response from Chair or Parliamentarian

I rise for Parliamentary inquiry…note reason

No

No

No

None required

Point of Order

Used to remind or question Chair on Bylaws, rules of order, etc. Chair may seek advice

I rise to a point of order (await recognition from Chair, state reasoning)

Yes

No

No

Chair rules

Appeal

Chair should state reason for decision. Vote is to uphold Chair’s decision

I appeal from the decision of the Chair

Yes

No

No

Majority (of neg. votes to overturn decision

Open/Close Nominations

Second is not required when nominations come from a committee

I move we open/close nominations. I nominate…note reason

Yes

No

Yes, in terms of time only

Majority

Reconsider

At same meeting only

Having voted on the prevailing side, I move to reconsider

Yes

Yes, if Motion is debatable

No

Majority

MOTION

REMARKS

PHRASING

SECOND

DEBATABLE

AMENABLE

VOTE

Rescind

Used at subsequent meeting

Note reasom… Therefore, I move to rescind the Motion

Yes

Yes

Yes

Two-thirds

Adjourn

Note reason…I move to adjourn

Yes

No

No

Majority