(1) | Main Motions | ||
(2) | Subsidiary Motions | )
) Secondary motions ) ) |
|
(3) | Privileged Motions | ||
(4) | Incidental Motions | ||
(5) | Motions that bring a question again before the meeting. |
Subsidiary Motions—Subsiciary motions assist the meeting in treating or disposing of a main motion. They are always applied to another motion while it is pending. The adoption of one of them does something to this other motion, that is, changes its status in some way.
Privileged Motions—Unlike subsidiary or incidental motions, privileged motions do not relate to the pending business but have to do with special, important matters which should be allowed to interrupt the consideration of anything else.
Incidental Motions—Incidental motions relate to the pending business or other business. With but few exceptions, incidental motions are related to the main question in such a way that they must be decided immediately, before business can proceed.
Motions that bring a question again before the meeting—Either by their adoption or introduction, this type of motion serves the function described by the name of the class. This class of motions allows the members, for good reason, to reopen a completed question during the same session, to take up one that has been temprarily disposed of, or to change something previously adopted.
In the following chart, the privileged, subsidiary, and main motions are listed in order of rank, the motion at the top taking precedence over all the others, and each of the remaining ones taking precedence over all those below it. A main motion is in order only when no onter motion is pending.
Motion | Class | In order when another has the floor? | Must be seconded? | Debatable? | Amendable? | Vote required for adoption | Can be reconsidered |
Main motion | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Adjourn | P | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
Adjourn at or to a future time | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | No |
Adopt, accept, or agree to a report | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Adopt revised bylaws or constitution | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | As provided for in the bylaws | Negative vote only |
Adopt special rules of order | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Previous notice and 2/3 or majority of the entire membership | Negative vote only |
Adopt ordinary standing rules | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Amend a pending motion | S | No | Yes | If motion to be amended is debatable | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Amend an amendment of a pending motion | S | No | Yes | Ditto | No | Majority | Yes |
Amend something previously adopted | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority with notice, or 2/3, or majority of the entire membership | Negative vote only |
Appeal | I | Yes | Yes | Usually | No | Majority | Yes |
To order a vote to be taken by ballot | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | Yes |
To create a blank by striking out | I | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
Proposals for filling a blank | - | Yes | No | Yes | No | Majority | Yes |
Change or depart from the agenda, immediately to take up a matter out of its proper order | I | No | Yes | No | No | Two thirds | No |
Commit, refer, or recomit a pending question | S | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | If committee has not begun work |
Refer a matter that is not pending to a committee | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | If committee has not begun work |
Consider informally | S | No | Yes | Yes | No | Majority | Negative vote only |
Consider by paragraph | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | No |
Limit or extend limits of debate on a pending question | S | No | Yes | No | Yes | Two thirds | Yes |
Limit or extend limits of debate for the duration of a meeting | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Two thirds | Yes |
Discharge a committee | - | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority with notice or 2/3, or majority of the entire membership | Negative vote only |
Division of the question | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Call for a separate vote on a resolution which is one of a series on different subjects in a single motion | I | Yes | No | No | No | Demand of a single member compels the separate vote | No |
Information, point of | I | Yes | No | No | No | not voted on | No |
Lay on the table | S | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
To approve the minutes | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
To correct the minutes before adoption | S | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
To dispense with the reading of the minutes | I | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
To make nominations | - | No | No | Yes | No | Majority for election | Not after the electee has been notified |
To close nominations | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Two thirds | Yes |
To reopen nominations | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | Negative vote only |
Other motions relating to nominations while election is pending | M | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Other motions relating to nominations while election is not pending | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Object to consideration of a question | I | Yes, with limits | No | No | No | Two thirds | Sustaining vote only |
Call for orders of the day | P | Yes | No | No | No | Must be enforced upon the demand of one member unless set aside by a 2/3 vote | No |
Point of order | I | Yes | No | No | No | Is ruled on by the Chair | No |
Parliamentary inquiry | I | Yes | No | No | No | Is responded to by the Chair | - |
Postpone indefinately | S | No | Yes | Yes | No | Majority | Affirmative vote only |
Postpone to a certain time, applied to a pending question | S | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Postpone an event or action previously scheduled | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority with notice or 2/3, or majority of the entire membership | Negative vote only |
Previous Question | S | No | Yes | No | No | Two thirds | Usually |
Ratify or Confirm | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
Grant permission to read papers | I | Yes | Yes, if made by one requesting. No, if by another | No | No | Majority | Yes |
To take a recess, if moved while business in pending | P | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | No |
To take a recess, if moved while no question is pending | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | No |
Reconsider | - | Limits | Yes | Yes, if the motion to be reconsidered is debatable | No | Majority | No |
Rescind, repeal, or annul | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority with notice or 2/3, or majority of the entire membership | Negative vote only |
Suspend the rules of order | I | No | Yes | No | No | Usually 2/3 | No |
Suspend ordinary standing rules | I | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
Take from the table | - | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
Motion relating to voting if made while subject is pending | I | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority except 2/3 to close the polls | Close polls no, reopen polls negative vote only, others yes |
Motion relating to voting if made while no question is pending | M | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
To grant permission to withdraw or modify a motion after the motion has been stated by the chair | I | Yes, if not by general consent | Yes, if by one requesting No, if by another | No | No | Majority | Negative vote only |