Parliamentary Procedure Resources

Parliamentary Procedure Resources: Articles
Basic Characteristics of Motions
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MOTION PURPOSE INTERRUPT SPEAKER? SECOND NEEDED? DEBATABLE? AMENDABLE? VOTE NEEDED
Fix the time to which to adjourn Sets the time for a continued meeting No Yes No1 Yes Majority
Adjourn Closes the meeting No Yes No No Majority
Recess Establishes a brief break No Yes No2 Yes Majority
Raise a Question of Privilege Asks urgent question regarding to rights Yes No No No Ruled by chair
Call for orders of the day Requires that the meeting follow the agenda Yes No No No One member
Lay on the table Puts the motion aside for later consideration No Yes No No Majority
Previous question Ends debate and moves directly to the vote No Yes No No Two thirds
Limit or extend limits of debate Changes the debate limits No Yes No Yes Two thirds
Postpone to a certain time Puts off the motion to a specific time No Yes Yes Yes Majority3
Commit or refer Refers the motion to a committee No Yes Yes Yes Majority
Amend an amendment (secondary amendment) Proposes a change to an amendment No Yes Yes4 No Majority
Amend a motion or resolution (primary amendment) Proposes a change to a main motion No Yes Yes4 Yes Majority
Postpone indefinitely Kills the motion No Yes Yes No Majority
Main motion Brings business before the assembly No Yes Yes Yes Majority
Point of order Requests that the rules be followed Yes No No No Ruled by chair
Appeal from the decision of the chair Challenges a ruling of the chair Yes Yes Depends4 No Majority5
Suspend the rules Allows the group to violate the rules
(not bylaws) 		No Yes No No Two thirds
Objection to consideration Keeps the motion from being considered Yes6 No No No Two thirds7
Division of the question Separates consideration of the motion No Yes No Yes Majority
Division of the assembly Requires a standing vote Yes No No No One member
Parliamentary inquiry or point of information Allows a member to ask a question about business at hand Yes No No No Responded to by chair
Withdraw a motion(after stated by chair) Removes a motion from consideration Yes Depends8 No No Majority
Take from the table Resumes considering a motion that was laid on the table No Yes No No Majority
Reconsider Considers a motion again Yes9 Yes Depends10 No Majority
Rescind or amend something previously adopted Repeals a previously adopted motion or amends it after it has been adopted No Yes Yes Yes Depends11
  1. Is debatable when another meeting is scheduled for the same or next day, or if the motion is made while no question is pending
  2. Unless no question is pending
  3. Majority, unless it makes question a special order
  4. If the motion it is being applied to is debatable
  5. Majority in negative required to reverse chair's decision
  6. When another member has been assigned the floor, until debate has begun or a subsidiary motion has been stated by the chair
  7. Two thirds against consideration sustains objection
  8. Yes, if motion is made by person requesting permission; no, if made by another member
  9. When another has been assigned the floor, but not after he has begun to speak
  10. Only if motion to be reconsidered is debatable
  11. a) a majority with notice; b) two thirds; or c) majority of entire membership
  1. Fix the time to which to adjourn
  2. Adjourn
  3. Recess
  4. Raise a Question of Privilege
  5. Call for orders of the day
  6. Lay on the table
  7. Previous question
  8. Limit or extend limits of debate
  9. Postpone to a certain time
  10. Commit or refer
  11. Amend an amendment (secondary amendment)
  12. Amend a motion or resolution (primary amendment)
  13. Postpone indefinitely
  14. Main motion

Motions 1 – 14  above are in the Order of Precedence of Motions.

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