Types of motions are described below. We’ve taken the liberty of listing them in an order where experiences have shown us are the most common in a National Council Session rather than in any order of precedence (the way Robert’s Rules usually lists them). For the order of precedence, see the diagram at the end of this section. Also, there’s a “plain English” explanation after each definition in order to make things a little clearer – although you’ll want to use the formal term during the session or your meeting.
Main Motion
A motion which brings business before the assembly and which can be made only while no other motion is pending. “I move we have a banquet.” In NCS sessions, Main Motions generally are those printed as Proposals in the Delegate Workbook, and no other main motions can be introduced.
Subsidiary Motions
Motions which assist the assembly in treating or disposing of a main motion. They have the effect of hastening action upon, delaying action upon, or modifying the main motion.
- Amend: Modifies a main motion by inserting, adding, striking, striking and inserting, striking and adding, or substituting some specific language. “I move to amend by adding the words . . .” or “by striking . . .” or “I move to substitute for the pending motion the following: ….” If adopted, a motion to amend makes changes and then the changed proposal is voted on.
- A Motion to Amend in plain English: Do you want to change the proposal (or bylaw amendment, etc.) to make it say something else instead of what it says now?
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- Previous question (also Call the question): Ends debate and orders an immediate vote. “I move the previous question” or “I move we vote immediately on the motion.”
- Move the previous question in plain English: Do you want to stop discussing this topic and immediately vote on it?
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- Limit or extend debate: Modifies debate by limiting or extending the number or length of speeches. “I move that debate be limited to one speech of two minutes for each member” or “I move that the speaker’s time be extended three minutes.”
- Move to limit or extend debate in plain English: Do you want people to have more (or less) time to discuss why or why not they support whatever motion they’re talking about?
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- Postpone indefinitely: Disposes of a question without bringing it to a direct vote. “I move that the motion be postponed indefinitely.” This has the effect of “killing” consideration of that question or item of business at the meeting being held.
- Move to postpone indefinitely in plain English: We are not ready to vote on this during this meeting, so what do you think about not discussing it anymore and not bring it back up during this meeting?
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- Postpone to a certain time: Defers consideration to a definite day, meeting, or hour, or until after some particular event. “I move that the question be postponed until the next meeting” or “I move to postpone the motion until after the address by our guest speaker.”
- Motion to postpone to a certain time in plain English: What do you think about dealing with this motion another time? (but specify when)
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- Refer to a committee: Gives a motion more detailed attention or permits it to be handled in privacy. “I move to refer the matter to the Program Committee.”
- Motion to refer to a committee in plain English: What do you think about not voting on this right now and instead let a committee discuss it and then bring it back to us?
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- Lay on the table: Lays a pending question aside temporarily when something more urgent has arisen. “I move to lay the question on the table” or “I move that the motion be laid on the table.”
- Motion to lay on the table in plain English: Something else has come up that we need to take care of right now, so what do you think about putting this motion off to the side and then we’ll come back to it?
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Incidental Motions
Motions which deal with questions of procedure and arise out of another pending motion or item of business. With the exception of the motion to appeal from the ruling of the chair, they are not debatable.
- Point of order: Challenges an error in procedure and requires a ruling by the chair. “I rise to a point of order” or “Point of order!
- Point of order in plain English: Excuse me, you are not handling this correctly when it comes to parliamentary procedure! OR Excuse me, you can’t do that!
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- Point of information: Inquires as to the facts affecting the business at hand and is directed to the chair or, through the chair, to a member. “I rise to a point of information” or “A point of information, please.”
- Point of information in plain English: Excuse me, I don’t understand what we’re (or you’re) talking about exactly. Can you explain it in more detail?
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- Parliamentary inquiry: Requests the chair’s opinion-not a ruling-on a matter of parliamentary procedure as it relates to the business at hand. “I rise to a parliamentary inquiry” or “A parliamentary inquiry, please.”
- Parliamentary inquiry in plain English: Excuse me, I don’t understand what we’re doing exactly when it comes to parliamentary procedure right now. Can you clarify?
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- Division of the assembly: Calls for a verification when a member doubts the accuracy of a voice vote or show of hands. “Division!” or “I call for a division.”
- Division of the assembly in plain English: I don’t think the results of the voice vote is correct. I would like to vote a different way to make sure we have the vote count correct.
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- Division of a question: Permits a motion to be divided into two or more parts in order that they may be considered separately. “I move to divide the motion so that the question of purchasing decorations can be considered separately.”
- Division of a question in plain English: I think there is too much to be voted on at one time, so let’s break this up into two or more parts so that we can consider and vote on each part separately.
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- Appeal from the ruling of the chair: Challenges a ruling of the chair. A majority vote sustains the ruling. “I appeal from the decision of the chair.”
- Appeal from the ruling of the chair in plain English: Excuse me, I don’t agree with your ruling, and I’d like for the entire body to make the ruling.
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- Permission to withdraw a motion: There are two instances that can happen. The first allows a member to withdraw his/her motion without approval from the assembly IF he/she can withdraw it before the chair states the motion. However, if the chair has already stated the motion, it now belongs to the assembly, and the member must request permission from the assembly before the motion can be withdrawn. “Mr. Chairman, I move that I be allowed to withdraw the motion.”
- Withdraw a motion in plain English: I know I made this motion and we’re about to discuss it, but I changed my mind. Can I withdraw it from consideration?
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- Suspend the rules: Temporarily sets aside a rule to permit the assembly to take an action it could not otherwise take. “I move to suspend the rules which interfere with considering the motion to hold a get-acquainted happy hour for new members.”
- Suspend the rules in plain English: I know we’ve got certain rules we are supposed to follow, but let’s relax the ones that have to do with what we’re dealing with because it would make it easier for us to get business done.
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- Objection to consideration: Suppresses business that is undesirable or that might prove damaging to the organization. “Madam President, I object to the consideration of the question.”
- Objection to consideration in plain English: Excuse me, I don’t think this motion is appropriate to discuss.
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Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly
Motions which bring up a previously considered question.
- Reconsider: Allows a question previously disposed of to come again before the assembly as if it had not previously been considered. The motion to reconsider can be made only by a member who voted on the prevailing side and only on the same day (or in the case of a convention that spans multiple days, the same meeting) the original vote was taken. The motion is debatable only if the motion to be reconsidered is itself debatable. “I move to reconsider the vote on the motion relating to the annual banquet.”
- Reconsider in plain English: I know I voted with the deciding group on this question earlier in this meeting, but some important information has come up that has made me think we need to all reconsider our decision. Can we reconsider and vote again on it?
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- Rescind a motion previously adopted: Voids a motion previously passed at a prior meeting. “I move to rescind the motion passed at the last meeting relating to where we will go on the ski trip.”
- Rescind a motion previously adopted in plain English: What do you think about cancelling what we voted on at the last meeting?
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- Take from the table: Allows the assembly to resume consideration of a motion previously laid on the table. “I move to take from the table the motion relating to presenting plaques to graduating members.”
- Take from the table in plain English: How about we discuss and take action on that motion we put off earlier in the meeting?
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- Discharge a committee: Takes a matter out of a committee’s hands and places it again before the assembly as a whole. “I move that the committee considering what band to hire for the benefit dance be discharged.”
- Discharge a committee in plain English: The committee is dealing with the topic right now, but what do you think about us taking action on it now?
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Privileged Motions
Motions which do not relate to the pending question but have to do with matters of such urgency or importance that, without debate, they are allowed to interrupt the consideration of anything else.
- Recess: Permits a short intermission in a meeting. “I move that we recess for 10 minutes” or “. . . until 2:00” or “. . . until called to order by the chair.”
- Recess in plain English: How about we take a break? (and specify a time to come back)
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- Adjourn: Terminates the meeting. “I move that we adjourn.”
- Adjourn in plain English: Is everybody OK with ending this meeting?
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- Call for the orders of the day: Requires that the adopted agenda or order of business be followed. “Mr. Chairman, I call for the orders of the day” or “Madam President, l demand the regular order.”
- Call for the orders of the day in plain English: We have gotten off-topic, so let’s get back to what we’re supposed to be discussing that’s on the agenda.
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- Raise a question of privilege: Permits a request or main motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly or any of its members to be brought up for immediate consideration because of its urgency. “I rise to a question of privilege affecting the assembly.”
- Raise a question of privilege in plain English: (Example) Excuse me, there’s a loud noise coming from the hallway and we can’t hear what the speaker is saying.
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Order of Precedence of Motions
Each motion has a number or rank. When motions are pending (being discussed), motions with a higher rank may be made, but motions with a lower rank are out of order (not allowed). The main motion has the lowest rank. It can be made only if there is no other motion pending. There are 13 motions with ranks. “Point of Order” and “Request for Information” do not have ranks, but are dealt with immediately. Contrariwise, Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly (Reconsider, Rescind, Take from the table, Discharge a committee) have no rank and can only be made, in general, if there is no other business on the table (meaning no motions are under consideration at that time).
