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Rose�tL�rg's Ri�les of C�'e�:• Si�le Parl��zyr,��rtary P�^ocedza� far tl� 21st Cer�tury
<br />be placed on "hold." The rmtion may
<br />contain a specific tiiY� in which the
<br />item can corr� Uack to the Uociy. "I
<br />inave � table this item until our regu
<br />lar iY�eting in Cktober." Or the rmtion
<br />may contain no spacific rirr� for the
<br />ret�.un of the iterr� in wi�ich case a
<br />rmtion to rake the item off the table
<br />and bring it t�ck to the Uociy will have
<br />to be raken at a future iY�eting. A
<br />rmtion to table an item (or to bring it
<br />back to the boci�) req�.iires a sirnple
<br />majoriryvote.
<br />A u�odion to limit deUate. The iYn�t
<br />coiYnYnn form of this rmtion is to say.
<br />"I iYnve the previous questiori' or "I
<br />inave tl�e qi.iestiori' or "I call for tl�e
<br />qi.iestion." Wlien a iY�nber of the Uody
<br />iYrxkes such a rmtion, the rr�mber is
<br />really saying: "I've l�ad en«.igii debate.
<br />Let's get on with tl�e vote." Wlien s�.ich
<br />a rmtion is iYrr�de, the chair sl�.dd ask
<br />for a second to the rmtion, stop deUate,
<br />and vote on the rmtion to lurrit deUaxe.
<br />1he rmtion to lurrit debaxe requires a
<br />t�thirds vote of the Uody. Note that a
<br />rmtion to limt deUate could include a
<br />tiiY� lurri� For exainple: "I inave �
<br />lirrrit deUate on this agenda item to
<br />15 rrrinutes." F�en in this foriYrxt, the
<br />the rmtion fails. If one iY�nUer is alr
<br />sent and the vote is 3-3, the rmtion
<br />still iails.
<br />All rmtions recli.ure a simple majoriry,
<br />but there are a few ex�ptions. The
<br />exceprions oca.ir wiien tl�e Uociy is
<br />raking an acaon that effecavely cuts
<br />off the abiliry of a m� ioriry of the body
<br />to take an acaon or disa�s an item
<br />These extraordinary rmtions req�.iire a
<br />t�thirds majoriry (a super-majoriry)
<br />to pass:
<br />Nbtian to limit cl,ebate. Wlier.her a
<br />iY�Y�Uer says, "I inave the previous
<br />qi.iestion," "I trnve the question," "I
<br />call for the qi.iestiori' or "I iYnve to limt
<br />debate," it all aiY�.uits to an atteinpt to
<br />cut off the abiliry of the rrrinoriry to dis-
<br />cuss an iterr� and it requires a t�thirds
<br />vote to pass.
<br />Nbtian to dase i�iii�wiorn. Wlien
<br />choosing o$'i�rs of the boci�, such as the
<br />chair, noiY�nations are in order either
<br />from a nomnating coiYnY�itt� or from
<br />the floor of the Uody. A rmtion to close
<br />norrrir�ations effecavely cuts off the right
<br />of the minoriry to norrrinate officers,
<br />and it requires a t�thirds vote
<br />to pass.
<br />If you are running the British Parliament,
<br />Roberi's R�les of O��der is a dandy and quite
<br />t�.seful handUoolz
<br />rmtion to limt deUate roquires a t�
<br />thirds vote of the Uody. A siiY�ilar rmt-
<br />ion is a m�tion to ob�'ect to considei^cr�r.'a�c
<br />ofan item This rmrion is not deUarable,
<br />and if pA�seci, procli.�es the Uociy from
<br />even considering an item on the agenda.
<br />It also recli.iires a t�thirds vote.
<br />�J�h/ � �� �JorityvbtG�ss
<br />In a der�naacy, decisions are iYrr�de with
<br />a siir�ple n-aj oriry vote. A rie vote iY�ans
<br />the rmtion fails. So in a severriY�Y�er
<br />l�ci�, a vote of /f3 passes the rmrion. A
<br />vote of'r3 with one abstention iY�ans
<br />4 League of California Gties
<br />Nbtian to object to tl�e oornic�atian
<br />af a quesdion. NoiiYr�ally, such a rmtion
<br />is unnocessary, becaiise the objecdonable
<br />item can be tabled or defeated stxaight
<br />up. I b�ver, when iY�nbers of a Uody
<br />do not even want an item on the agenda
<br />to be considered, then sucli a rmrion
<br />is in order. It is not deUatable, and it
<br />reqi.ures a t�thirds vote to pass.
<br />Nbtian to sia�xi ilie rules. This
<br />rmtion is deUarable, but recli.iires a t�
<br />thirds vote to pass. If the Uody has its
<br />� rules of order, condi.ic-t or proc�-
<br />di.ire, this rmtion all� the Uody to sus-
<br />pend the rules for a particl.ilar pi.uPose.
<br />For e�inple, the boci� (a private club)
<br />iYright l�ave a rule prol�ibiting the atten
<br />dance at iY�eting,s by norrclub rr�rrr
<br />bers. A rmtion to suspend the rules
<br />wauld be in order to allow a non-club
<br />iY�nUer to attend a iY�eting of the club
<br />on a pRrticular date or on a pRrtia�lar
<br />agenda item
<br />�1i-71�1.: ..� . :�«..�. .' i
<br />lhere is a special and unique rmtion
<br />that requires a bit of explauation all by
<br />itsel� the rmtion to roconsider. A tenet
<br />of parliacr�ntary procecji.ue is finaliry.
<br />After vigorous disaassion, debate and
<br />a vote, there iYi.tist be sorr� clos�.ire to
<br />the issue. And so, after a vote is raken,
<br />tl�e iYr�atter is d�rr�d closed, subject
<br />only to reopening if a proper rmtion
<br />to roconsider is iYrr�de.
<br />A rmtion to remnsider req�.iires a
<br />majoriryvote to pass, but there are
<br />� �t �t� � �ly o�ty �
<br />the rmtion to reoonsider.
<br />First is the matter of tiiYrir�g. A rmrion
<br />to roconsider rraast be iYrr�de at tl�e iY�et-
<br />ing wiiere the itemwas fust voted upon
<br />or at the very ne� iY�eting of the Uody.
<br />A rmtion to remnsider iYrr�de at a later
<br />� is unrirr�ly. (The Uociy, h��er,
<br />can always vote to suspend the rules
<br />and, by a t�thirds majoriry, allow a
<br />rmtion to romnsider to be iY�de at
<br />another tiiY�.)
<br />Second, a rmrion to remnsider may be
<br />iYrr�de only by cerrain iY�nbers of the
<br />Uody. Accordingly, a rmrion to rocon-
<br />sider may be iYrr�de only by a rr�inUer
<br />wiio voted in the �zzjority on the origi-
<br />nal rmtion. If such a iY�nUer has a
<br />clringe of heart, he or she rray iYrr�ke the
<br />rmtion to romnsider (any other rr�rrr
<br />ber of the Uody may somnd the rmrion).
<br />If a rr�inUer who voted in the yrrinoi ity
<br />�ks to iYr�ake the rmtion to roconsider,
<br />it rrazst be ruled out of order.lhe pur-
<br />pc�se of this rule is fivaliry. If a iY�nber
<br />of the mdnoriry could iYr�ake a rmtion to
<br />reconsider, r.l�i the item could be
<br />brought Uack to the Uociy a�in and
<br />a�in, wi�ich �auld defeat the pi.uPose
<br />of f�naliry.
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