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3. The substitute motion. If a member
<br />wants to completely do away with
<br />the basic motion under discussion
<br />and put a new motion before the
<br />governing body, he or she would
<br />"move a substitute motion." A substi-
<br />tute motion might be: "I move a sub-
<br />stitute motion that we cancel the
<br />annual fundraiser this year."
<br />Motions to amend and substitute mo-
<br />tions are often confused. But they are
<br />quite different, and so is their effect,
<br />if passed.
<br />A motion to amend seeks to retain the
<br />basic motion on the floor, but to modify
<br />it in some way.
<br />A substitute motion seeks to throw out
<br />the basic motion on the floor and substi-
<br />tute a new and different motion for it.
<br />The decision as to whether a motion is
<br />really a motion to amend or a substitute
<br />motion is left to the chair. So that if a
<br />member makes what that member calls a
<br />motion to amend, but the chair deter-
<br />mines it is really a substitute motion, the
<br />chair's designation governs.
<br />When Multiple Motions Are Before
<br />The Governing Body
<br />Up to three motions may be on the floor
<br />simultaneously. The chair may reject a
<br />fourth motion until the three that are on
<br />the floor have been resolved.
<br />When two or three motions are on the
<br />floor (after motions and seconds) at
<br />the same time, the first vote should be
<br />on the last motion made. So, for exam-
<br />ple, assume the first motion is a basic
<br />"motion to have a five-member commit-
<br />tee to plan and put on our annual fund-
<br />raiser." During the discussion of this
<br />motion, a member might make a second
<br />motion to "amend the main motion to
<br />have a 10-member committee, not a
<br />five-member committee, to plan and
<br />put on our annual fundraiser." And per-
<br />haps, during that discussion, a member
<br />makes yet a third motion as a"substitute
<br />motion that we not have an annual
<br />fundraiser this year." The proper proce-
<br />dure would be as follows.
<br />Rosenberg's Rules of Orcler: Simple Parlidmentdry Procedure for tbe 21st Century
<br />First, the chair would deal with the
<br />third (the last) motion on the floor, the
<br />substitute motion. After discussion and
<br />debate, a vote would be taken first on
<br />the third motion. If the substitute
<br />motion passes, it would be a substitute
<br />for the basic motion and would elimi-
<br />nate it. The first motion would be moot,
<br />as would the second motion (which
<br />sought to amend the first motion), and
<br />the action on the agenda item would be
<br />complete. No vote would be taken on
<br />the first or second motions. On the
<br />other hand, if the substitute motion (the
<br />third motion) failed, the chair would
<br />proceed to consideration of the second
<br />(now the last) motion on the floor, the
<br />motion to amend.
<br />If the substitute motion failed, the
<br />chair would then deal with the second
<br />(now the last) motion on the floor,
<br />the motion to amend. The discussion
<br />and debate would focus strictly on the
<br />amendment (should the committee be
<br />five or 10 members). If the motion to
<br />amend passed, the chair would now
<br />move to consider the main motion (the
<br />first motion) as amended. If the motion
<br />to amend failed, the chair would now
<br />move to consider the main motion
<br />(the first motion) in its original format,
<br />not amended.
<br />To Debate or Not to Debate
<br />The basic rule of motions is that they
<br />are subject to discussion and debate.
<br />Accordingly, basic motions, motions to
<br />amend, and substitute motions are all
<br />eligible, each in their turn, for full dis-
<br />cussion before and by the body. The
<br />debate can continue as long as members
<br />of the body wish to discuss an item, sub-
<br />ject to the decision of the chair that it is
<br />time to move on and take action.
<br />There are exceptions to the general rule
<br />of free and open debate on motions. The
<br />exceptions all apply when there is a
<br />desire of the body to move on. The fol-
<br />lowing motions are not debatable (that
<br />is, when the following motions are made
<br />and seconded, the chair must immedi-
<br />ately call for a vote of the body without
<br />debate on the motion):
<br />A motion to adjourn. This motion, if
<br />passed, requires the body to immediately
<br />adjourn to its next regularly scheduled
<br />meeting. This motion requires a simple
<br />majority vote.
<br />A motion to recess. This motion, if
<br />passed, requires the body to immediately
<br />take a recess. Normally, the chair deter-
<br />mines the length of the recess, which
<br />may range from a few minutes to an
<br />hour. It requires a simple majority vote.
<br />The challenge for anyone chairing a puUlic meet-
<br />ing is to accommodate public input in a timely
<br />and time-sensitive way, while maintaining steady
<br />progress through the agenda items.
<br />Third, the chair would now deal with
<br />the firsr motion that was placed on the
<br />floor. The original motion would either
<br />be in its original format (five-member
<br />commitree) or, if amended, would be in
<br />its amended format (10-member com-
<br />mittee). And the question on the floor
<br />for discussion and decision would be
<br />whether a committee should plan and
<br />put on the annual fundraiser.
<br />A motion to fur the time to adjourn.
<br />This motion, if passed, requires the body
<br />to adjourn the meeting at the specific
<br />time set in the motion. For example, the
<br />motion might be: "I move we adjourn
<br />this meeting at midnight." It requires a
<br />simple majority vote.
<br />A motion to table. This motion, if
<br />passed, requires discussion of the agenda
<br />item to be halted and the agenda item to
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