The substitute motion. If a member
<br />wancs ro complecely do av��ay wi�h
<br />the basic motion under discussion
<br />ancf pur a necv morion beFore the
<br />governing body, he or she �vould
<br />"move a sisbsritute motion." A substi-
<br />ru�e mocion might be: "] move a sub-
<br />scirute mocion chat �ve cancel the
<br />anmial fundraiser this year."
<br />Motions to amend ai�d substitute mo-
<br />tions are often confused. But t6ey are
<br />quice different, and so is their effecr,
<br />if passed.
<br />A motion to amend seeks to retain the
<br />basic n�otion oi� the floor, but to modify
<br />it in some way.
<br />A substirure motion seeks �o throw out
<br />rhe basic motion on the Aoor and substi-
<br />tute a ne�v and differenc motion for it.
<br />The decisioil as ro whether a mo�ion is
<br />really a motion to amend or a substituce
<br />motion is left to the chair. So thar if a
<br />member makes what that member calls a
<br />mocion co amend, buc the chair deter-
<br />mines ir is really a subsricute mocion, the
<br />chair's designarion governs.
<br />When Multiple Motions Are Before
<br />The Governing Body
<br />Up to three mo�ions may be on ihe floor
<br />sirrtulraneously. The chair may rejecr a
<br />�ourth motion unti] the three that are on
<br />the floor have bee� resalved.
<br />When nvo or three motions are ai cE�e
<br />Aoor (after mo�ions and seconds) ac
<br />rhe sarne time, che fzr.ct vote should be
<br />on rhe lASt motioi3 made. So, for exam-
<br />ple, assume the first mocion is a basic
<br />"mocion to have a five-member commit-
<br />eee ro plan and puc ai our annua[ fund-
<br />raiser." During che discussion of this
<br />motion, a men�ber mighr make a secand
<br />motion io "amend the main motion to
<br />have a l0-member committee, not a
<br />five-member commitree, to plan and
<br />piit on our annual fundraiser." And per-
<br />haps, during that discussion, a member
<br />maEces yec a third mocion as a"substituce
<br />motion thar we no� have an annual
<br />fundraiset this year." The proper proce-
<br />dure �vou[d be as fol[o�vs.
<br />Rosenbe�g's Rzrles of Order: Simple Parliamentary Procedure for the 21st Century
<br />First, the thair �vould deal w��h che
<br />third (the lase) motion on the floor, ef�e
<br />subs�iruce mouan. After disaission and
<br />debate, a vorte �vould be taken first on
<br />che �hird motion. If the sii6scirute
<br />motion passes, it would be a substitute
<br />for che basic motion and would elimi-
<br />�iare ic. The first motion �vouid be mooc,
<br />as would tE�e second motion (�vhich
<br />sought [a amend the first motion), and
<br />the ac�ion on che agenda item would Ue
<br />complece. No voce would be taken on
<br />the firsc or second motions. On the
<br />other hand, if the substitute motion (the
<br />�hird motion) failed, �he chair would
<br />proceed to consideration af �he second
<br />(no�v ehe lasi) motion on the floor, the
<br />motion to amend.
<br />If �he substirure motion failed, rhe
<br />chair �vould then deal with che second
<br />(now the last) motion on the floor,
<br />the mo�ion to amend. The discussian
<br />and debate would focus stricdy on the
<br />amendment {should the committee be
<br />five or l0 members). If the motian to
<br />amei�d passed, �he chair woiild no�v
<br />move to consider the main ntotion (the
<br />first motion) as amendei�. If the motion
<br />to amend failed, the chair �vould now
<br />move to consider che main motion
<br />(the fitst motion) i�i ics original formac,
<br />not amended.
<br />To Debate or Not ta Debate
<br />�F'he basic ru[e aF motio�is is rl�at they
<br />are subject to discussion and debare.
<br />Accordingly, basic motions, mocions ro
<br />amend, and substiicute motions are all
<br />eligibie, each in their turn, for Eull dis-
<br />cussion before and b}' t6e body. The
<br />debare can conrinue as long as members
<br />of the body wish to discuss an item, sub-
<br />ject eo the decision of the chair thar it is
<br />time to move on and take action.
<br />There are exceptio�ts to Che general rule
<br />of free and open debate on motions. The
<br />exceptions all apply when there is a
<br />desire of �he body to move on. The fol-
<br />lowing motions are not debatable (chac
<br />is, when the following morions are made
<br />and seconded, [he chair must immedi-
<br />ately call for a vate of the bod�� without
<br />debaee on ihe motion):
<br />A motion to adjourn. Tliis morion, if
<br />passed, requires the body ro immediatel}'
<br />adjonrn to its next regularly scheduled
<br />meeting. This motion requires a simple
<br />majoriry vote.
<br />A motion to recess. This motion, if
<br />passed, requires the body to immediately
<br />take a recess. Normally, the chair c�eter-
<br />mines the length of the recess, which
<br />may range From a few minuces ro an
<br />hour. It requires a simpfe majoriry voce.
<br />The challenge for anyone chairing a public meet-
<br />ing is �o accommadate public input in a timely
<br />and time-sensitive v��ay, while �naintaining steady
<br />progress through the agenda items.
<br />Third, the chair would naw deal with
<br />the firsi maCion that was placed on the
<br />Roor. The original motion would either
<br />be in its original formar {five-member
<br />committee) or, if amended, would be in
<br />its amended format (IO-member com-
<br />rniccee). And the question on Che floor
<br />for discussion and deeision would be
<br />whether a cammittee should plan and
<br />put on the annual fundraiser.
<br />A motion to iix che tune to adjourn.
<br />This motion, iE passed, requires the body
<br />to adjourn rhe meeting at the specific
<br />time ser in the motion. For example, the
<br />motion mighc be; "I move we adjourn
<br />this meeting at midnight.'" It requires a
<br />simple m.ajority vote.
<br />A motion ro [able. This motion, iF
<br />passed, requires discussion of ihe agenda
<br />item to be halced and the agenda item to
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