Rosenberg'S 2ules of Order: Simple Parliamentary P�rocedure for the 21st Cenntry
<br />be placed on `�hofd.'� The motion may
<br />concain a speci6c time in which t6e
<br />item can come bac{c �o the body: "I
<br />move we table this item unul our regu-
<br />lar meecing in Occober." Or the motion
<br />may concain no specific time for che
<br />recurn of che item, in which case a
<br />motion to take the item off the �able
<br />and bring it back co �he body will have
<br />to be taken at a future meering. A
<br />motion to table an item (or to bri.ng ir
<br />back to the bady) requires a simple
<br />inajoriry vote.
<br />A motion to Iimit debate. The mos�
<br />common form of this motion is to say:
<br />"I n�ove rhe previous qiies�iod' or "[
<br />move the question" or "I call for the
<br />question." When a�nember of the body
<br />makes such a mocian, �he member is
<br />really sa��ing: `�I�ve had enough debate.
<br />Let's gec on widi che vote." Wheai such
<br />a morion is made, the chair should ask
<br />for a second to the mocion, stop debate,
<br />and vote on [he motion to limir debaie.
<br />The motion to limit debate requires a
<br />«vo-thirds vo�e of the body. Note that a
<br />morion ta limit debate cauld include a
<br />time limit. For example: "] move we
<br />limi� debate on this agenda icem to
<br />I5 minures." Even in ehis forma�, the
<br />the motion fails. If one member is ab-
<br />seni and rhe vote is 3-3, rhe motion
<br />still fails.
<br />All motions require a siinple majoriry,
<br />but there are a fe�v exceptions. The
<br />excepcions occur �vhen the body is
<br />�aking an aaion tha� effectively curs
<br />off rhe ability nF a minotiry of che body
<br />to take an action or discuss an item.
<br />These extraordinary motions require a
<br />t�vo-rhirds majority (a super-majoriry>)
<br />to �ass:
<br />Motion to Iimit debate. Wf�echer a
<br />member says, "i move the previous
<br />9uestion,'� "I move the question," "I
<br />call for che question" or "[ move ro limit
<br />debace," it all amouncs to an atcempc co
<br />cut off the ability of the minoriry to dis-
<br />cuss a❑ iiem, and it requires a ewo-chirds
<br />vote to pass.
<br />Motion to close nominations. When
<br />choosing officers of the body, such as the
<br />dtair, nominations are in order either
<br />from a nominating cammiitee or from
<br />the floor of the body. A rs-iotion ro close
<br />nominations effectiveky cuts off the right
<br />of the minority co nominate officers,
<br />and ic requires a ni�o-thirds vote
<br />to pass.
<br />If you are running the British Parliament,
<br />Ro�ert's Rules of Order is a dandy and quite
<br />useful handbook.
<br />motion to limit deba�e requires a nvo-
<br />thirds vote of the boay. A si�nilar mot-
<br />ioi� is a motio�i to object to consideration
<br />ofmi item. This motion is no[ debarable,
<br />and if passed, predudes �he bady from
<br />even considering an irem on the agenda.
<br />It also requires a two-thirds vore.
<br />Majority and Super-Majority Votes
<br />In a democracy, decisions are made �vith
<br />a sin3ple majority vore. A cie vote means
<br />the motian fails. So in a seven-member
<br />bod}', a vote oE 4-3 passes the motion. A
<br />vore of 3-3 �vith one abstenrion means
<br />4 I.eague of California Cities
<br />Motion Co object to ti�e consideration
<br />of a quesCion, Normally, such a moiion
<br />is unnecessary, because che objecrio�able
<br />irem can be tabled or defeated straighc
<br />up. However, when members of a hody
<br />do not even �vaiir aiti iiem o�1 �he agenda
<br />to be considered, rhen s�ch a motion
<br />is in order. It is iiot debarable, aiid ic
<br />requires a nvo-ihirds vote to pass.
<br />Motion to suspend the rules. This
<br />motion is debatable, but requires a ttivo-
<br />thirds vote to pass. If the bady has its
<br />own rules of order, conduct or proce-
<br />dure, this morion allo�vs the body to sus-
<br />pend the rules for a particular purpose.
<br />For example, the body (a private club)
<br />might have a rule proliibitiiig rhe atten-
<br />dance at meetings by non-club mem-
<br />bers. A motion ca suspend che rules
<br />would be i� order to allo�v a non-club
<br />me�nber to a«end a meeting of the club
<br />on a par�icular date or on a par�icular
<br />agenda item.
<br />The Motion to Reconsider
<br />There is a special and unique motion
<br />that requires a bi� of explanation all b}'
<br />itself: che motion �o reconsider. A�enet
<br />of parliamentary procedure is finaliry.
<br />Afcer vigorous discussion, debate and
<br />a vo[e, Ehere must be some closure ro
<br />the issue. And so, afcer a vo�e is taken,
<br />the matter is deemed closed, subject
<br />only �o reopening if a proper motion
<br />to reconsider is made.
<br />A motion to rrtonsider requires a
<br />majoriry vote to pass, but there are
<br />nvo special rules chat apply only ro
<br />the motion ro reconsider.
<br />Firsr is �he mac�ee of �iming. A motion
<br />ro reconsider must be made a� the meec-
<br />ing where the item H�as first voied upon
<br />or at the very next meeting of the bod}'.
<br />A mocion to reconsider made ai a later
<br />time is untimely. (The body, ha�vever,
<br />ca�i al�vays voxe to suspeitid the rules
<br />and, by a two-thirds majoriry, allow a
<br />motion ro reconsider to be made at
<br />a�iother time.}
<br />Second, a motioF� to reconsider may be
<br />made only by certain men3bers of dle
<br />bod}'. Accordingly, a niotio�i ro recon-
<br />sider may be made oi�ly by a member
<br />who voted in the majority on the origi-
<br />nal n�otion. If such a member has a
<br />change of heart, 6e or she may niake the
<br />motion to reconsider (any otlier mem-
<br />ber of the bady may second the motion}.
<br />lf a �iember who vored in tbe minority
<br />seeks [o make the motion to reconsider,
<br />ic must be ruled our oForder. The pur-
<br />pose of cliis rule is finaliry. If a member
<br />of the miiioriry could make a morioii co
<br />reconsider, chen the irem could be
<br />brought back to che body again and
<br />again, which would deFeat �he purpose
<br />of finaliry.
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