Parliamentary Procedure

The codification of motions below describes the types of motions that can be made in a meeting, and the ruls by which they are used.

The description of the Main Motion explains the general procedure of considering, debating and voting for a motion. Other types of motions have all or some of these elements, as noted for each motion.

Motions in increasing order of precedence:

If the immediately pending motion is in this list, motions that appear above it are out of order.

Original Main Motion: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
to introduce new business

Postpone Indefinitely: Requires Second, Debatable, Majority
to avoid a direct vote on a motion

Amend: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
to alter or modify the wording of a motion

Refer to Committee: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
to send to a committee for further study

Postpone to a Certain Time (Postpone Definitely): Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
to postpone to another, specified time

Limit or Extend Limits of Debate: Requires Second, Amendable, 2/3
to limit or extend debate

Previous Question (Close Debate): Requires Second, 2/3
to close debate on pending motion

Lay on the Table: Requires Second, Majority
to interrupt business for some urgent reason

Call for Orders of the Day: Can Interrupt speaker, -
to require adherence to agenda

Raise a Question of Privilege: Can Interrupt speaker, -
to request a personal privilege

Take a Recess: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
to interrupt the meeting

Adjourn: Requires Second, Majority
to close the meeting

Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
to set time for continuation of meeting

Motions without order of precedence:

Point of Order: Can Interrupt speaker, -
to enforce rules and orders

Appeal: Can Interrupt speaker, Requires Second, Debatable, Majority
try to reverse ruling

Questions or Points of Information: Can Interrupt speaker, -
obtain answers to questions and seek information

Suspend the Rules: Requires Second, 2/3
set aside rules that interfere with action desired

Object to Consideration: Can Interrupt speaker, 2/3
to avoid unprofitable questions

Division of a Question: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
to divide a question

Consideration by Paragraph-Seriatim: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
to consider by sections

Division of the Assembly: Can Interrupt speaker, -
to provide for a more accurate count of the vote

Rescind: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, 2/3
to nullify a motion previously adopted

Reconsider: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, 2/3
to bring back for review

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