Here are some motions you might make, how to make them, and what to expect of the rules.
| To Do This... | You Say This... | May You Interrupt the Speaker? | Do You Need a Second? | Is it Debatable? | Can it be Amended? | What Vote is Needed? | Can it be Reconsidered? |
| ADJOURN MEETING | "I move that we adjourn." |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Majority |
No |
| CALL AN INTERMISSION | "I move that we recess for..." |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Majority |
No |
| COMPLAIN ABOUT NOISE, HEAT, ETC. | "I rise to a question of privilege..." |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No vote |
No (usually) |
| TEMPORARILY SUSPEND CONSIDERATION OF AN ISSUE | "I move to table the motion." |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Majority |
No |
| END DEBATE AND AMENDMENTS | "I move the previous question." |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
2/3 |
No *1 |
| POSTPONE DISCUSSION FOR A CERTAIN TIME | "I move to postpone the discussion until..." |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Majority |
Yes |
| GIVE CLOSER STUDY OF SOMETHING | "I move to refer the matter to committee." |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Majority |
Yes *2 |
| AMEND A MOTION | "I move to amend the motion by..." |
No |
Yes |
Yes *3 |
Yes |
Majority |
Yes |
| INTRODUCE BUSINESS | "I move that..." |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Majority |
Yes |
The motions listed above are in order of precedence...In the table below, there is no order...
| PROTEST BREACH OF RULES OR CONDUCT | "I rise to a point of order." |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote *4 |
No |
| VOTE ON A RULING OF THE CHAIR | "I appeal from the chair's decision." |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Majority *5 |
Yes |
| SUSPEND RULES TEMPORARILY | "I move to suspend the rules so that..." |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
2/3 |
No |
| AVOID CONSIDERING AN IMPROPER MATTER | "I object to consideration of this motion." |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
2/3 *6 |
- *7 |
| VERIFY A VOICE VOTE BY HAVING MEMBERS STAND | "I call for a division" or "Division!" |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote |
No |
| REQUEST INFORMATION | "Point of information." |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote |
No |
| TAKE UP A MATTER PREVIOUSLY TABLED | "I move to take from the table..." |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Majority |
No |
| RECONSIDER A HASTY ACTION | "I move to reconsider the vote on..." |
Yes |
Yes |
- *8 |
No |
Majority |
No |
| Notes: | |
| *1 = Unless vote on question is not yet taken | *5 = A majority vote in negative needed to revert ruling of chair |
| *2 = Unless the committee has already taken up the subject | *6 = A 2/3 vote in negative needed to prevent consideration of main motion. |
| *3 = Only if the motion to be amended is debatable | *7 = Only if the main question or motion was not, in fact, considered |
| *4 = Except in doubtful cases. | *8 = Only if motion to be reconsidered is debatable. |
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu Reviewed on 6/12/97