Basic Principles

1. Orderly Conduct: Ensuring meetings are conducted in an orderly fashion to

allow all members to participate.
2. Majority Rule: Decisions are made based on the majority vote, while respecting
the rights of the minority.
3. Equal Opportunity: All members have an equal opportunity to contribute to
discussions and decision-making.

Types of Motions

1. Main Motions:
○ Definition: Main motions introduce new business or propose decisions or
actions.
○ Purpose: To bring substantive proposals before the assembly for debate
and decision.
○ Example: "I move that we establish a new community garden."

2. Subsidiary Motions:
○ Definition: Subsidiary motions help manage or modify main motions,
affecting their consideration.
○ Purpose: To alter, delay, or expedite the handling of a main motion.
○ Examples:
■ Amend: Change the details of a main motion. "I move to amend the
motion by adding 'on the north side of the park.'"
■ Lay on the Table: Temporarily set aside the main motion. "I move
to lay the motion on the table."
■ Previous Question: End debate and proceed to a vote. "I move
the previous question."
■ Limit or Extend Debate: Change the rules for how long or how
often members can speak. "I move to limit debate to two minutes
per speaker."

3. Privileged Motions:
○ Definition: Privileged motions address urgent matters unrelated to the
business at hand, taking precedence over all other motions.
○ Purpose: To ensure the assembly’s comfort, order, and proper procedure.
○ Examples:
 ■ Adjourn: End the meeting. "I move to adjourn."
■ Recess: Take a short break. "I move to recess for 10 minutes."
■ Question of Privilege: Address urgent matters affecting the rights
or comfort of members. "I rise to a question of privilege regarding
the room temperature."
■ Call for Orders of the Day: Demand adherence to the agenda. "I
call for the orders of the day."

4. Incidental Motions:
○ Definition: Incidental motions arise out of other motions and must be
decided before the main or subsidiary motion they relate to.
○ Purpose: To ensure proper procedure and address issues as they arise
during meetings.
○ Examples:
■ Point of Order: Challenge a breach of the rules. "Point of order.
The motion requires a two-thirds vote."
■ Appeal: Dispute the chair’s ruling. "I appeal the decision of the
chair."
■ Suspend the Rules: Temporarily set aside procedural rules. "I
move to suspend the rules to allow an additional speaker."
■ Division of the Assembly: Request a more precise vote count.
"Division.

Main Motions

1. Main Motions - Introduces new business or proposes a decision or action.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor by being recognized by the chair.

○ State, "I move that..." followed by a clear statement of the proposed
action.

Example: "I move that we organize a community clean-up event next month."

2. Amend: Modify the wording or meaning of a pending motion before it’s decided.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
 ○ State, "I move to amend the motion by..." followed by the specific changes.

Example: "I move to amend the motion by inserting the words 'in the park' after
'clean-up event'."

3. Refer to Committee: Send the matter to a smaller group for more detailed
consideration.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
○ State, "I move to refer the motion to the [specific] committee."

Example: "I move to refer the motion to the Events Committee for further
discussion."

4. Postpone: Delay consideration of a motion until a later time.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
○ State, "I move to postpone the motion to [specific time or meeting]."

Example: "I move to postpone the motion to our next regular meeting."

5. Table: Lay aside the current motion temporarily.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
○ State, "I move to lay the motion on the table."

Example: "I move to lay the motion on the table until we have more information."

6. Withdraw a Motion: The mover can withdraw the motion before it’s voted on.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the motion has been introduced.

○ State, "I move to withdraw my motion."

Example: "I move to withdraw my motion regarding the community clean-up

event.
Subsidiary Motions

1. Amend: Change the main motion’s details.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
○ State, "I move to amend the motion by..." followed by the specific changes.

Example: "I move to amend the motion by inserting the words 'on Saturday' after
'clean-up event'."

2. Lay on the Table: Temporarily suspend consideration.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor after the main motion has been introduced and seconded.
○ State, "I move to lay the motion on the table."

Example: "I move to lay the motion on the table until our next meeting."

3. Previous Question: End debate and proceed to vote.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor during the debate of a motion.

○ State, "I move the previous question."

Example: "I move the previous question so we can proceed to vote on the main
motion."

4. Limit or Extend Debate: Change the rules for how long or how often members
can speak.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor during the debate of a motion.

○ State, "I move to limit debate to [specific time limit] per speaker" or "I move
to extend debate by [specific time]."

Example: "I move to limit debate to two minutes per speaker." or "I move to
extend debate by ten minutes."
Privileged Motions

1. Adjourn: End the meeting.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor when no other motion is pending.

○ State, "I move to adjourn."

Example: "I move to adjourn the meeting."

2. Recess: Take a short break.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor when no other motion is pending.

○ State, "I move to recess for [specific time or until a specific time]."

Example: "I move to recess for 10 minutes."

3. Question of Privilege: Address urgent matters affecting the rights or comfort of

members.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor without needing to wait for recognition.

○ State, "I rise to a question of privilege."
○ Wait for the chair to ask you to state your question.
○ State your issue briefly.

Example: "I rise to a question of privilege regarding the room temperature."

4. Call for Orders of the Day: Demand adherence to the agenda.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor without needing to wait for recognition.

○ State, "I call for the orders of the day."

Example: "I call for the orders of the day to return to our scheduled agenda."

Incidental Motions
1. Point of Order: Challenge a breach of the rules.

How to Raise:

○ Stand and say, "Point of order."

○ The chair will ask you to state your point.
○ Explain the perceived breach of rules.

Example: "Point of order. The motion on the floor requires a two-thirds vote, not
a simple majority."

2. Appeal: Dispute the chair’s ruling.

How to Raise:

○ Stand immediately after the chair’s ruling and say, "I appeal the decision of
the chair."
○ A second is required.
○ The chair will then put the appeal to a vote by the assembly.

Example: "I appeal the decision of the chair regarding the point of order just
raised."

3. Suspend the Rules: Temporarily set aside procedural rules.

How to Raise:

○ Obtain the floor and say, "I move to suspend the rules for the purpose of
[specific purpose]."
○ A second is required.
○ This motion usually requires a two-thirds vote.

Example: "I move to suspend the rules to allow the speaker an extra five
minutes."

4. Division of the Assembly: Request a more precise vote count.

How to Raise:

○ Stand and say, "Division."

○ This does not require a second and cannot be debated.
○ The chair will then conduct a more precise vote count (e.g., by show of
hands or standing).
 Example: "Division." (Used immediately after a voice vote to request a counted
vote.)

Debate and Voting

1. Debate:

Purpose: Allows members to discuss the pros and cons of motions, ensuring
informed decision-making.

Procedure:

○ Obtain the floor by being recognized by the chair.

○ Speak clearly and concisely, focusing on the motion at hand.
○ Follow time limits and rules for speaking, which might include:
■ Limiting each speaker to a set amount of time (e.g., two minutes).
■ Restricting the number of times a member can speak on a motion.
■ Ensuring equal opportunity for both sides of the debate.
○ Address comments to the chair, not to individual members.
○ Maintain decorum and respect for differing viewpoints.

Example: "I rise in support of the motion because it will benefit our community by
increasing engagement."

2. Voting:

Methods:

○ Voice Vote: Members verbally express approval or disapproval. The chair

assesses the majority.
■ Example: "All in favor, say 'Aye.' All opposed, say 'No.'"
○ Roll Call Vote: Each member's vote is recorded individually.
■ Example: "The secretary will call the roll. Please respond with 'Yes'
or 'No.'"
○ Ballot Vote: Members vote in writing, ensuring privacy.
■ Example: "Please mark your ballot and pass it to the secretary."
○ Show of Hands: Members raise hands to indicate their vote.
■ Example: "All in favor, please raise your hand. All opposed, please
raise your hand."

Majority: More than half of the votes cast are required for a motion to pass.
 ○ Example: If 20 votes are cast, at least 11 must be in favor for the motion
to pass.

Two-thirds Majority: Required for certain decisions like amending rules or

ending debate.

○ Example: If 30 votes are cast, at least 20 must be in favor for the motion
to pass.