Parlimentary Procedure

Lesson # 4

Take From The Table

• Usually handled during the unfinished business of the next meeting or during a lull period of the present meeting.

• MUST be at least one item of business conducted between the time the motion was tabled and taken from table

Call for the Previous Question

• Formal motion to close debate• If more than one motion is pending the motion

to move the previous question, if passed, closes debate only on the most recently moved motion

• If you wish to close debate on all motions the motion is “I move the previous question on all pending questions” or “I move the previous question on the main motion and its amendments”

Rescind

• If previous notice has been given at the last meeting or in the call of the meeting than a 2/3 vote is not necessary for adoption of the motion

• Two forms of recision are– To annul– To ammend something previously adopted

• Motion to rescind is not in order if part or all of the action to rescind has been carried out

Question of Privilege

• Can interrupt a speaker• Is a privileged motion only when an item of

business is pending when a question of privilege is raised

• Proper wording is “Madame Chairman, I rise to a question of privilege.”– Recognition is not needed

• Request is handled by the chair without a vote of the assembly

Appeal the Decision of the Chair

• Purpose is to reverse the chairs decision• Motion is put in the affirmative (i.e. “all those in

favor of the chairs decision that ….say aye. Opposed say no.”) Thus to reverse the chairs decision you need more no votes than aye votes.

• If the appeal is debatable each member can debate only once whereas the chairman can debate twice

• If appeal is undebateable the chairman may give their reasons for the decision made

To Modify or Withdraw a Motion

• Can only be initiated by the person who moved the motion to be withdrawn or modified

• The request to withdraw needs unanimous consent (i.e. the chair states “a request has been made to withdraw the motion. Is there any objection? Short pause- “Seeing none the motion is withdrawn.”

• If the request is denied than any member can move to withdraw the motion. This motion requires a majority vote to pass. It also requires a second if this motion is made by the member who had moved the motion which is being withdrawn or modified.

Reconsider

• Must be made on the same day or next calendar day of which the motion to be reconsidered was made

• A member moving to reconsider must have been on the prevailing side of the vote on the motion which is to be reconsidered. i.e. If a motion to purchase a move camera failed and a member wants to reconsider that motion he must have voted with the “no” vote on the motion mentioned above

• A motion to reconsider may be made and seconded but not taking up until later if other items of business are pending. It may be called up later by the member who moved the motion to reconsider when there is an opening on the agenda in the meeting.

Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn

• Purpose of this motion is to set the time for the next meeting

• If made when no other business is pending it becomes an incidental main motion

• Can be made even after the motion to adjourn has been voted upon

Call for the Orders of the Day

• Orders of the day is the meeting agenda• A call for the orders alerts the chairman that

they need to proceed with the next item (schedule) of business.

Objection to Consideration of the Question

• Needs a 2/3 vote against consideration to pass• Motion is stated “all those in favor of

considering the question that…”

Suspend the Rules

• Can suspend parliamentary (2/3 vote) and standing rules (simple majority vote) but not constitutional or bylaws rules unless a provision in the bylaws state that it is possible to suspend that specific rule

• Rule that is suspended is done so for only that particular time and the rule goes back into effect after that time.