Parliamentary Procedure

A motion is an official statement of a proposal to an assembly for consideration and an action. The successful presentation of a motion must include the following:

1. A member addresses the presiding officer. For meetings that are either virtual and/or have a speaking order, this will typically be done by volunteering to speak or be added to the order of speakers

2. The member is recognized by the presiding officer

3. The member proposes the motion

4. Another member seconds the motion (or there can be no second which will result in the amendment "dying" which would remove the below step and revert the meeting back to the previous discussion prior to the motion)

5. The presiding officer states the motion to the assembly. From here, the governing body will move to discussion, subsidiary motions, and an action like voting.

There are five main types of motions:

1. Main motions - The most commonly used motion. Its purpose is to bring substantive proposals for consideration, discussion, and action

2. Restorative motions - These are motions used to attempt to affect actions that were previously taken. Some examples might be:

• To amend a previous action
• Ratify an action or decision
• Reconsider an action or decision
• Rescind a motion or action
• Resume consideration (take something from the table)

3. Subsidiary motions - These are used to alter a main motion, delay its progress, or to hasten its progress. Examples are as follows:

• Table a motion
• Close debate
• Limit or extend debate
• Postpone to a certain time
• Refer to committee
• Amend

4. Privileged Motions - These are motions that have no connection to a current motion. They are considered to be motions with such urgency that they are entitled to immediate consideration. Examples are as follows:

• Adjourn
• Recess
• Question of Privilege - to ask a question

5. Incidental Motions - These motions are not, usually, related to a main motion. They occur in situations where the conduct of the meeting may need to be addressed. They can be used to request explanation, rescind motions, speak informally, or making clarifying points. Examples are as follows:

• Appeal from a decision of the chair
• Suspend the rules
• Consider informally
• Point of order
• Parliamentary inquiry
• Withdrawal of a motion
• Division of a question - used to divide a motion into multiple motions
• Division of the assembly - used to request a clear form of voting if the prior method seemed unclear or confusing

Privileged Motions

1. Adjourn

2. Recess

3. Question of Privilege

Subsidiary Motions

4. Table

5. Close debate

6. Limit or extend debate

7. Postpone to a certain time

8. Refer to a committee

9. Amend

Main Motions

10. The main motion and restorative main motions

Incidental Motions (Do not have a specific precedence since they come up incidentally)