How to Accomplish What You Want to Do in Meetings
Main Motion
You want to propose a new idea or action for the group.
- After recognition, make a main motion
- Member: “Madame Chairman, I move that _________.”
Amending a Motion
You want to change some of the wording that is being discussed.
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move that the motion be amended by adding the following words ________.”
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move that the motion be amended by striking out the following words ________.”
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move that the motion be amended by striking out the following words, _________, and adding in their place the following words ________.”
Refer to a Committee
You feel that an idea or proposal being discussed needs more study and investigation.
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move that the question be referred to a committee made up of members Smith, Jones and Brown.”
Postpone Definitely
You want the membership to have more time to consider the question under discussion and you want to postpone it to a definite time or day, and have it come up for further consideration.
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move to postpone the question until ________.”
Previous Question
You think discussion has gone on for too long and you want to stop discussion and vote.
- After recognition, “Madam President, I move the previous question.”
Limit Debate
You think discussion is getting long, but you want to give a reasonable length of time for consideration of the question.
- After recognition, “Madam President, I move to limit discussion to two minutes per speaker.”
Postpone Indefinitely
You want to kill a motion that is being discussed.
- After recognition, “Madam Moderator, I move to postpone the question indefinitely.”
You are against a motion just proposed and want to learn who is for and who is against the motion.
- After recognition, “Madame President, I move to postpone the motion indefinitely.”
Recess
You want to take a break for a while.
- After recognition, “Madame Moderator, I move to recess for ten minutes.”
Adjournment
You want the meeting to end.
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move to adjourn.”
Permission to Withdraw a Motion
You have made a motion and after discussion, are sorry you made it.
- After recognition, “Madam President, I ask permission to withdraw my motion.”
Call for Orders of the Day
At the beginning of the meeting, the agenda was adopted. The chairman is not following the order of the approved agenda.
- Without recognition, “Call for orders of the day.”
Suspending the Rules
The agenda has been approved and as the meeting progressed, it became obvious that an item you are interested in will not come up before adjournment.
- After recognition, “Madam Chairman, I move to suspend the rules and move item 5 to position 2.”
Point of Personal Privilege
The noise outside the meeting has become so great that you are having trouble hearing.
- Without recognition, “Point of personal privilege.”
- Chairman: “State your point.”
- Member: “There is too much noise, I can’t hear.”
Committee of the Whole
You are going to propose a question that is likely to be controversial and you feel that some of the members will try to kill it by various maneuvers. Also you want to keep out visitors and the press.
- After recognition, “Madame Chairman, I move that we go into a committee of the whole.”
Point of Order
It is obvious that the meeting is not following proper rules.
- Without recognition, “I rise to a point of order,” or “Point of order.”
Point of Information
You are wondering about some of the facts under discussion, such as the balance in the treasury when expenditures are being discussed.
- Without recognition, “Point of information.”
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
You are confused about some of the parliamentary rules.
- Without recognition, “Point of parliamentary inquiry.”
Appeal from the Decision of the Chair
- Without recognition, “I appeal from the decision of the chair.”