Kinds of Motions
Main Motion
The major principle of parliamentary procedure is "only one
principal or main motion at a time." All business is brought before the meeting by a
motion or resolution, a report of a committee or a communication. The terms motion and
question are synonymous; when first stated, it is a motion, and when repeated by the
chairperson, it is referred to as a question.
Unclassified Motions
There are a few main motions, not classified, which are very much in
use in an effort to take up a question again, or to change or undo an action that has been
taken. In certain situations, some members believe there has been too small an attendance
at the meeting or that it has been an unrepresentative one; therefore, they desire a new
ruling on the subject. These motions have no order of precedence.
Subsidiary Motions
The subsidiary motions are the most frequently used motions in
parliamentary procedure. They are made while a main motion is pending, for the purpose of
assisting or modifying it or to delay action or otherwise dispose of the main motion. The
subsidiary motion supersedes the main motion for the time being and must be dealt with
before action can be taken on the main motion. However, all subsidiary motions must yield
to privileged and incidental motions. There only seven subsidiary motions and they have a
specific order of precedence.
Incidental Motions
Incidental motions are those which arise out of a pending question and
must be decided before any other business is taken up; or are something connected with the
business of the assembly that must be attended to and which requires a temporary
interruption. They have no special rank among themselves and yield to privileged motions.
They are dealt with individually as they arise and take precedence over the subsidiary
motions.
Privileged Motions
Privileged motions have nothing to do with the pending question or
motion, but are of such urgency and importance that they are allowed to interrupt the
consideration of other questions, and take precedence over them. They are undebatable
because of their high rank. When privileged motions do not interrupt other business, they
are main motions and are without privileges. They also have a rank of precedence within
this category of motions.
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