Parliamentary Procedure

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona

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Thumb Rules for Motions

I. What motions require a second?

Whenever a motion is made by saying "I move. . ." it requires a second.

The exception to the rule is the incidental motion "To appeal from the decision of the chair."

II. What motions are debatable?

Most motions by type are not debatable. The motions that are debatable are:

Main motions
The three R’s (Reconsider Rescind and Ratify)
The bookends (Postpone indefinitely, to amend, to refer, and postpone definitely)

III. What motions may be amended?

Motions that deal with time, sequence or volume are amendable.

IV. What motions may have subsidiary motions applied to them?

Since to amend is a subsidiary motion, all motions that are amendable qualify. In addition other motions that are debatable but not amendable may have subsidiary motions applied to them.

The exception to the rule is the incidental motion "To appeal from the decision of the chair."

V. What vote is required for passage of motions?

Motions that do not begin with "I move. . ." are decided by the chair without taking a vote. Motions that affect individual rights regarding rules or debating privileges require a 2/3 majority vote. All other motions require a majority vote.

The exception to the rule is the incidental motion "To appeal from the decision of the chair."

VI. When may a person interrupt when another person has the floor?

One may interrupt another if the issue is urgent enough to warrant such action but only with seven (7) specific motions (To raise a question of privilege, To call for the orders of the day, To raise a point of order, To appeal from the decision of the chair, To call for a division, To make a request, and To reconsider)

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Send questions about this website to Denise Davies at ddavies@ag.arizona.edu.   For course information or questions not included in these pages contact Dr. James Knight. Copyright (c) 1998 Department of Agricultural Education, The University of Arizona.  Website version 1.2, last updated on Thursday, August 16, 2001.