


SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING : Your motion requires no second and is not debatable. If you want to kill a motion which was introduced by another person, you must, before any debate on the motion has occurred, state “I object to consideration.” You do not need to be recognized by the Chair to do this. If you have not provided written notice previously, you must have a 2/3 majority to rescind.ġ6. If you have given the senate previous written notice that you intend to move to rescind, a simple majority is required. If you want to change a senate action that was voted on at a previous meeting, you may move to rescind the motion. If a majority agrees, the motion comes back to the floor as if the vote had not happened.ġ5. If you have changed your mind about a vote taken earlier in the meeting for which you were on the “winning” side, you can move to reconsider. If you disagree, you may “appeal the chair’s decision.” If seconded, the Senate will vote whether to uphold the ruling by simple majority.ġ4. If you think the chair has made a procedural error, without waiting to be recognized, call a “point of order.” The chair will listen to your point and then rule.

This interrupts debate, and the Chair must ask you to state your question and will attempt to clarify the situation.ġ3. If you are confused about a procedure and want clarification, without waiting to be recognized, call for “Point of Information” or “Point of Parliamentary Inquiry”. If you are unsure that the Chair has correctly announced the results of a vote, you may, without being recognized, call for a “Division of the House”, at which point a standing vote must be taken.ġ2. If you want to end the meeting, move to adjourn.ġ1. If you want to take a short break, move to recess for a set period of time. A majority is required to table a motion without killing it.ĩ. To kill a motion at the time it is tabled requires a 2/3 vote. If the motion is not taken from the table by the end of the next meeting of the senate, it is dead. The motion may be taken from the table later, after at least 1 item of business has been conducted. If you want to postpone a motion until some later time, you may move to table the motion. Or you may “move the previous question”, which cuts off debate and requires the senate to vote on the pending question only. This requires a second and then a 2/3 vote to pass. If you’ve heard enough debate and if no one else has the floor, you may move to close debate. If you are tired of the current debate, you may move to limit debate to a set period of time or a set number of speakers. If you want more time to study the proposal under debate, you may move to postpone debate until a definite time or date.Ħ. You may also move to instruct the committee, usually to come up with suitable wording to accomplish the will of the Senate.ĥ. Try to be specific as to the charge to the committee and the committee to which you’d like the charge referred. If you feel that the subject under debate needs more study or investigation, then move to refer it to a committee. Eventually the senators will vote on which they prefer.Ĥ. Alternatively, if it is seconded, debate can proceed. If the originator of the motion agrees that your proposal is a “friendly amendment”, and no one objects, it could supersede the original. If you like the idea of the motion under debate but you want to reword it substantially, you may move to substitute your motion for the original. If you want to change some of the wording of a motion under debate, be recognized by the Chair and then move to amend by:ģ. Before the motion (question) is stated by the Chair, members may suggest modification of the motion by amendment.Ģ.
#ROBERTS RULES PDF BASICS PRO#
Debate on a motion or resolution cannot begin until it has been seconded and is stated by the Chair, who will ask “are you ready for the question?” If no one “rises” to make a point, engage in discussion pro or con, or modify the motion, then the chair calls for the vote. You must have a seconder, for the motion to go to the floor for debate or to be considered. If you want to bring up a new idea or proposal, raise your hand and be recognized by the Chair.
