- How Do I?
- Students
- Faculty
- Add Student To Degree List
- Bulletin
- Calendars
- College and Department Rules
- Create Senate Proposal
- Curriculog
- Elections
- Ex Officio Voting Rights
- Faculty-Related Links
- Faculty's Evaluation of the President
- Forms and Files
- Learn About University Senate
- Rules and Regulations
- SYLLABI REQUIREMENTS (EFFECTIVE FALL 2021)
- University Senate Rules
- University Ad Hoc Committees
- Newsletter Archives
- Senators
- Deans & Chairs
Motions
Motion
|
Needs a Second?
|
Is it Amendable?
|
Is it Debatable?
|
Required Vote?
|
Can it be Reconsidered?
|
May it Interrupt?
|
Type of Motion
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes
|
NO
|
NO
|
Majority
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority with notice or 2/3 without notice
|
Consult Parliamentarian
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
NO
|
Majority
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
NO
|
Majority
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
NO
|
NO
|
NO
|
Request by one member
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
NO
|
NO
|
2/3 Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
NO
|
Majority
|
Consult Parliamentarian
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
NO
|
NO
|
NO
|
2/3 Majority in the Negative
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
NO
|
NO
|
NO
|
Chair Responds or Requests Answer
|
NO
|
Yes
|
||
NO
|
NO
|
NO
|
Chair Resolves
|
NO
|
Yes
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
Yes
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
NO
|
Yes
|
||
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority with notice or 2/3 without notice
|
Consult Parliamentarian
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
NO
|
NO
|
Majority
|
NO
|
NO
|
||
Yes
|
NO
|
NO
|
Majority
|
NO
|
NO
|
Types of Motions
Adjourn: A motion to end the meeting.
Amend: A motion to alter or modify the wording of a main motion. A primary amendment changes the motion. A secondary amendment changes the first amendment. Voting order is secondary, primary and then main motion.
Amend something previously adopted: A motion to modify a previously adopted motion.
Commit or Refer to Cmte: This is a motion put forward to refer the current motion to a committee.
Consideration by paragraph: A motion to consider a lengthy motion by paragraph, section or article. This opens each section up to debate and amendment, before the entire document is considered for adoption.
Division of a question: A vote by the assembly to divide a pending motion into two or more parts. Each part must be able to stand on its own.
Division of assembly (recount): Demand by a member to retake a voice vote or show of hands, by asking for a rising vote. The electronic clicker voting system should make this moot.
End debate/ Call the question: A motion to close debate and bring the pending motion up for vote. This requires a 2/3 vote in favor and is done without debate.
Limit debate: A motion to change the length of time an item is debated.
Main motion: A motion which is not applied to another motion, requires a second, is debatable and amendable, usually majority vote required for adoption.
Objection to the question: A member objects to a motion. This must be done when the motion is on the floor, but before discussion. This requires a 2/3 vote in the negative for passage.
Point of information: A request for facts affecting the pending business. The request is made to the chair, although the chair may ask someone else to respond.
Point of order: A motion that brings any violation of rule to the chair's attention. It must be done as soon as the violation occurs. The chair rules on this.
Postpone indefinitely: A motion to reject a main motion without a direct vote or kill it in order not to consider it at that session.
Postpone to specific time: A motion to delay consideration of a main motion until later specified time.
Recess: A motion to take a short intermission in the meeting.
Rescind/Repeal: A motion to repeal a previously adopted motion entirely.
Table the motion: A motion to set aside a main motion temporarily while other more urgent matter is considered without designating a time. If a time is designated, it is technically a motion to postpone for a specific time.
Take from the table: A motion to resume consideration of the motion that was previously laid on the table.
Categories of Motions
Main motion: Introduces new substantive business. It is the lowest rank and may only be made when no other business is pending.
Subsidiary motion: Assists the body in handling a main motion. It ranks above the main motion, but below privileged motions.
Privileged motion: Does not relate to the pending motion but deals with special matters of immediate and overriding importance and generally takes precedence.
Incidental motion: Changes the procedure for handling a motion, but does not change what the body is considering. It generally needs an immediate decision.