Motion Properties
Compare wording, vote requirements, and properties across all motion types.
| Motion | Category | Second | Debatable | Amendable | Vote | Interrupt | Wording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take from the Table | bring-back | yes | no | no | majority | no | I move to take from the table the motion to [topic]. |
| Reconsider | bring-back | yes | varies | no | varies | no | I move to reconsider the vote on [topic]. |
| Rescind | bring-back | yes | yes | not specified | varies | no | I move to rescind the motion to [action]. |
| Amend Something Previously Adopted | bring-back | yes | varies | not specified | varies | no | I move to amend the motion adopted on [date/topic] by [change]. |
| Discharge from a Committee | bring-back | yes | varies | not specified | varies | no | I move that the [committee] be discharged from further consideration of [topic]. |
| Point of Order | incidental | no | no | no | none | yes | Point of order. |
| Appeal | incidental | not specified | yes | no | majority | not specified | I appeal the decision of the chair. |
| Point of Information | incidental | no | no | no | none | yes | Point of information -- [question]. |
| Parliamentary Inquiry | incidental | no | no | no | none | yes | Parliamentary inquiry: [question]. |
| Suspend the Rules | incidental | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move to suspend the rules to [action]. |
| Divide the Question | incidental | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move to divide the question into 1. ..., and 2. .... |
| Withdraw a Motion | incidental | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I request permission to withdraw the motion. |
| Consider by Paragraph | incidental | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move to consider the resolution by paragraph. |
| Object to the Consideration of the Question | incidental | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | yes | I object to the consideration of the question. |
| Divide the Assembly | incidental | no | no | no | none | yes | Division! / I call for a division of the assembly. |
| Main Motion | main | yes | yes | not specified | majority | no | I move that [motion]. |
| Question of Privilege | privileged | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | yes | Question of privilege -- [issue]. |
| Recess | privileged | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move to recess for [time]. |
| Adjourn | privileged | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move to adjourn. |
| Fix Time to Adjourn | privileged | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | I move that once this meeting adjourns, it may adjourn to meet again at [time] on [date]. |
| Orders of the Day | privileged | no | no | no | none | yes | I call for the orders of the day. |
| Amend | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | yes | majority | no | I move to amend the motion by [how to amend]. |
| Previous Question | subsidiary | not specified | no | not specified | two thirds | no | I move the previous question. |
| Postpone Indefinitely | subsidiary | yes | not specified | not specified | majority | no | I move to postpone the motion indefinitely. |
| Postpone Definitely | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | not specified | majority | no | I move to postpone the motion to [a specific time/date/meeting]. |
| Lay on the Table | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | not specified | majority | no | I move to lay the motion on the table. |
| Limit Debate | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | not specified | two thirds | no | I move to limit each speaker to [number of minutes]. |
| Extend Debate | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | not specified | two thirds | no | I move to extend debate by [number of minutes]. |
| Commit / Refer | subsidiary | not specified | not specified | not specified | majority | no | I move to refer the [motion/matter] to [committee name]. |