Ranks of Motions

Management & Leadership in Ministry

There are 82 different types of MOTIONS

Thankfully these 82 types of motion break down nicely into …

5 Big Categories of Motions

5 Big Categories of Motions- MAIN (introduce an item of business)

- SUBSIDIARY (how to deal w motion)

ie: lay on table; refer; amend; limit debate; postpone indefinitely/to a certain time.

- PRIVLEGED (big procedural issues, UNRELATED to the motion)

ie: adjourn; recess; question of privilege; orders of day.

- INCIDENTAL (procedural issues RELATED to the motion)

ie: Point of Order; appeal; point of information; division of assembly/question; suspend rules.

- RESTORATIVE motion (help undo or reconsider a decision)

ie: Reconsider; rescind/amend previously adopted; take from table.

The Main Concept:

MOTIONS HAVE AN ORDER OF PRECEDENT AND IMPORTANCE (Rank or Pecking order).

MORE IMPORTANT MOTIONS MUST BE DEALT WITH, BEFORE A MOTION OF LOWER IMPORTANCE IS DEALT WITH.

The following diagram shows the ‘rank’ of motions (the higher up on the triangle, the greater the importance of the motion).

Note: not all motions are listed in the following diagram, however the motions you

are most likely need to know, are listed.

Rank of MotionsFix Time to Adjourn

Adjourn

Take a Recess

Question of Privilege

Call for Orders of the Day

Appeal

Division of Assembly

Division of Question

Inquiry/Pt. of Information

Pt. of Order

Suspend Rules

Withdraw a motion

Lay on the Table

Previous Question

Limit/Extend time Debate

Postpone to Certain Time

Refer to Committee

Amend

Postpone Indefinitely

Main Motion

Privileged

Incidental

Subsidiary

The 5 Big ‘Motion’ Questions:

1) Can the motion ‘interrupt’ a person who is presently speaking

2) Does the motion need a ‘seconder’

3) Can the motion be ‘amended’

4) Can the motion be ‘debated’

5) What type of vote is needed in order to ‘carry’ the motion?

The following slide identifies the answers to the 5 big questions

5 questions:Interrupt, Second, Amendable, Debatable, Vote

Fix Time to Adjourn

Adjourn

Take a Recess

Question of Privilege

Call for Orders of the Day

Appeal

Division of Assembly

Division of Question

Inquiry/Pt. of Information

Pt. of Order

Suspend Rules

Withdraw a motion

Lay on the Table

Previous Question

Limit/Extend time Debate

Postpone to Certain Time

Refer to Committee

Amend

Postpone Indefinitely

Main Motion

Second, Amendable, Majority

Second, Majority

Second, Amendable, Majority

Interrupt, No Vote

Interrupt, No Vote

Interrupt, Second, Debate, Majority

Interrupt, No Vote

Second, Amendable, Majority

Interrupt, No Vote

Interrupt, No Vote

Second, 2/3 vote

By mover, if there is no amendment

Second, Majority

Second, 2/3 vote

Second, Amendable, 2/3 vote

Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority

Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority

Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority

Second, Debatable, Majority

Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority

Privileged

Incidental

Subsidiary

The following slide clarifies the meaning / implications / purpose

of some of the motions.

- Postpone Indefinitely: Permanently kills the motion (same as a negative vote)

- Refer to Committee: Temporarily postpones a decision so as to empower a committee to get additional information.

Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions

– Postpone to a certain time: Temporarily postpones the decision-making so as to deal with more pressing issues or seek additional info. The motion is guaranteed to be re-introduced as an “Order of Business” at the appointed (certain) time.

– Close/Limit or Extend debate: Alters the normal procedures to either restrict the amount of time or the number of people allowed to debate the motion – or to allow for more/additional discussion.

Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions

– Previous Question: “Lets stop debating and vote immediately!” Needs 2/3 vote.

– Lay on the Table: Temporarily suspends debate on an issue, in order that another item of business may be dealt with. The motion is reintroduced whenever the business mtg. desires (at the same mtg. or up to 1 meeting later) by “taking the motion from the table”.

– Call for ‘Orders of the Day’: A demand that the business meeting get back in line with the approved ‘agenda’. Only a 2/3 vote can suspend/alter the agenda.

Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions

- Question of Privilege: Usually a requestfor the chairperson to address something concerning an issue of ‘comfort, safety or the integrity of the meeting’ (i.e. clarifying inaccurate statements; adjust heating; improve sound systems; or to clarify the rights of the members)

- Point of Order: Usually an appeal to the chair to correct a perceived procedural error or a violation of the rules. “Point of Order, the member has already spoken twice to this issue” OR “I believe the discussion is off topic ”.

- Appeal: A request for the business meeting to either overturn (or endorse) a ruling by the chairperson.

- Inquiry or Point of Information: Usually a request from a person is unsure or confused about the proper procedures or is asking a question germane to the motion before the meeting: ’Can someone tell me how many years our church has already supported the Bible Society?’ or ‘Would the chair clarify whether we are talking about buying or renting a van’.

- Suspend the Rules: Periodically it may be necessary to temporarily lay aside the normal rules of how business is conducted, in order to more fully determine the will of the people, or to deal with an urgent matter. i.e. I would like to move we suspend the rules that only members may speak, in order to allow a non-member to speak. Requires 2/3 vote

Prohibiting MotionsMotions are said to be ‘out of order’ or ‘not in order at this time’ IF . . .– Another motion is on the floor for discussion/vote

– The proposed motion conflicts w. Standing Rules /By-laws

– If the motion is substantially the same OR conflicts with a motion which has already been voted on (at the same meeting)

– The motion has inappropriate language

– Is frivolous or absurd.

The chairperson should give a very brief explanation, each time a motion is ruled ‘out of order’. The chair does not need to allow a person to have the floor if they are consistently suggesting absurd or disruptive motions.

Class Exercise

Scenario:

Location: Kingswood University

Situation: Trustee meeting

Motion: “Close Ingersoll House this fall, and require the male students to live in heated army tents, until a new dorm can be built in 2014.”

Fix Time to AdjournAdjournTake a RecessQuestion of PrivilegeCall for Orders of the DayAppealDivision of AssemblyDivision of QuestionInquiry/Pt. of InformationPt. of OrderSuspend RulesWithdraw a motion

Lay on the TablePrevious QuestionLimit/Extend time DebatePostpone to Certain TimeRefer to CommitteeAmendPostpone IndefinitelyMain Motion