When it comes to Robert’s Rules of Order, motions make up a big part of it. Motions ensure a smooth meeting process, enabling members to suggest topics or actions. It is difficult to understand the fundamentals of making and amending motions, though, when you don’t know where to begin.
What Are Robert’s Rules of Order Motions?
Motions serve as tools that facilitate the efficient and smooth conduct of organizational business. They provide a way to introduce, address, and resolve matters promptly, ensuring effective procedural handling and addressing urgent issues.
Robert’s Rules of Order Types of Motions
There are five types of motions: main motions, subsidiary motions, privileged motions, incidental motions, and motions that bring a question again before the assembly. Each motion class serves a distinct purpose and follows a specific order, referred to as ranking motions. This order adheres to the principle of addressing business one item at a time.
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FIVE CLASSES OF MOTIONS |
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| I. Main | II. Subsidiary III. Privileged IV. Incidental (Secondary) |
V. Motions that bring a question again before the assembly |
Ranking of Motions in Robert’s Rules of Order
The principle of addressing one item of business at a time involves assigning a rank to main motions, subsidiary motions, and privileged motions. When making motions, you ascend the ladder. During the voting on pending motions, you descend the ladder.
- Fix the adjournment time
- Adjourn
- Call for a recess or break
- Question of privilege
- Call for the day’s orders
- Table
- Previous question
- Limit or extend the debate’s limits
- Postpone to a certain time
- Commit
- Amend
- Postpone indefinitely
- Main motion
What Are the Main Motions?
As per Robert’s Rules on motions, there are three. The first is the main motion, the primary category that introduces new business. Under this, there are two kinds: motions that introduce new business and incidental main motions.
New Business
A main motion introduces new business to the assembly when no other business is being discussed. It requires a second, is open to debate and amendment, and needs a majority vote for adoption.
Main motions are typically stated in the affirmative. If members collectively decide not to undertake a proposed action, there’s usually no need for a motion to state the negative. However, if a subsidiary body (e.g., a board of directors) can take action without membership approval, a motion can be made to prevent such an action. Once a main motion is made, only one can be discussed at a time, and secondary motions take precedence.
Ownership of a main motion lies with the member proposing it until the chair repeats it before the assembly. Before this repetition, the motion’s maker can withdraw or modify it without seeking assembly permission. However, once the chair presents the main motion to the assembly, it becomes collective property, and the assembly decides its fate — whether to approve, delay, or amend.
The democratic process allows the assembly to make changes even if the original motion’s maker disagrees, emphasizing the collective right to decide on matters affecting the entire body. After the motion is before the assembly, no one needs the maker’s permission to make alterations.
Incidental Main Motions
An incidental main motion occurs when no business is pending but doesn’t introduce new matters. It focuses on procedural issues. Incidental main motions use keywords like ratify, adopt, limit, or recess. For instance, a member might propose adopting committee report proposals or ratifying actions taken without a quorum.
The motion to ratify is helpful when confirming actions taken without a quorum, in emergencies, or when officers exceed their instructions. It requires a second, is debatable, and needs a majority vote.
Ratification can’t violate bylaws or governing documents. It can be amended to substitute the motion to censure, expressing displeasure with members or officers without expelling them. Censure is debatable, but the person being censured can’t vote on it. Furthermore, the vote is usually by secret ballot.
What Are Secondary Motions?
Complementary motions (subsidiary, privileged, and incidental) either support the adoption of main motions or facilitate the progression of business based on members’ preferences.
Subsidiary Motions
Subsidiary motions assist the group in handling the main motion. When you decide on a subsidiary motion, it always affects the main motion. These motions have a specific order, from the most important to the least important. This order helps the organization address one thing during the meeting.
Privileged Motions
Privileged motions don’t deal with the current main motion. Instead, they address urgent matters of immediate importance in a business meeting. Since these issues are typically time-sensitive, they need immediate attention. As a result, privileged motions have higher precedence than subsidiary motions. They can’t be debated, but some can be amended.
Once proposed and seconded, the chair calls for a vote without discussion. Similar to subsidiary motions, privileged motions have a specific order in which they can be presented and voted on. When a lower-ranking motion is already on the table, only a higher-ranking privileged motion can be introduced.
Incidental Motions
Incidental motions handle procedural issues related to the current business but don’t directly impact the ongoing business. Examples include seeking clarification on parliamentary procedures, asking questions about the present motion, or highlighting the violation of a crucial rule. Incidental motions aren’t open for debate and must be promptly decided upon. They don’t have a specific rank because they are addressed immediately when brought up.
Motions That Reintroduce Questions
The final category of motions involves revisiting a motion for reconsideration. For instance, a motion temporarily set aside with the “lay on the table” motion is brought back using the “take from the table” motion. Members can use the “reconsider” motion to reconsider a recent vote. If members are dissatisfied with a decision made in a prior meeting, they can “rescind” the action or “amend” something previously adopted.
Another motion in this group is to “discharge a committee.” This removes a motion from committee consideration before the committee submits its final report, putting it back in the hands of the assembly. All these motions are initiated when no other business is pending. They require a second and are open to debate, except for “take from the table,” which is not debatable.
If there was no prior notice, “rescinding” or “amending something previously adopted” mandates a two-thirds vote. This ensures that members who couldn’t attend the meeting have protection for their right to vote against the proposed change.
Robert’s Rules of Order Motions: The Final Word
Motions allow members of an organization, HOAs included, to introduce, amend, kill, and reintroduce business seamlessly. They standardize the way meetings and discussions take place. Not all HOA boards, though, know how to use them properly.
