Parliamentary Procedure Definitions

• Main motion: a proposal to be heard by the group
• Each person must rise to speak.
• A speaker speaks to the chair, not to any other person.
• A speaker speaks for or against the motion. “I speak in favor or the motion because…”
• Only one main motion can be made at a time.
• The floor: what is being discussed by the group
• The table: to put away a main motion, to postpone
• Second: a person who agrees with a motion
• Subsidiary motions: motion that are attached or connected to the main motion, but not a new main motion.
• Division of the house: to count a vote for which the voice vote of Yeas and Nays is unclear.
• Call for the question: a call/sub-motion to stop debating and vote.
• Point of information: a question, not an answer
• Point of order: is used to call a violation to the rules to the attention of the chair.
• Amendment: an addition or deletion to a motion.
• Motions can be amended twice and each requires a vote.
• To adjourn ends the meeting, no more business.
• To recess postpones the meeting.
• Use the chart to see what majoriyt votes motions take
• Suspend the rules: to break Roberts Rules of Order for one instance.