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General Procedures | Procedures for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly | Consent Calendar | Use of Pages | Decorum and Debate | Amending Bills | Motions – Their Meanings and Effects | Gavel Raps | Voting

Motions – Their Meanings and Effects

• Any member may make a Motion. Motions are to be made by rising and addressing the Chair in the approved manner and then stating the Motion.
• The Chair shall then restate the Motion. The Chair has the right to require that all Motions be submitted in written form.
• For those Motions that are debatable (Amend Main Question and Reconsider), the Chair may permit the mover and one opponent of the Motion two (2) minutes each to speak on their position.
• The Chair shall conduct a vote and report the results on the Motion.
• Types of Motions:
  - Main Motion – this is the actual Bill and requires a majority vote to pass.
  - Subsidiary Questions
  • Amend (vote required – majority). Any Main Motion may be amended. An amendment must conform to the subject matter of the Main Motion. Only one amendment to an amendment can be offered.
  • Previous Questions (vote required – 2/3). Its effect shall be to cut off all debate and bring the Chamber to a direct vote, first upon any pending amendments in their order, then on the Main Motion.
  • Reconsider a Vote (vote required – majority). This motion is made when a vote has been taken and a member desires to reconsider the vote by which the Bill, amendment or proposition was passed or defeated. If the motion carries, it brings the matter back before the membership for further consideration. It may be made by any member who voted on the prevailing side. No question can be reconsidered more than once. The use of this motion is discouraged in the interest of time.
• Incidental Motions
  - Suspension of the Rules (vote required – 2/3). This is a motion to suspend the operation of the rules of order that the particular body has adopted in order to permit consideration of some pressing matter out of its usual place.
  - Withdrawing a Motion (vote required – majority). When a motion is before the Chamber, the mover and only the mover may withdraw it by rising and moving its withdrawal.
  - Point of Order (decided by the Chair). A member rising to a Point of Order must be recognized and then state the point. It must pertain to the rules only.
  - Appeal (vote required – majority). The Appeal from a ruling by the Chair may be made by any member. When voting, the “Ayes” are votes for the Chair, the “Nays” are votes in favor of the Appeal. A tie vote sustains the Chair.
  - Point of Information (decided by the Chair). This is used to question another Member of the Chamber.
  - Point of Personal Privilege (decided by the Chair). Used to request permission to leave the session.
  - Voting “Division” – see “Voting” section
  
  o To Adjourn (vote required – majority). Due to the time schedule of the Program, Adjourning is permitted at the prescribed times only.