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ABILITY 2 To Adjourn Qualified Purpose of the qualified motion to adjourn. This motion can be worded so as to remind members of the next meeting. Examples Member I move that this meeting be adjourned until our next meeting on April 5 in this room. Chair Is there a second? Member I second the motion. Notes: Needs a second Can be discussed Can be amended Majority vote ABILITY 2 The Motion to Adjourn 1. What is the advantage of the qualified motion to adjourn over the unqualified motion to adjourn for most FFA chapters? The qualified form of the motion can be debated, amended, and worded so that members are reminded of the next meeting. 2. When might it be desirable for a minority group to introduce an unqualified motion to adjourn? It would be desirable for a minority group to introduce an unqualified motion to adjourn when they wish to delay, postpone, or prevent consideration of an item of business or a motion to which they are opposed. 3. What might be a desirable amendment to a qualified motion to adjourn? A desirable amendment would be amendments setting the location and time of the next meeting. ABILITY 4 To Call for a Question of Privilege Purpose : When the rights, privileges, or even the comfort of the assembly demand immediate action. Examples : *Put main motion on the floor Member I rise to a question of group privilege. Chair State your question. Member The P.A. system should be turned up so we can hear. Chair Your request is granted. Will the sentinel turn up the volume? Notes : You do not have to get recognition from the chair. No second No debate No amendment Usually decided by chair. If not, needs a majority vote Put main motion on floor ABILITY 4 To Call for a Question of Privilege 1. If the meeting room was too warm, what parliamentary procedure would be followed to have the temperature lowered? To request that the room temperature be lowered, a member would have to rise to a question or privilege. The chair would either decide for the group or put the question to a vote. 2. If the Chair stated that the meeting room was comfortable and the temperature was not to be lowered and you were in disagreement, how would you put the matter to a vote? If I , as a member, differed with the Chair on a ruling I would immediately after the ruling, direct an appeal from the decision of the chair so that the matter would be put to a vote. 3. What procedure would you follow in order to be excused from a meeting to go to another room? If I, as a member, wanted to go to another room I would rise to a question of personal privilege and ask the Chair for permission to be excused. 4. Is a question of privilege in order when other business is on the floor? Why? Yes. A question of privilege is a privileged motion and so important that it takes precedence over all other matters on the floor. ABILITY 6 To Call for the Previous Question Purpose : Legislators commonly use this motion to bring a motion to vote before the opposing side can gain enough votes for their position. Examples : *Put a main motion on the floor GET RECOGNITION Member I move the previous question. Chair The previous question has been called for on the motion. This motion requires a 2/3 vote for passage. All in favor of ending debate, indicate so by standing. Be seated. All opposed same sign. Passed: There being 2/3 in favor of ending debate, we shall proceed to vote upon the question. OR Failed: Lacking a 2/3 majority, the previous question fails and the main motion are still open for discussion. Notes : Need a second No debate No amendments 2/3 vote ABILITY 6 To Call for the Previous Question What would you do if you were the presiding officer and: 1. A member moved the previous question on the main motion when an amendment was also pending? The Chairman should state, “The previous question has been called for. Since an amendment is pending and has not yet been voted the previous question will not include this amendment.” 2. A member moved the previous question during discussion of a primary amendment when a secondary amendment was also pending? The Chairman should state, “The previous question has been called for. Since neither the amendment nor the amendment to the amendment have been voted, the previous question will not include either.” 3. A member called for the previous question only on the secondary amendment? The Chairman should state, “The previous question has been called for on the secondary amendment. We will now vote on whether to consider this amendment at this time.” 4. A member called for the previous question before the main motion has been seconded? The Chairman should call the member out of order and ask if there is a second to the pending main motion. ABILITY 8 To Postpone Definitely Purpose : This motion puts off or defers action on a main motion which is before the assembly and fixes a definite time for its future consideration. Examples : *Put a motion on the floor. Member I move that the motion to buy a new truck be postponed to the next regular meeting in June. Notes : Need a second Is debatable Is amendable Majority vote ABILITY 8 To Postpone Definitely 1. What is the advantage of the motion to postpone definitely over the motion to table a main motion? The advantage of the motion to postpone definitely over the motion to table is that the motion to postpone definitely only defers action to a specified time whereas the motion to table defers action until a majority of members wishes to bring the motion back before the group. 2. Is the motion to postpone definitely usually used as a means of eliminating the intent of the main motion which is postponed? No, the motion to postpone definitely only defers action on the motion to a specified time. It does not eliminate intent. 3. Can the motion to postpone definitely be used as a device to kill a main motion? No, the motion to postpone definitely can only be used to defer action on a main motion. 4. How does debate on the motion to postpone definitely differ from debate on a main motion? Debate on the motion to postpone definitely is limited to the reasons for postponing, and cannot address the main motion. ABILITY 10 To Amend a Motion Purpose : Amending a motion is to modify, i.e. change the wording and is in some cases the meaning of the main motion. Examples : *Put a motion on the floor, get a second and start discussing. Members (Inserting) I move to amend the motion by inserting the word Ford. (Striking Out & Inserting) I move to amend the motion by striking out the word Ford and inserting the word GMC. (Striking Out) I move to amend the motion by striking out the word Ford. (Adding) I move to amend the motion by adding the words “For less than $1,000 dollars.” Notes : Need a second Need to debate Can be amended Majority vote ABILITY 10 To Amend a Motion What would you do if you were the presiding officer and: 1. A member offered an amendment to a motion which the rules of order define as not amendable? As chairman, I would rule the member out of order and tell him/her that the rules of order define this motion as not amendable. 2. Two members rose and asked for recognition at the same time? As chairman, I would recognize one of the members. If one had not had an opportunity to speak, I would recognize that person first. 3. As you called for the vote on an amendment, a member asked for a restatement of the amendment and the motion to be voted on? As chairman, I would restate the amendment and the motion to be voted on. 4. An amendment was offered but received no second? As chairman, I would state that this motion dies from a lack of support and carry on with the original motion. 5. A member, after being recognized, offered the third amendment to the original motion when two amendments were already on the floor? As chairman, I would rule this member out of order and tell him/her that there can only be two amendments on the floor at one time. ABILITY 12 To Object to the Consideration of a Question Purpose : Used to prevent discussion of matters which are not worthy of attention *Put a motion on the floor but do not start discussion. Member I object to the consideration of the question. Chair There is objection to considering this question. A two-thirds negative vote is necessary to prevent consideration. Those in favor of considering this question please rise. Those opposed, please rise. Failed There being 2/3 of the members opposed, the matter is dismissed for this session. Passed There being less than 2/3 opposed, the objection has lost and the matter is again open for discussion. Notes : No second No debatable No amendable 2/3 vote required ABILITY 12 To Object to the Consideration of a Question 1. What should the Chair do if someone objects to the consideration of a question after several members have debated the main motion? As chairman, I would rule this member out of order and tell him/her that an objection must be made before debate has occurred.
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