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Parliamentary Principles Parliamentary Principles . All delegates have equal rights, privileges and obligations . The majority vote decides. The rights of the minority must be protected. Full and free discussion of every proposition presented for decision is an established right of delegates. Every delegate has the right to know the meaning of the question before the assembly and what its effect will be. All meetings must be characterized by fairness and by good faith. Basic Rules of Motions 1. Motions have a definite order of precedence, each motion having a fixed rank for its introduction and consideration. 2. ONLY ONE MOTION MAY BE CONSIDERED AT A TIME. 3. No main motion can be substituted for another main motion EXCEPT that a new main motion on the same subject may be offered as a substitute amendment to the main motion. 4. All motions require a second to begin discussion unless it is from a delegation or committee or it is a simple request such as a question of privilege, a point of order or division. AMENDMENTS FOUR WAYS TO AMEND A MAIN MOTION 1. Amend by addition 2. Amend by deletion 3. Amend by addition and deletion 4. Amend by substitution TWO ORDERS OF AMENDMENTS 1. First order is an amendment to the original resolution 2. Second order is an amendment to the first order amendment. 3. No more than one order of amendment is discussed at the same time. Voting on Motions Majority vote: the calculation of the vote is based on the number of members present and voting or a majority of the legal votes cast ; abstentions are not counted; delegates who fail to vote are presumed to have waived the exercise of their right; applies to most motions Two-Thirds vote : a supermajority 2/3 vote is required when the vote restricts the right of full and free discussion: This includes a vote to TABLE, CLOSE DEBATE, LIMIT/EXTEND DEBATE, as well as to SUSPEND RULES. In this HOD , BYLAWS amendments and LATE RESOLUTIONS require a 2/3 vote. Tie vote: an equal or tie vote on a motion has failed to receive a majority and the motion is lost. All decisions of the House are based on the full participation of all voting DELEGATES. SPECIFIC MAIN MOTIONS 1. RECONSIDER : To set aside a vote on a main motion taken at the same meeting and to consider the motion again as if no vote had been taken on it; offered because sometimes a main motion is voted on under a misunderstanding or without adequate information, or a later event or new information has been found; debate is limited to reasons for reconsideration; entire HOD decides to reconsider, majority vote required 2. RECALL FROM COMMITTEE(COUNCIL): To enable an assembly to remove a motion or subject from committee(council) and present it before the assembly for consideration; to place the original main motion and any adhering amendments back before the assembly for consideration; restricted debate as to reasons for recall ; HOD majority vote SPECIFIC MAIN MOTIONS NEW Adopt in-Lieu- of: is used to bring a single resolution before the assembly in disposing of an issue for which there are multiple resolutions. Adopting this composite motion after usual debate, the assembly acts on the issue once instead of two or more votes without having to repeat debate. Multiple resolutions on similar subject matter are commonly received and referred to the reference committee, which may wish to propose a single substitute that takes the best features of each of these multiple resolutions, based on testimony and background material, and recommend its adoption as a substitute for each and all of the underlying resolutions. The reference committee recommends that its motion be ADOPTED IN LIEU OF the other resolutions, specifically identifying those to be replaced. ADOPT IN LIEU OF MOTION The reference committee’s adopt-in- lieu-of motion is taken up first. The reference committee’s resolution is subject to debate and amendments. If the reference committee resolution is adopted (perhaps after amendments), it is enacted. THE UNDERLYING RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT ADOPTED AND CONSIDERED MOOT. If the adopt-in-lieu of resolution proposed is NOT adopted by the HOD, then any delegate can, if he/she so wishes, propose the adoption of any one of the underlying resolutions in lieu of the other remaining resolutions. This process continues until a resolution is adopted, all are defeated or declared moot or no member approaches the microphone to move any further motions on the matter. EXAMPLE OF ADOPT IN LIEU OF MOTION Reference Committee Chair : The committee moves to adopt Resolution A in lieu of Resolutions B, C, and D. Speaker : You have before you the motion to adopt Resolution A. Discussion is now in order on Resolution A only. Debate and amendments then take place. Once complete, a vote is called for. Majority in favor of Resolution A(as amended) , it is adopted. (B,C,D are moot.) Majority NOT in favor of Resolution A, it fails. Any delegate can now move adoption of B, C, or D in lieu of the other resolutions. Other Specific Main Motions Unchanged from previous authority Amend a previous action: to modify a main motion that has already been adopted . It affects the present and future only and is not retroactive. A delegate can do this by reviewing existing MSSNY policy. Motion to Ratify: to confirm and thereby validate an action that was taken in an emergency, actions taken without proper authority, or when a quorum was not present, or to confirm the action or decision of another body; also occurs when organizations require that specific actions taken by one body be approved by another level of the organization. Rescind: to repeal a main motion approved at a previous meeting; affects present and future only. Once again this requires review of previous MSSNY policy. Incidental Motions Motions that Require a Second 1. APPEAL: to enable a delegate to challenge the ruling of the chair and have the assembly decide by vote; vote is taken on sustaining the decision of the chair; majority or tie votes sustains decision of chair. 2. SUSPEND RULES: permits an assembly to take action that otherwise would be prevented by a procedural rule; only rules of procedure REQUIRE A TWO THIRDS VOTE; Gordian Knot motion: permits the assembly to return to a place in the meeting that was less confusing, usually the last main motion stated by chair. If motions are pending , these are dropped when the motion to start afresh is adopted by 2/3 vote. INCIDENTAL MOTIONS REQUESTS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND 1. Point of Order: calls attention to a violation of rules, an omission, an error in procedure 2. Parliamentary Inquiries and Factual Inquiries : a parliamentary inquiry enables a delegate to ask chair a specific question regarding procedure in connection with a pending motion; factual inquiry is a request for information or facts about a pending motion. 3. Withdraw a motion : BEFORE presenting to assembly, the author of the motion can modify or withdraw without assembly permission; However, once the motion has been presented to the assembly, the motion is property of the assembly and author can ask it be withdrawn only with a majority vote of the assembly(HOD). INCIDENTAL MOTIONS OR REQUESTS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND 4. Division of a question: To divide a main motion containing more than one part into individual motions that can be debated and voted on separately (each part must be independent of the other) 5. Division of assembly: A call to verify an indecisive voice vote or show of hands vote by requiring delegates to rise and be counted, especially for 2/3 vote. .
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