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SIKKINK'S SEVEN MOTION SYSTEM <br />General Rules for a Simplified System of Parliamentary Procedure <br />1. The purpose of this decision-making system is to allow efficient decision <br />making that represents a majority position. Any motion, request, discussion or <br />proposal which seems to have as its purpose unreasonable delay, manipulation, <br />or the goal of serving individual ends rather than group ends can be ruled out <br />of order by the chair. Such a ruling by the chair will be subject to the motion <br />called appeal. <br />2. Free and open discussions are valued in this decision-snaking system. For that <br />reason most motions are discussable and the motion to restrict discussion <br />requires a Z3 vote in order to pass. In recognizing persons for discussion, the <br />chair first recognizes the person who made the motion, next recognizes other <br />persons and always recognizes a person who has not spoken, over a person <br />who has already participated in the discussion. As far as possbie the chair <br />should try to aitemately recognize persons representing d'rffierent viewpoints. <br />3. In examining the chart orr the #~llowing page,-you mill-note that five of the <br />seven motions are amendable.: However, only one amendment at a time may <br />be considered. As soon as that amendment is passed or defeated, another <br />amendment may be proposed. <br />4. The number in front of the motion listed indicates the rank of each motion. <br />Thus, #1 -General motions are lowest in rank and #7 -Restrict Debate motions <br />are highest in rank. Two rules apply: (1) You usually cannot consider two <br />motions of the same rank at the same time, and (21 If a motion of one rank is <br />being considered, a motion of the same rank or lower rank is usually out of <br />order but a motion of higher rank is in order. While these rules generally apply, <br />the chair may allow some fiexibiIity in certain circumstances. These situations <br />almost always occur with motions #5, 6, and 7. For example, if #7 - "Restrict <br />Discussion" is being discussed and a member wants a secret ballot vote on the <br />matter. Request. while lower in rank, could be used to accomplish this purpose. <br />The chair is allowed to make ail decisions on exceptions but all such decisions <br />are subject to appeal. <br />• <br />