01-13-2011 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Requests and Inquiries a. Parliamentary Inquiry. A request for the chair's opinion (not a ruling) on a matter of parliamentary procedure as it relates to the business at hand. This opinion is not subject to appeal. Point of Information. A question about facts affecting the business at hand -directed to the chair. The chair then directs all questions "through the chair" to the member. A member should only address the chair. c. Request for Permission to Withdraw or Modify a Motion. Although Robert's Rules of Order specify that until a motion has been accepted by the chair it is the property of the mover, who can withdraw it or modify it as s/he chooses, a common practice is that once the agenda has been adopted, the items on it become the property of the meeting. A person may not, therefore, withdraw a motion unilaterally; he or she may do so only with the consent of the meeting, which has adopted an agenda indicating that the motion is to be debated. Similarly, a person cannot, without the consent of the meeting, change the wording of any motion that has been given ahead of time to those attending the meeting -for example, distributed in printed form in advance, printed on the agenda, a motion of which notice has been given at a previous meeting, etc. If a person does want to change the wording, they must move to substitute or amend before the body can consider the changed motion. The usual way in which consent of a meeting to withdraw a motion is obtained is for the mover to ask the consent of the meeting to withdraw (or change the wording). If no one objects, the chairperson announces that there being no objections, that the motion is withdrawn or that the modified wording is the motion to be debated. If anyone objects, the chair can put a motion permitting the member to withdraw (or modify) or any two members may move and second that permission be granted. A majority vote decides the question of modifying a motion -- similar to amending the motion. A two-thirds majority is needed for permission to withdraw a motion, as this has the effect of amending the agenda. Motions Related to Methods of Voting A member can move that a vote be taken by roll call, by ballot or that the standing vote be counted if a division of the neeting appears to be inconclusive and the chair neglects to order a count. Such motions may not interrupt another speaker, must be seconded, are not debatable, are amendable, can be reconsidered, and require majority votes. By-laws may specify a secret ballot for such votes as the election of officers which is not suspendable under any circumstances. Postpone Indefinitely Despite its name, this motion is not one to postpone, but one to suppress or kill a pending main motion. If an embarrassing main motion is brought before a meeting, a member can propose to dispose of the question (without bringing it to a direct vote) by moving to postpone indefinitely. Such a motion can be made at any time nothing other when than the main motion is pending except when a speaker has the floor. If passed, the motion kills the matter under consideration. It requires a second, may be debated (including debate on the main motion), cannot be amended, can be reconsidered only if the motion is passed, and requires a majority vote. Refer When it is obvious that a meeting does not have enough information to make a wise decision, or when it seems advisable to have a small group work out details that would take too much time in a large meeting, a member may move: "That the question be referred to the committee" (or "to a committee" --not named). A motion to refer cannot interrupt another speaker, must be seconded, is debatable only as to the propriety or advisability of referral, can be amended, can be reconsidered if the group to which the question has been referred has not begun work on the matter, and requires a majority vote. If a motion to refer is passed, the committee to which the matter is referred should report on the question at a subsequent meeting. Sometimes the motion to refer will state the time at which a report will be required.