07-14-2011 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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/`h Ninth, the Chair takes a vote. If members of the Commission do not vote, then they "abstain". Unless a super -majority is required (as delineated later in these rules), a simple majority determines whether the motion passes or is defeated. Tenth, the Chair should announce the result of the vote and should announce what action (if any) the Commission has taken. In announcing the result the Chair should indicate the names of the members of the Commission, if any, who voted in the minority on the motion. Motions in General Motions are made in a simple two-step process. First, the Chair should recognize the member of the Commission. Second, the member of the Commission makes a motion. The Chair usually initiates the motion by either (1) inviting the members of the Commission to make a motion,(2) suggesting a motion to the members of the Commission, or (3) making the motion. (The Chair has every right as a member of the Commission to make a motion, but should normally do so only if the Chair wishes to make a motion on an item but is convinced that no other member of the Commission is willing to step forward to do so at a particular time.) The Three Basic Motions There are three motions that are the most common and recur often at meetings: The basic motion. The basic motion is the one that puts forward a decision for the Commission's consideration. A basic motion might be: "I move that we create a 5 -- member committee to plan and put on our annual fundraiser." The motion to amend. If a member wants to change a basic motion that is before the Commission, they would move to amend it. A motion to amend might be: "I move that we amend the motion to have a 10 -member committee." A motion to amend takes the basic motion which is before the Commission and seeks to change it in some way. The substitute motion. If a member wants to completely do away with the basic motion that is before the Commission, and put a new motion before the Commission, they would move a substitute motion. A substitute motion might be: "I move a substitute motion that we cancel the annual fundraiser this year." "Motions to amend" and "substitute motions" are often confused. But they are quite different, and their effect (if passed) is quite different. A motion to amend seeks to retain the basic motion on the floor, but modify it in some way. A substitute motion seeks to throw out the basic motion on the floor, and substitute a new and different motion for it. The decision as to whether a motion is really a "motion to amend" or a "substitute motion" is left to the chair. So that if a member makes what that member calls a "motion to amend", but the Chair determines that it is really a "substitute motion", then the Chair's designation governs. Multiple Motions Before the Commission There can be up to three motions on the floor at the same time. The Chair can reject a fourth motion until the Chair has dealt with the three that are on the floor and has resolved them.