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HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CmES <br />debate some motions while they must vote on others immediately. Some <br />motions require a simple majority for passage, others need a two - thirds <br />majority. (See Chart V for a summary of the motions councils use most <br />frequently and important information relating to them.) <br />These are the typical steps to make and act on a motion: <br />• A member of the council addresses the presiding officer. <br />• The presiding officer recognizes the member. <br />• The councilmember states his or her motion. (Usually in the following <br />form: "I move ... text of the motion. ") A motion should always be in <br />positive, rather than negative, terms. For example, if the motion is to <br />deny X a permit and the council defeats the motion, there may be some <br />confusion as to whether or not X has been granted a permit. Even if the <br />consensus of the council is to deny the permit, the motion should be to <br />grant the permit and the council should then vote it down. The <br />councilmember making a motion does not need to favor it or vote for it. <br />The councilmember may wish to put the issue before the council so a <br />decision can be made. <br />• If necessary, another councilmember then seconds the motion by saying: <br />"I second the motion." (Seconds are not needed for meetings of small <br />bodies like city councils unless required in the bylaws.) Neither the <br />making of a motion nor the seconding of a motion places it before the <br />council. Only the presiding officer can place the motion before the <br />council by stating the motion. <br />• The presiding officer repeats the motion or states the question to the <br />council. (When the presiding officer has stated the question, the motion <br />is pending and it is then open to debate.) <br />• A discussion follows, if the motion is debatable. <br />• A councilmember may make subsidiary motions in the same form as the <br />original motion. (See Chart V.) <br />• The council votes on the original motion or on any of the subsidiary <br />motions. <br />• The presiding officer announces the result of the vote on each motion <br />immediately after the vote count is complete. <br />156 <br />