PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

QUICK REFERENCE CHART

Home

Quick Reference

Kinds of Motions

8 Things to Know About a Motion

Motions in Detail

Motion

Applies to the Following Motions

May Interrupt Member Who Has the Floor

Mover Must Be Recognized First

Requires a Second

Debatable

Vote Required

May Be Renewed

Motions that May Apply to It

Fix the time of the next meeting None No Yes Yes Not when privileged Majority Not for the same time Amend, reconsider
Adjourn None No Yes Yes Not when privileged Majority (not a quorum) Yes, after progress None
Question of privilege None Yes, if necessary No No No, but resulting motion may be Decided by Chair After progress None, but all may apply to resulting motion
Call for orders of the day Any order Yes, for a special order No No No None, but 2/3rds vote to postpone special order Yes, after pending matter disposed of None, except to postpone orders
Rise to a point of order Any motion or act Yes No No No, but appeal is debatable None, unless appealed No None, but see appeals
Appeal the ruling of the chair Any decision of the Chair Yes No Yes No, unless underlying matter is debatable Majority No To lay on the table, to close debate, to reconsider
Suspend the rules Any motion where needed No Yes Yes No Usually 2/3rds No, except by unanimous consent None
To create special orders Main motion No Yes Yes Yes 2/3rds After progress All
Motion to Ballot Any motion that may be voted Interrupts Chair No Yes (for motion to ballot) No Majority No None
Object to Consideration Yes No No No No 2/3rds in negative No Reconsider
Motion to Table Main motion, appeals, questions of privilege, reconsider No Yes Yes No Majority After progress None
Motion to take from table Only a motion that was tabled No Yes Yes No Majority After progress None
Close or limit debate Any debatable motion No Yes Yes No 2/3rds majority After progress Reconsider
Postpone to a certain day Main motion, questions of privilege, reconsider No Yes Yes Yes (only as to propriety of postponement) Majority (unless special order) After progress Amend, reconsider, limit or close debate
Refer to a committee Main motion, questions of privilege No Yes Yes Yes (limited issues) Majority After progress Amend, reconsider, limit or close debate
Amend Main motion, limit debate, refer, postpone definitely, fix time of next meeting No Yes Yes Yes Majority No Amend, reconsider, limit or close debate
Postpone Indefinitely Main motion, question of privilege No Yes Yes Yes Majority No Limit or close debate, reconsider
Reconsider Any motion except adjourn, suspend rules, lay on the table Yes, for entry No Yes Yes Majority No Limit or close debate, lay on the table, postpone indefinitely
Rescind Main motions, appeals, questions of privilege No Yes Yes Yes 2/3rds or majority on notice Not at same session All