Robert's Parliamentary Practice/Chapter 2

by Henry Martyn Robert

CHAPTER II.

MAIN MOTIONS; DEBATE; POSTPONE INDEFINITELY.

Main Motions. As has been stated, a main motion introduces a subject to an assembly. It should usually be in writing, and this may at any time be required by the chairman. It can be made only when no motion is pending. It may be made in either of the following forms by any member who has obtained the floor: (1) "I move the adoption of [or "I offer] the following resolution: 'Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be extended to the College Glee Club for its inspiring music,' " or (2) "I move that the thanks of this convention," etc. The first form, that of the resolution, is preferable except in very short unimportant main motions. When the main motion has been made, the maker of it hands the written resolution or motion to the chairman and resumes his seat. Any member in the assembly without rising says, "I second the motion," or "I second it." If no member seconds it immediately, the chairman, except in small assemblies, repeats the motion and asks, "Is the motion seconded?" In small assemblies where every member has evidently heard the motion, instead of repeating it he may say, "You have heard the motion; is it seconded?" If the motion is not then seconded, the chairman says, "There being no second, the motion is not before the assembly."

Stating the Question. When the motion is seconded, if in the form of a resolution, the chair states the question to the assembly thus: "It is moved and seconded to adopt the following resolution: 'Resolved, That,' " etc. [reading the resolution]. If it is in the form of a simple motion the chair states the question thus: "It is moved and seconded 'that the thanks,' " etc. [repeating the motion]. In either case, the question being stated, it is pending, that is, the question is before the assembly for discussion and action. Until the question is stated no member can claim the floor for debate, nor can any main, subsidiary, or privileged motion be made. Some urgent incidental motions, however, may be made. After stating the question, unless some one immediately claims the floor, the chair asks, "Are you ready for the question ?" This means, "Is the assembly ready to have the question on the adoption of the resolution put immediately?"^[1] The question is now open to debate, and any subsidiary motion is in order. If there is debate, the chair must wait until it has ceased before putting the question.

Putting the Question or Taking the Vote. The debate having ended, the chairman inquires, "Are you ready for the question?" If there is no response, he rises and puts the question to the assembly thus: "The question is on the adoption of the following resolution: 'Resolved, That,' etc. [reading the resolution]. As many as are in favor of the resolution say Aye. Those opposed say No." The ayes being in the majority the chair continues, "The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted [or carried]." This is called Announcing the Vote. The chair should always stand while putting the question, but it is not necessary for him to stand while stating it.

If the negative is in the majority, the chair announces the vote thus: "The noes have it and the resolution [or motion] is lost." If the vote is a tie, that is, an equal number on each side, it is announced thus, "There are ——— in the affirmative and ——— in the negative. There being a tie, the motion is lost." The chairman, if a member of the assembly, may vote whenever his vote will affect the result, or when the vote is by ballot or by roll call. A majority vote, that is, a majority of the votes cast, is all that is necessary for the adoption of any proper motion except those in the list of motions that require a two-thirds vote, page 174.

If the main motion is not in the form of a resolution, the above-mentioned forms should be modified thus: "It has been moved and seconded 'that a concert be given,' etc. As many as are in favor of the motion," etc., substituting the word "motion" for "resolution" throughout.

Preamble. When it is desired to give a reason for adopting a resolution, the reason is given in a preamble, each clause of which begins with the word "Whereas," as shown in the first drill, page 20. [See R. O. R.,^[2] pp. 33–36, for fuller information on resolutions.]

Main Motions in the form of Subsidiary Motions. It is impossible to have a subsidiary motion unless there is another motion pending to which it is subsidiary. Therefore if a motion is made in the form of a subsidiary at a time when no question is pending, it is a main motion. For example, the following are main motions: to amend an existing by-law or standing rule; to appoint a committee to perform a duty not connected with any question pending before the assembly; to postpone an event, such as a lecture, the date of which has been previously fixed; to limit debate at a time when no question is pending. This last motion is open to debate the same as any other main motion, though if made while another question is pending it is an undebatable subsidiary motion. Improper Main Motions. A motion must not be frivolous or use language that would not be allowed in debate. Nor should it be in a negative form where this may be avoided. The objection to the negative form is the danger of confusion in the minds of some as to the effect of the double negative if the motion is voted down (rejected). Thus, a motion "that we do not instruct our delegates" etc., is frivolous; a motion "that we instruct our delegates not to vote for the proposed amendment to the by-laws," is allowable though it would be better to instruct them "to vote against the" etc. So a motion "that we disapprove" etc. is better form than "that we do not approve." A main motion is not in order which is practically the same as one that the assembly has already had before it during the same session, or is in the possession, or under the control of the assembly so that the main motion can be brought before it again for action when the assembly so desires. Confusion would result from allowing any member to introduce to the assembly a question practically the same as one that is then in the hands of a committee, or on the table, or that has been postponed to another time, or that may be reached by calling up the motion to reconsider. In all these cases the question is in the possession of the assembly, or under its control, and may be brought before it by discharging the committee, or taking the question from the table, or taking up the postponed question before its proper time, or calling up the reconsideration, as shown hereafter. The principle involved prohibits the introduction of any main motion, or amendment to it, which would interfere with the freedom of the assembly in acting upon any question in its possession or under its control. Thus, if a motion to have a banquet on a certain evening has been laid on the table it would be out of order to move that a concert be given on that evening, because if the latter motion were adopted it would interfere with and probably prevent the adoption of the prior motion when it is taken from the table. When the first motion is taken from the table, the second can be moved as a substitute for it.

Debate. In order to debate a pending question a member must obtain the floor as already described and address his remarks to the chairman. A motion is pending after it has been stated by the chair until it has been disposed of either permanently or temporarily. There may be a number of motions pending at the same time. The pending motion that was last stated by the chair is called the immediately pending motion. Debate must be confined to the immediately pending question, and must deal with other questions only so far as they are necessarily involved with the immediately pending one. The speaker must avoid all personalities, must not attribute improper motives to a member, and must not even mention a member's name if he can be properly described in some other way, as "the member who last spoke." Officers should be referred to by their official titles and not by their names. No one can speak in debate, except by permission of the assembly, more than twice on the same question on the same day, nor longer than ten minutes at one time. On an appeal from the decision of the chair,^[3] no one but the chairman can speak more than once. No member can speak a second time on a question if any member who has not spoken upon that question desires to speak. The member making a debatable motion has the right to the floor for debate, if he claims it with reasonable promptness, in preference to other members even if they rose and addressed the chair first. A member who has exhausted his right to debate the main question has a right to debate any debatable subsidiary question that afterwards may be immediately pending. If several members claim the floor at the same time, and the chair knows on which side they will speak, he should assign the floor to one opposed to the last speaker.^[4]

Indefinite Postponement. Instead of voting down the motion, it may be killed just as effectually by adopting the motion to postpone it indefinitely. An affirmative vote on it is identical in effect with a negative vote on the main question. This motion cannot be made if any other than the main motion is pending. Postpone indefinitely is debatable, and while it is pending the merits of the main question may be debated the same as if this motion had not been made. It cannot be amended. If this motion is adopted, it kills the main question for the session just as if the main motion had been voted down. If it is lost, the consideration of the main question is resumed and the opposition has another opportunity to defeat it. This motion is used by the enemies of a main motion when they are in doubt as to whether they are strong enough to defeat the main motion. Sometimes it is used with the idea that postponing a question indefinitely is not so harsh as voting it down.

Practice Work.

(1) Present a main motion in the form of a resolution, and one not in that form.

(2) Must the seconder obtain the floor in order to second the motion? Give two forms of seconding a motion. If no second is obtained in answer to the chairman's asking for one, what becomes of the motion?

(3) Give two forms for stating the question. What is the real meaning of "Are you ready for the question?" Give the form for putting the question when it is a resolution; when it is not a resolution. Give the form for announcing the result when the affirmative wins; when the affirmative loses.

(4) What is a tie? Announce the result when there is a tie. When may the chairman vote?

(5) What is meant by a pending motion? What is meant by an immediately pending motion?

(6) What must a member do before he can begin debate? State five rules that the debater must observe during the debate.

(7) What is the purpose of the motion to postpone indefinitely? Show how you can tell from Chart I whether postpone indefinitely is amendable and also debatable. Explain in your own words how an affirmative vote on the motion to postpone indefinitely is the same as a negative vote on the main motion.

1. If members call out "Question" it does not mean that debate is closed. It merely expresses the wish of those that make the call, and, if repeated after a member rises, is discourteous and disorderly.
2. R. O. R. is used to designate Robert's Rules of Order Revised.
3. See page 93.
4. See R. O. R., pages 27-33, for full information on who is entitled to the floor.