UCSB Campus Organizations

Parliamentary Procedures

1. Presenting A Motion

Obtain The Floor

Wait until the last speaker is finished.
Rise and address the chair.
Give your name. The chair will recognize you by repeating it.

Make Your Motion

Speak clearly and concisely.
State your motion affirmatively. Say, "I move that we..." instead "I move that we do not..."
Avoid talking about personalities and stay on the subject.

Wait For A Second

Another member will say, "I second the motion."
Or the chair will call for a second.
If there is no second, your motion will not be considered.

Chair States Your Motion

The chairperson must say, "It is moved and seconded that we..."
After this happens, debate or voting can occur.
Your motion is now "on the floor" and you cannot change it without consent of the members.

Expand On Your Motion

The person making the motion is allowed to speak first.
Direct all comments to the chairperson.
Keep to the time limit for speaking.
You may speak again after all others have had an opportunity to speak.
You may speak a third time by a motion to suspend the rules with a 2/3 vote.

Calling The Question

The Chairperson asks, "Are you ready for the question?"
If there is no more discussion, a vote is taken. The chairperson announces the results.
A member may also end debate and call for a vote by saying, "I move the previous question."

2. Voting on a Motion

By Voice

By Show Of Hands

By Roll Call

By Ballot

By General Consent

A question (motion) is PENDING when it has been stated by the chair but not yet voted on. The last motion stated by the chair is the first pending. The MAIN MOTION is always the last voted on. There are two final options for voting:

A motion to TABLE - This motion is used to lay something aside temporarily to take care of a more urgent matter. There is always the option to "take from the table" any motion for reconsideration by the organization.
A motion to POSTPONE INDEFINITELY - This is parliamentary strategy--allows members to dispose of a motion without making a decision for or against. It is useful in case of a badly chosen main motion for which either a "yes" or "no" vote would have undesir- able consequences.

Please refer to the chart on the reverse side for some examples of how to use Parliamentary procedure. When understood by members and used properly, this process can help make meetings more efficient and more productive. For more information on Parliamentary procedure, refer to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, the basic handbook of operation for many organizations. A copy is available in the Office of Student Life Campus Organization Library. Adapted from The A-B-C's of Parliamentary Procedure by Channing L. Bete Co., Inc.

The Motion List in Order/Adjourn meeting
TO DO THIS: ADJOURN MEETING
YOU SAY THIS: I move that that we adjourn
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Is it debatable? Can it be amended? Yes What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No


The Motion List in Order/Call an In termission
TO DO THIS: CALL AN INTERMISSION
YOU SAY THIS: I move that we recess for...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? Yes What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List in Order/Complain About Heat, Noise, Etc.
TO DO THIS: COMPLAIN ABOUT HEAT, NOISE, ETC.
YOU SAY THIS: I rise to a question of privilege
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? no vote Can it be reconsidered? No (USUALLY)

The Motion List in Order/Temporarily Suspend Consideratio of an Issue
TO DO THIS: TEMPORARILY SUSPEND CONSIDERATION OF AN ISSUE
YOU SAY THIS: I move to table the motion
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List in Order/End Debate and Amendments
TO DO THIS: END DEBATE AND AMENDMENTS
YOU SAY THIS: I move the previous question
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? 2/3 Can it be reconsidered? No[1]

The Motion List in Order/Postpone Discussion for Certain Time
TO DO THIS: POSTPONE DISCUSSION FOR A CERTAIN TIME
YOU SAY THIS: I move to postpone the discussion until...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? Can it be amended? Yes What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? Yes

The Motion List in Order/Give Closer Study of Something
TO DO THIS: GIVE CLOSER STUDY OF SOMETHING
YOU SAY THIS: I move to refer the matter to committee
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Is it debatable? Can it be amended? What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? Yes[2]

The Motion List in Order/Amend A Motion
TO DO THIS: AMEND A MOTION
YOU SAY THIS: I move to amend the motion by...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? Yes[3} Can it be amended? Yes What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? Yes

The Motion List in Order/Introduces Business
TO DO THIS: INTRODUCES BUSINESS
YOU SAY THIS: I move that...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? Yes Can it be amended? Yes What vote is needed? Can it be reconsidered? Yes

The Motion List Not in Order/Protest Breach of Rules of Conduct
THE MOTIONS LISTED ABOVE ARE IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE... BELOW THERE IS NO ORDER...
TO DO THIS: PROTEST BREACH OF RULES OF CONDUCT
YOU SAY THIS: I rise to a point of order
May you interrupt the speaker? Doyou need a second? No Is it debatable? Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? NO VOTE [4] Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Vote on a Ruling of the Chair
TO DO THIS: VOTE ON A RULING OF THE CHAIR
YOU SAY THIS: I appeal from the chair's desicision
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? NO Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? NO VOTE [5] Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Suspend Rules Temporarily
TO DO THIS: SUSPEND RULES TEMPORARILY
YOU SAY THIS: I move to suspend the rules so that...
May you interrupt the speaker? No Doyou need a second? Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? 2/3 Can it be reconsidered? NO

The Motion List Not in Order/Avoid Considering an Improper Matter
TO DO THIS: AVOID CONSIDERING AN IMPROPER MATTER
YOU SAY THIS: I object to consideration of this motion
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Is it debatable? No Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? 2/3 [6] Can it be reconsidered? -[7]

The Motion List Not in Order/Verify a Voice Vote by Having Members Stand
TO DO THIS: VERIFY A VOICE VOTE BY HAVING MEMBERS STAND
YOU SAY THIS: I call for a division, or Division!
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? NO Is it debatable? NO Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? NO VOTE Can it be reconsidered? NO

The Motion List Not in Order/Request Information
TO DO THIS: REQUEST INFORMATION
YOU SAY THIS: point of information
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? NO Is it debatable? Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? NO VOTE Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Take up a Matter
TO DO THIS: TAKE UP A MATTER PREVIOUSLY TABLED
YOU SAY THIS: I move to take from the table...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? NO Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Verify a Voice Vote by Having Members Stand
TO DO THIS: VERIFY A VOICE VOTE BY HAVING MEMBERS STAND
YOU SAY THIS: I call for a division, or Division!
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? NO Is it debatable? NO Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? NO VOTE Can it be reconsidered? NO

The Motion List Not in Order/Request Information
TO DO THIS: REQUEST INFORMATION
YOU SAY THIS: point of information
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? NO Is it debatable? Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? NO VOTE Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Take up a Matter
TO DO THIS: TAKE UP A MATTER PREVIOUSLY TABLED
YOU SAY THIS: I move to take from the table...
May you interrupt the speaker? NO Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? NO Can it be amended? NO What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No

The Motion List Not in Order/Reconsider A Hasty Action
TO DO THIS: RECONSIDER A HASTY ACTION
YOU SAY THIS: I move to recunsider a vote on...
May you interrupt the speaker? Yes Doyou need a second? Yes Is it debatable? -[8] Can it be amended? No What vote is needed? MAJORITY Can it be reconsidered? No

NOTES:

Unless vote on question is not yet taken.
Unless the committee has already taken up the subject.
Only if the motion to be amended is debatable.
Except in doubtfull cases.
A majority vote in negative needed to reverse ruling of chair.
A 2/3 vote in negative needed to prevent consideration of main motion.
Only if the main question or motion was not, in fact, considered.
Only if motion to be reconsidered is debatable.