Motions
This type of motion brings new business before the body.
What is a main motion?
This motion is used to change the wording of a pending main motion.
What is amend?
Most main motions require this proportion of votes to pass.
What is a majority?
If a senator breaks a rule, another senator can call this to enforce order.
What is a point of order?
During debate, senators must direct all remarks to this person.
What is the chair?
This motion, not debatable, can be used to set aside a pending question in order to deal with more urgent business.
What is lay on the table?
In amendment form, deleting specific words or phrases is called this.
What is strike or strike out?
Without permission, a senator can speak only this many times on the same motion in one day.
What is twice?
To ask a question about parliamentary procedure during debate, a senator uses this.
What is a point of parliamentary inquiry?
This type of legislation typically requires budget review, much discussion, and sometimes multiple readings before passage.
What is a bill?
To stop debate and immediately move to a vote, a member can call this motion, requiring a two-thirds vote.
What is the previous question (or as we say "call the question")?
This is the maximum number of times an amendment can itself be amended.
What is once (a secondary amendment)?
Judicial Council appointments need a higher standard, this fraction of the entire senate, not just those present.
What is two-thirds of the membership?
If, for example you can’t hear the speaker, you need some water, or the room is too hot, you may raise this.
What is a point of personal privilege?
To be recognized, a senator must first do this.
What is raise their hand (or rise) and wait for the chair?
This motion allows a decision made in one meeting to be undone at a later meeting, but only with notice or a two-thirds vote.
What is motion to rescind?
This technique replaces the entire text of a motion with new wording.
What is a substitute?
To suspend normal senate rules in order to do something unusual (like give an exemption for funding), this threshold is required.
What is two-thirds?
When business drifts away from the agenda, a senator can use this point to bring the body back.
What is a call for the orders of the day?
The chair rules you out of order, but you believe you’re correct. You can use this motion to let the senate decide instead.
What is appeal the decision of the chair?
If debate is underway and senators want more information or research before making a decision, they can use this motion to temporarily send the matter to a smaller group. This also must be done for all bills.
What is refer to committee (or “commit”)?
An amendment cannot change the fundamental purpose of a motion; it must meet this test.
What is germaneness?
To reconsider a vote already taken in the same meeting, only a senator who voted on this side may move it.
What is the prevailing side?
If a senator believes the chair has miscounted the votes and wants an exact count instead of just a voice vote, they can demand this.
What is a counted vote (or a “division of the assembly”)?
If debate becomes repetitive, this motion can set a strict limit on how long each person may speak.
What is limit debate?