Parliamentary Law: Ranks of Motion

1. Management & Leadership
in Ministry
Ranks of Motions

2. There are 82 different types of MOTIONS
Thankfully these 82 types of motion
break down nicely into …
5 Big Categories of Motions

3. 5 Big Categories of Motions
- MAIN (introduce an item of business)
- SUBSIDIARY (how to deal w motion)
ie: lay on table; refer; amend; limit debate; postpone indefinitely/to a
certain time.
- PRIVLEGED (big procedural issues, UNRELATED to the motion)
ie: adjourn; recess; question of privilege; orders of day.
- INCIDENTAL (procedural issues RELATED to the motion)
ie: Point of Order; appeal; point of information; division of
assembly/question; suspend rules.
-RESTORATIVE motion (help undo or reconsider a decision)
ie: Reconsider; rescind/amend previously adopted; take from table.

4. The Main Concept:
MOTIONS HAVE AN ORDER OF
PRECEDENT AND IMPORTANCE (Rank
or Pecking order).
MORE IMPORTANT MOTIONS MUST
BE DEALT WITH, BEFORE A MOTION
OF LOWER IMPORTANCE IS DEALT
WITH.

5. The following diagram shows
the „rank‟ of motions (the higher
up on the triangle, the greater
the importance of the motion).
Note: not all motions are listed in the
following diagram, however the motions you
are most likely need to know, are listed.

6. Rank of Motions
Fix Time to Adjourn
Adjourn
Take a Recess
Privileged Question of Privilege
Call for Orders of the Day
Appeal
Division of Assembly
Incidental Division of Question
Inquiry/Pt. of Information
Pt. of Order
Suspend Rules
Withdraw a motion
Lay on the Table
Previous Question
Subsidiary Limit/Extend time Debate
Postpone to Certain Time
Refer to Committee
Amend
Postpone Indefinitely
Main Motion

7. The 5 Big ‘Motion’ Questions:
1) Can the motion „interrupt‟ a
person who is presently speaking
2) Does the motion need a „seconder‟
3) Can the motion be „amended‟
4) Can the motion be „debated‟
5) What type of vote is needed in order
to „carry‟ the motion?

8. The following slide identifies the
answers to the 5 big questions

9. 5 questions:Interrupt, Second, Amendable, Debatable, Vote
Fix Time to Adjourn Second, Amendable, Majority
Adjourn Second, Majority
Take a Recess Second, Amendable, Majority
Privileged Question of Privilege Interrupt, No Vote
Call for Orders of the Day Interrupt, No Vote
Appeal Interrupt, Second, Debate, Majority
Division of Assembly Interrupt, No Vote
Incidental Division of Question Second, Amendable, Majority
Inquiry/Pt. of Information Interrupt, No Vote
Pt. of Order Interrupt, No Vote
Suspend Rules Second, 2/3 vote
Withdraw a motion By mover, if there is no amendment
Lay on the Table Second, Majority
Previous Question Second, 2/3 vote
Subsidiary Limit/Extend time Debate Second, Amendable, 2/3 vote
Postpone to Certain Time Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority
Refer to Committee Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority
Amend Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority
Postpone Indefinitely Second, Debatable, Majority
Main Motion Second, Amendable, Debate, Majority

10. The following slide clarifies the
meaning / implications / purpose
of some of the motions.

11. Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions
- Postpone Indefinitely: Permanently kills the
motion (same as a negative vote)
- Refer to Committee: Temporarily postpones a
decision so as to empower a committee to
get additional information.

12. Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions
– Postpone to a certain time: Temporarily
postpones the decision-making so as to deal
with more pressing issues or seek additional
info. The motion is guaranteed to be re-
introduced as an “Order of Business” at the
appointed (certain) time.
– Close/Limit or Extend debate:
Alters the normal procedures to
either restrict the amount of time or
the number of people allowed to
debate the motion – or to allow for
more/additional discussion.

13. Clarifying Purpose / Meaning of Motions
– Previous Question: “Lets stop debating and vote
immediately!” Needs 2/3 vote.
– Lay on the Table: Temporarily suspends debate on
an issue, in order that another item of business may
be dealt with. The motion is reintroduced whenever
the business mtg. desires (at the same mtg. or up to 1
meeting later) by “taking the motion from the table”.
– Call for „Orders of the Day‟: A demand
that the business meeting get back in
line with the approved „agenda‟. Only
a 2/3 vote can suspend/alter the
agenda.

14. - Question of Privilege: Usually a request
for the chairperson to address something
concerning an issue of „comfort, safety or the
integrity of the meeting‟ (i.e. clarifying
inaccurate statements; adjust heating;
improve sound systems; or to clarify the
rights of the members)
- Point of Order: Usually an appeal to the chair to
correct a perceived procedural error or a violation of
the rules. “Point of Order, the member has already
spoken twice to this issue” OR “I believe the discussion
is off topic ”.
- Appeal: A request for the business meeting to either
overturn (or endorse) a ruling by the chairperson.

15. - Inquiry or Point of Information: Usually
a request from a person is unsure or
confused about the proper procedures
or is asking a question germane to the motion before the
meeting: ‟Can someone tell me how many years our church
has already supported the Bible Society?‟ or „Would the chair
clarify whether we are talking about buying or renting a van‟.
- Suspend the Rules: Periodically it may be necessary to
temporarily lay aside the normal rules of how business
is conducted, in order to more fully determine the will of
the people, or to deal with an urgent matter. i.e. I would
like to move we suspend the rules that only members may
speak, in order to allow a non-member to speak. Requires
2/3 vote

16. Prohibiting Motions
Motions are said to be ‘out of order’ or
‘not in order at this time’ IF . . .
– Another motion is on the floor for discussion/vote
– The proposed motion conflicts w. Standing Rules /By-laws
– If the motion is substantially the same OR conflicts with
a motion which has already been voted
on (at the same meeting)
– The motion has inappropriate language
– Is frivolous or absurd.
The chairperson should give a very brief
explanation, each time a motion is ruled „out of order‟. The
chair does not need to allow a person to have the floor if
they are consistently suggesting absurd or disruptive
motions.

17. Class Exercise
Fix Time to Adjourn
Adjourn
Take a Recess
Question of Privilege
Call for Orders of the Day Scenario:
Appeal
Division of Assembly
Division of Question
Location: Kingswood University
Inquiry/Pt. of Information
Pt. of Order
Situation: Trustee meeting
Suspend Rules
Withdraw a motion
Motion: “Close Ingersoll House
Lay on the Table this fall, and require the
Previous Question
Limit/Extend time Debate male students to live in
Postpone to Certain Time
Refer to Committee heated army tents, until
Amend
Postpone Indefinitely
a new dorm can be
Main Motion built in 2014.”