Survival Tips on Roberts Rules of Order -

Origins of a Motion

Item on the agenda:
1. The chair introduces the item briefly
2. A member moves a motion (seconded)
3. Debate/Vote.
Item not on the agenda (bylaws allow ‘New Business’):
1. A member moves a motion (seconded) during ‘New Business’, or
2. Outside of ‘New Business’, a member moves an unrelated motion (seconded) with the body’s consent.
3. Debate/Vote.
Committee is charged with returning a recommendation:
1. Committee Chair presents a report
2. Committee Chair states the committee’s recommendations
  [Resolutions committees are not charged with moving a motion. They are asked for a recommendation. A member must then move a motion.]
3. Any member moves the recommendation as a motion (no second required), or
4. Any member moves a slightly different motion (second required), or
5. Any member moves a completely different motion (second required)
6. Debate/Vote.
Committee is charged with returning a motion (or has the power to do so):
1. Committee Chair presents a report
2. Committee Chair moves the committee’s motion (no second required)
  [A chair may read this expected resolution in the form of a motion. It could be handled as an assumed motion. Or, debate would follow without a second required. It is wiser to allow the committee to make its own motion.]
3. Debate/Vote.
Chair assumes a routine motion:
1. Chair states, “If there is no objection, a motion to … will be adopted.”
2. If there is no objection, the motion is properly adopted without a second, or debate, or voting.
3. If there is an objection, the chair handles the motion according to Robert’s Rules’ 6 formal steps.

SURVIVAL TIPS on Parliamentary Procedure According to Robert's RULES OF ORDER California State Association of Parliamentarians Home	Survival Tips on Robert's Rules of Order Origins of a Motion Item on the agenda: The chair introduces the item briefly A member moves a motion (seconded) Debate/Vote. Item not on the agenda (bylaws allow ‘New Business’): A member moves a motion (seconded) during ‘New Business’, or Outside of ‘New Business’, a member moves an unrelated motion (seconded) with the body’s consent. Debate/Vote. Committee is charged with returning a recommendation: Committee Chair presents a report Committee Chair states the committee’s recommendations [Resolutions committees are not charged with moving a motion. They are asked for a recommendation. A member must then move a motion.] Any member moves the recommendation as a motion (no second required), or Any member moves a slightly different motion (second required), or Any member moves a completely different motion (second required) Debate/Vote. Committee is charged with returning a motion (or has the power to do so): Committee Chair presents a report Committee Chair moves the committee’s motion (no second required) [A chair may read this expected resolution in the form of a motion. It could be handled as an assumed motion. Or, debate would follow without a second required. It is wiser to allow the committee to make its own motion.] Debate/Vote. Chair assumes a routine motion: Chair states, *“If there is no objection, a motion to … will be adopted.”* If there is no objection, the motion is properly adopted without a second, or debate, or voting. If there is an objection, the chair handles the motion according to Robert’s Rules’ 6 formal steps.
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