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Precedence of Motions
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Precedence of Motions
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DETERMINING THE PRECEDENCE
OF MOTIONS
(Based on Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised
By Shane D. Dunbar, MEd, PRP, PAP
Professional Registered Parliamentarian, and
Professional Accredited Parliamentarian
dunbar@northwest.net.
The concept of proposing, considering, and disposing of motions in their proper order is called the "order of precedence" (pree-SEED-n's). The thirteen motions listed below are listed in their order of precedence or rank. Their rules and a listing of other motions and their rules are listed under the Main Menu of this web site (click on "Rules for Motions").
PRIVILEGED MOTIONS
Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn
Adjourn
Recess
Raise a Question of Privilege
Call for the Orders of the Day
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS
Lay on the Table
Previous Questions
Limit or Extend Limits of Debate
Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely)
Commit or Refer
Amend
Postpone Indefinitely
MAIN MOTIONS
Main Motion
THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF PRECEDENCE:
- The thirteen main, subsidiary, and privileged motions listed above must be proposed in their order of precedence (rank) from lowest to highest. Main Motions have the lowest precedence and the privileged motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn, the highest. There are two exceptions: The subsidiary motion to Amend may be applied to certain motions of higher precedence (e.g., Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn, Recess, Limit or Extend Limits of Debate, Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely), and Commit or Refer may be amended). In addition, the Previous Question can be applied to the higher ranking privileged motions to Recess and to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn.
Only one Main Motion may be pending at one time. However, as shown in the examples below, several other motions may be pending at the same time if the last one that is made is higher ranking than the one made previously (except for Amend and Previous Question).
Incidental motions [e.g., Point of Order, Parliamentary Inquiry, Division of the Assembly (see "Rules for Motions" under the Main Menu for other examples)] that are made must be disposed of at once, since they do not have an order of precedence. Motions that bring a question again before the assembly (e.g., Reconsider, Take From the Table, Rescind) are in order when business is not pending (the motion to Reconsider may also be made when business is pending).
- Motions are disposed of in the reverse order in which they were made.
In summary, except for the subsidiary motions to Amend and the Previous Question, Main Motions are outranked by the subsidiary motions, and subsidiary motions are outranked by the privileged motions. Read the six examples below and refer to the list of the thirteen ranking motions above to check your understanding of the rules of precedence:
EXAMPLE #1:
If a Main Motion is pending, motions of higher rank such as Postpone to a Certain Time may be made and then the Previous Question may be moved. However if the motion for the Previous Question is made while a Main Motion is immediately pending, the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time is out of order because it has lower precedence than the Previous Question.
EXAMPLE #2:
Assume an Amendment to a Main Motion is adopted while the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is pending. The Main Motion as amended cannot be put to a vote until after the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is voted on and is lost.
EXAMPLE #3:
Assume a main motion and an amendment are pending. After several members debate the amendment, a voice vote is taken. Immediately after the negative (no) vote, a member says "Division!" (which is an incidental motion, Division of the Assembly). The chair would immediately take another vote on the amendment by having the members stand.
EXAMPLE #4:
Assume the following series of three motions is pending and have been moved in the order shown:
- Main Motion
- Amend
- Extend Limits of Debate
The motion to Extend Limits of Debate is voted on first, then Amend, and finally the Main Motion as amended (or as not amended if the motion to Amend is lost).
EXAMPLE #5:
Assume the following series of four motions is pending and have been moved in the order shown:
- Main Motion
- Commit or Refer
- Previous Question
- Point of Order
The Point of Order (an incidental motion) is ruled on by the chair immediately after it is raised. The motion for the Previous Question is voted on first, then Commit or Refer, and finally the Main Motion (if the motion to Commit or Refer is lost).
EXAMPLE #6:
Assume the following series of seven motions is pending and have been moved in the order shown and a Parliamentary Inquiry is raised when the Main Motion is immediately pending:
- Main Motion
- Postpone Indefinitely
- Amend
- Commit or Refer
- Postpone to a Certain Time
- Lay on the Table
- Recess
The Parliamentary Inquiry (an incidental motion) that is made when the Main Motion is immediately pending is answered by the chair immediately after it is raised. The motion to Recess is voted on first, then the motion to Lay on the Table, and the remainder in the reverse order in which they were proposed. If any one of the pending motions to Lay on the Table, Postpone to a Certain Time, Commit or Refer, or Postpone Indefinitely is adopted, none of the other motions are considered.
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