Ever sat in a meeting, listening to a motion being debated, and thought, "That's a good idea, but it could be even better with a slight tweak?" The ability to amend a motion is a fundamental tool in parliamentary procedure, allowing groups to refine proposals, address concerns, and ultimately arrive at the best possible outcome. Without it, discussions could become rigid and less responsive to the evolving needs and insights of the members involved.
Amending a motion is not merely about nitpicking; it’s about collaborative problem-solving and ensuring that decisions truly reflect the will of the group. By understanding the process of how to amend a motion, participants can contribute constructively to discussions, shape policy, and make their voices heard. Whether you're a seasoned board member or new to formal meetings, mastering this skill empowers you to actively participate and influence the direction of your organization.
What are the common questions about amending a motion?
Can you provide an example of wording for amending a motion?
To amend a motion, you can use phrases like: "I move to amend the motion by adding...", "I move to amend the motion by striking...", "I move to amend the motion by inserting...", or "I move to amend the motion by substituting...". Be precise about what part of the original motion you are changing and what the new wording should be. For example, "I move to amend the motion by adding 'and submit a report to the committee' at the end."
The specific wording you choose will depend on the effect you want to achieve. If you wish to add something new to the existing motion without removing anything, "adding" is appropriate. If you want to remove a part of the original motion, use "striking." Inserting wording is useful when you want to add words within an existing sentence or phrase. Substituting replaces one section of the original motion with a different one. Clarity is crucial to ensure everyone understands the proposed change. Consider this example: Suppose the original motion is "That we approve the budget as presented." You might amend it in several ways. You could *add* a clause: "I move to amend the motion by adding 'provided that all department heads reduce expenses by 5%' at the end." You could *strike* part of it: "I move to amend the motion by striking 'as presented' and replacing it with 'with the following amendments outlined in Appendix A'." Here, we've used *substituting* to replace the current wording with more specific direction. The goal is always to improve the motion and make it more acceptable to the body.What's the proper procedure for offering an amendment to a motion?
The proper procedure for offering an amendment to a motion involves being recognized by the chair, stating your intent to amend, and clearly proposing the amendment's specific wording. This allows the assembly to consider changes to the main motion before voting on it in its original form.
To elaborate, after a main motion is made, seconded, and stated by the chair, the floor is open for debate. During the debate, if a member wishes to change the motion, they must first be recognized by the chair (usually by raising their hand). Once recognized, the member states, "I move to amend the motion by..." and then clearly articulates the proposed change. This could involve inserting words, adding words, striking out words, substituting words, or dividing the motion into separate parts. The amendment itself then needs a second. If seconded, the chair will state the amendment, and the assembly then debates the amendment before voting on it. Only if the amendment passes does the assembly then debate and vote on the main motion *as amended*. Let's consider an example: Suppose the main motion is "I move that the club donate $100 to the local animal shelter." A member might seek to amend this by saying, "Madam Chair, I move to amend the motion by striking out '$100' and inserting '$150'." If this amendment is seconded and passes, the main motion now under consideration is "I move that the club donate $150 to the local animal shelter." The assembly then debates and votes on this revised motion.How does one second an amendment to a motion example?
You don't "second" an amendment to a motion. You second the *original* motion. An amendment is then offered to *modify* that original motion. No second is required for an amendment itself; the focus is on debating and then voting on the proposed change to the main motion. If the amendment passes, it is incorporated into the original motion, which is then debated and voted upon in its amended form.
Offering an amendment is a specific process. Once a main motion has been properly made (someone says, "I move that...") and seconded (another person says, "I second the motion"), it is open for discussion. To amend the motion, a member would need to be recognized by the chair. Upon recognition, they would state something like, "I move to amend the motion by [inserting, adding, striking out, or substituting words]." For example, if the main motion is "I move that we donate $100 to the local food bank," someone could amend it by saying, "I move to amend the motion by changing '$100' to '$150'." After an amendment is proposed, it's important for the chair to restate the amendment clearly so everyone understands the proposed change. The amendment then becomes the immediate business at hand, debated and voted on *before* the original motion. Only if the amendment *passes* does it become part of the original motion. If the amendment fails, the assembly continues debating and eventually votes on the original, unaltered motion. The key takeaway is that the second applies only to the initial motion to get it onto the floor for discussion; amendments do not need to be seconded.Are there limits to the number of amendments allowed on a motion?
Yes, there are limits to the number of amendments that can be considered at one time for a main motion. Typically, only two amendments can be pending simultaneously: a primary amendment (an amendment directly modifying the main motion) and a secondary amendment (an amendment to the primary amendment).
This restriction is in place to maintain order and prevent confusion during debates and voting. Allowing an unlimited number of amendments would quickly become unwieldy, making it difficult for members to understand the various proposals and their potential impacts. The two-amendment limit ensures that discussions remain focused and that decisions are made in a clear and efficient manner. For example, imagine a motion to allocate $1000 for a community garden. A primary amendment might propose increasing the allocation to $1500. A secondary amendment could then propose changing the primary amendment by specifying that $200 of the additional $500 should be used for tools. Once these two amendments are resolved (either voted on or withdrawn), further amendments can be introduced. This staged process helps to break down complex proposals into manageable parts.What happens if an amendment fails to pass?
If an amendment to a motion fails to pass, the original motion remains as it was initially proposed and will be voted on in its original form. The vote simply signifies that the proposed change to the original motion was not supported by the required majority (or other specified threshold) of the voting body.
When an amendment fails, it means that the members present didn't agree that the proposed change improved the original motion or made it more acceptable. The assembly then proceeds to consider the original motion itself. The debate shifts back to the merits of the main motion, and members can offer arguments for or against it. It's important to remember that the failure of an amendment doesn't automatically guarantee the passage of the original motion; it only means the original wording is what's being considered. For example, imagine a motion is made to "Donate $100 to the local animal shelter." An amendment is then proposed to change the amount to "$200." If the amendment fails, the group will then vote on the original motion to donate $100. Someone could still argue against the original motion, potentially offering reasons why no money should be donated at all, or proposing an entirely different recipient.Can you amend a motion to postpone indefinitely?
No, the motion to postpone indefinitely is not amendable. This is because the purpose of postponing indefinitely is to effectively kill the main motion without a direct vote against it, and allowing amendments would defeat this purpose by altering the motion's fundamental aim. It's an all-or-nothing proposition.
The motion to postpone indefinitely is a tool used to dispose of a main motion that the assembly doesn't want to vote on directly, or that it feels is not ready for a decision. It's a way to avoid taking a stand on the issue. Because it serves this specific purpose of final disposal without a direct vote, any alteration through amendment would change the very nature of the motion. It's either postponing indefinitely (effectively killing it for the session) or it's not. Consider the ramifications: amending a motion to postpone indefinitely could lead to absurd scenarios. For example, imagine someone proposes to postpone indefinitely a motion to fund a new park. If the motion to postpone indefinitely were amendable, someone could propose an amendment to "postpone indefinitely until next Tuesday." This would effectively introduce a *definite* postponement, which contradicts the original intent of the indefinite postponement. It's for this reason that parliamentary procedure strictly prohibits amendments to the motion to postpone indefinitely.How does amending a main motion differ from amending a subsidiary motion?
Amending a main motion directly alters the primary proposal under consideration, refining or changing its core intent. In contrast, amending a subsidiary motion only modifies the way the main motion is being handled procedurally, rather than changing the main motion's actual content.
Consider this example to illustrate the difference. Suppose the main motion is: "That the club purchase a new projector for $500." Amending this main motion might involve changing the price to "$400," specifying a particular brand, or adding features to the projector. These changes directly impact the projector itself. Now, imagine someone proposes the subsidiary motion to "Postpone the main motion to the next meeting." An amendment to this subsidiary motion might be to postpone it to "two weeks from today" or to "after hearing a report from the finance committee." Notice the amendment only affects when or how the main motion is considered, not the projector itself. The key distinction lies in the target of the amendment. Amendments to main motions address the substance of the proposal, while amendments to subsidiary motions refine the process for dealing with that proposal. Understanding this difference is crucial for effectively participating in meetings and ensuring motions are handled according to the will of the group.And that's it! Amending a motion doesn't have to be intimidating. Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope this example helped clarify the process. Feel free to come back anytime you need a refresher or have more parliamentary questions – I'm always happy to help!