What I want to do

How to do it

Notes

1

To get the body to consider something you are suggesting you would…

Move, or make a motion

2

To support a motion made by another so that it can be discussed and voted on you would…

Second the motion

3

To make a list of items the body would consider in order you would establish an…

Agenda

“I move we accept this agenda…”

4

To change a motion by adding something.

Amend by inserting…

“I move to amend by inserting…”

5

To change a motion by deleting something.

Amend by striking…

“I move to amend by deleting…”

6

To change a motion by substituting another motion altogether

Amend by substitution…

“I move to amend by striking the entire motion and substituting the following motion…”

7

To put the business in the hands of another group, like a subcommittee, for them to make the final decision

Refer with power

“I move we refer this item with power to…”

8

To put the business in the hands of another group, like a subcommittee, to bring it back again to us.

Refer (without Power)

“I move we refer for _____ to be brought back to us____…”

9

To put forth a name for the body to vote on

Nominate

“I nominate…” (Does not require a second)

10

To quit accepting any more nominations and move toward voting.

Close nominations

“I move we close nominations…” (2/3 vote required)

11

To end the meeting right now.

Adjourn

“I move we adjourn.”

12

To get the body to quit discussing the item and move immediately to vote on the item.

Previous question

I move the previous question” (2/3 vote required)

13

To quit dealing with the motion now and set it aside until some unknown future time when we decide to deal with it again.

Table

“ I move we table the motion…”

14

To deal now with something the body previously tabled.

Take from the table

I move we take from the table.___”

15

To quit dealing with the motion now and set a specific time in the future to deal with it.

Postpone to a set time

I move we postpone___ to ______O’clock on ___.”

16

To name the item which was postponed earlier to a specific time.

Special Order

17

To quit dealing with the motion now -- in fact never deal with it again -- enabling the body to vote the motion down by voting "yes."

Postpone indefinitely

I move we postpone indefinitely”

18

To set a scheduled time by the agenda to deal with an item at this exact time.

Orders of the day

19

To “gently” get the chair to make a ruling without forcing the body to overrule him or her.

Point of order

“Point of order” [recognized] then “Madame Chair, the question I ask is…”

20

To get the body to accept a report and all the recommendations in it you'd move to…

Adopt

“I move we adopt this report”

21

To get the body to accept a report but do nothing at this time with the recommendations in it you'd move to…

Receive

“I move we receive this report”

22

To bring an item back up again which the body already voted on…

Reconsider

“I move we reconsider…” (Motion-maker must have voted on winning side; 2/3 required)

23

To reverse something already passed by the body

Rescind

“I move we rescind…” (also called "annul" -- 2/3  required in later sessions unless notice)

24

To get the body to vote on something you believe the chair did wrong.

Appeal

“I appeal the decision of the chair to the body…”

25

To stop everything to ask a critical question or challenge membership.

Question of privilege

“Mister Chair, I have a question of privilege… I believe there are…”

26

To set up rules which will govern future deliberations you would move to establish…

Bylaws or standing rules

27

To set aside or ignore the rules formerly established for the body.

Suspend the rules

“I move we suspend the rules…” (2/3 vote required)