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Robert’s Rules of Order Motions Chart
 

Following parliamentary procedures to conduct meetings ensures that everyone is heard and that consensus is reached when making decisions. This resource can by used by policy groups and governing bodies as a quick reference to different types of motions that can be presented when conducting official meetings.

Robert’s Rules of Order Motions Chart
 
 

The motions below are listed in order of precedence. A motion can be introduced if it is higher on the chart than the pending motion.

§

YOU WANT:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

§21 Close meeting I move to adjourn

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

§20 Take break I move to recess for ...

No

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

§19 Register complaint I rise to a question of privilege

Yes

No

No

No

None

§18 Make follow agenda I call for the orders of the day

Yes

No

No

No

None

§17 Lay aside temporarily I move to lay the question on the table

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

§16 Close debate I move the previous question

No

Yes

No

No

2/3

§15 Limit or extend debate I move that debate be limited to ...

No

Yes

No

Yes

2/3

§14 Postpone to a certain time I move to postpone the motion to ...

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority
§13 Refer to committee I move to refer the motion to ...

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority
§12 Modify wording of motion I move to amend the motion by ...

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority
§11 Kill main motion I move that the motion be postponed indefinitely

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority
§10 Bring business before assembly (a main motion) I move that [or "to"] ...

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Incidental Motions - no order of precedence. Arise incidentally and are decided immediately.

§

YOU WANT:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

§23 Enforce rules Point of Order

Yes

No

No

 

No

None

§24 Submit matter to assembly I appeal from the decision of the chair

Yes

Yes

Varies

No

Majority

§25 Suspend rules I move to suspend the rules

No

Yes

No

No

2/3

§26 Avoid main motion altogether I object to the consideration of the question

Yes

No

No

No

2/3

§27 Divide motion I move to divide the question

No

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

§29 Demand a rising vote Division

Yes

No

No

No

None

§33 Parliamentary law question Parliamentary inquiry

Yes

No

No

No

None

§33 Request for information Point of information

Yes

No

No

No

None


Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly - no order of precedence. Introduce only when nothing else is pending.

§

YOU WANT:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

§34 Take matter from table I move to take from the table ...

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

§35 Cancel previous action I move to rescind ...

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

2/3 or Majority with notice

§37 Reconsider motion I move to reconsider ...

No

Yes

Varies

No

Majority

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Robert’s Rules of Order Motions Chart. Slaughter, Jim. jimslaughtler.com/robertsrules.htm. n.d. English. Web Site.