| A | B |
|---|
| Agenda | Program for the meeting. |
| Amendment | An alteration to a main motion by inserting, changing, or striking out words and phrases, but not changing the meaning or intent of the main motion. |
| Appeal (Of An Assembly) | Questioning by a member of a vote count by re-questioning that members stand and be counted. |
| Bylaws | The permanent body of legislative rules by which an organization operates. (Similar to - and often combined with - a constitution) |
| Call For The Orders Of The Day | A privileged motion demanding that the group conforms to its program and cease talking about other things. No second needed, can interrupt, not debatable or amendable, must be enforced by the chair. |
| Chair | The residing officer, whether temporary or permanent, of a meeting. |
| Consent | Agreement between members for the chair to act or rule; common _______ or general _______ means that the majority of the members present are in agreement with the actions. |
| Debate | Term synonymous with "discussion". Most motions guard the right to do this on/about an issue. |
| Division Of An Assembly | The last appeal that a member has to seek support of a position, in that those present are asked to stand and be counted in support of the chair or member. |
| Division Of A Question | The last appeal a member makes who questions the validity of the chair's counting of a vote has; those present are asked to stand and be counted in their vote. |
| Floor | The recognition and privilege of addressing the chair or the assembly, yielding this means temporarily giving up the privilege of speaking; obtaining this means receiving recognition from the chair with the privilege of making a motion or nomination. |
| Incidental Motions | Questions of procedure that arise out of other motions. They must be considered before the other motion. (EX: "I move we suspend the rules for the purpose of...) |
| Inquiry | A question asked by a member directed toward the chair in order to obtain direction in correct parliamentary procedure. |
| Lay On The Table | A question asked by a member directed toward the chair in order to obtain direction in correct parliamentary procedure. |
| Limit Or Extend Limits Of Debate | A subsidiary motion used to... 1. Reduce the #/length of speeches permitted 2. Require that debate be closed at a certain hour or for a specified length of time 3. Allow more and longer speeches ...requires recognition, requires second, 2/3 vote. Amendable, but not debatable. |
| Main Motion | Introduce subjects to the assembly for its consideration. They cannot be made when another motion is before the assembly. |
| Motions That Bring A Question Again Before The Assembly | Includes... 1. Reconsider 2. Rescind 3. Take from the Table 4. Discharge a Committee 5. Amend Something Previously Adopted |
| Parliamentary Law | An unwritten law of democratic procedure originating from the rules of the early English Parliament. |
| Pending | Waiting to be decided or settled; a motion in this state is in some stage between proposal and final vote for approval/disapproval. |
| Postpone Definitely | A subsidiary motion used to delay action on a motion until a certain time. |
| Postpone Indefinitely | A subsidiary motion used to remove an issue from debate permanently; second required, is debatable but not amendable, majority vote. |
| Precedence | The ranking of motions; when motions are pending those of the highest ranking should be considered first, those of the least ranking should be considered last. |
| Previous Question | A subsidiary motion used when member wants an immediate vote; requires recognition, requires second, not debatable or amendable, 2/3 vote |
| Privileged Motions | Motions of importance that take precedence over the pending question and all other terms of business; they are not debatable and require immediate action. |
| Quorum | The minimum number of members who have to be present at a meeting in order for business to be conducted legally. |
| Raise A Question Of Privilege | A privileged motion used to complain/fix a problem having to do with heat, noise, lighting, etc. Can interrupt, no second needed, not debatable or amendable, no vote is taken, the chair decides on the matter. |
| Reconsider | A motion used to ask for a new vote on a motion. Can only be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side. (A member may vote on the prevailing side so that they may have the ability to do this.) |
| Rescind | Term used to indicate that a previously accepted motion or action is to be made void, unless that action has already been taken. |
| Secondary Motion | Any motion that can be made while a main motion is pending, such as a subsidiary motion or a motion of privilege. |
| Subsidiary Motions | Change or affect how the Main Motion is handled. (Voted on before the Main Motion) EX: "I move the question before the assembly be amended by striking out..." EX: "I move that we lay on the table the motion to..." |
| Suspend The Rules | A term used to indicate a temporary disregard of the rules of the organization; an incidental motion designed to facilitate the action on a motion that is pending. |
| Two-Thirds Vote | A term used to indicate the number of members who must vote favorably for an action or a motion before it becomes acceptable. The chair must inform members of this requirement prior to calling for the vote. |
| Unfinished Business | An item on the regular agenda of a business meeting whereby any table motion from the previous session or a motion that was postponed to this specific time must be taken up and resolved. |
| Withdraw A Motion | Remove a motion from being before the assembly. |
