ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER – SUMMARY

This page is not designed to take the place of Robert’s Rules of Order (which should be read by every committee chairman), but to provide At A Glance, information that will bring a sense of security to a chairman without loss of time or hesitancy in making a decision.

MOTION	PURPOSE	SECOND	DEBATABLE	AMENDABLE	MOTIONS HAVING HIGHER RANK	VOTE	DESCRIPTION
1. Main	Introduce business	Yes	Yes	Yes	All	MajoritY+	The lowest rank of motion. To Amend Rules a 2/3 vote and Previous Notice is required.
2. Postpone Indefinitely	Defer a matter or kill it	Yes	Yes (On the Main Motion as well as postpone)	No	All except 1	Majority	May be applied only to main motions including Questions of Privilege.
3. Amend*	To change or modify a pending motion	Yes	Yes (But confined to the amendment)	Yes	All except 1,2	Majority (The vote is on the amendment only. Main motion returns for vote either amended or not.)	Amend by insert or add, strike out, strike out and insert, substitute (a whole paragraph or resolution)
4. Commit^x	To place business in hands of a few (e.g. a committee)	Yes	Yes (As to propriety of committing only)	Yes	5,6,7,8,9	Majority	The motion Commit adheres to the Main Motion and together they make one question.
5. Postpone to set a time	To set a time when a matter must be considered	Yes	Yes (Only as to the propriety of postponing)	As to time As to Special or General Order	6,7,8,9	Majority 2/3 for Special Order	If passed the subject cannot be taken up before the set time except by a 2/3 vote. General Order – a certain day Special Order – a certain time
6. Previous Question	To stop debate and order an immediate vote	Yes	No	No	7,8,9	2/3	To make this motion state: The Previous Question is moved on (State main motion or amendment on which vote is demanded.) Calling out question, question carries no requirement for action by the chairman.
7. Table Take from table	To lay aside a matter such that it may be considered later.	Yes	No	No	8,9	Majority	Table is not used to suppress the motion. Postpone Indefinitely should be used to suppress.
8. Orders of the Day	To force a meeting to return to the program, which is the Order of the Day	No	No	No	9	2/3	Must be called for at a time when Orders of the Day are being deviated from (Except Special Orders).
9. Question of Privilege	To get the attention of the Chair at once	No	No	No	Adjourn	Majority	Use to Ask a Question – to attend to some matter of business that cannot wait. Usually decided informally, without floor. Do not wait for recognition from the Chair.

+ A majority refers to those present and assumes that a quorum has been met for voting purposes. 2/3 vote is of those present (i.e. the quorum).

* There maybe only one amendment to the Main Motion pending at one time. This 1^st degree amendment may have only one amendment (2^nd degree) pending at one time. As each is voted, other amendments may be offered in succession. Previous Question may be applied to any Amendment. A Substitute Motion is an Amendment. Amendments must be germane to the subject matter to be amended. After all the Amendments are voted, vote on what has become the Main Motion.

x When a committee is to be appointed, nomination for the committee may be made from the floor. Chair puts vote; beginning with first named in succession. When the naming of the committee devolves upon the chairman, before the committee can act, the names must be announced to the assembly, unless permission is granted the chairman to do otherwise. Whoever appoints the committee has power to appoint the Chairman and fill vacancies. The committee reports to the Assembly.