| To: | You say: | Can you interrupt? | Second needed? | Debatable? | Amendable? | Vote needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End debate immediately* | “I move the previous question” | No | Yes | No | No | 2/3 |
| Suspend consideration of something temporarily** | “I move that we table the motion” | No | Yes | No | No | Majority |
| Postpone consideration of something to a certain time | “I move we postpone this matter until the (next meeting, etc)” | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority |
| Amend a motion | “I move that this motion be amended by (striking, adding, inserting, substituting)...” | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority |
| Postpone indefinitely (kill a motion) | “I move that we postpone this matter indefinitely” | No | Yes | Yes | No | Majority |
| Limit or extend limits on debate (change the agreed upon rules of debate) | “I move that we limit debate to (four additional speakers, twenty more minutes, etc)” | No | Yes | No | Yes | 2/3 |
| Lengthen the meeting time | “I move to postpone the time of adjournment until...” | No | Yes | No | No | 2/3 |
| Ask a question about parliamentary procedure*** | “A Parliamentary inquiry” | Yes | No | No | No | Chair responds |
| Object to a procedural or personal affront | “Point of order” | Yes | No | No | No | Chair makes ruling |
| Request information**** | “Point of information” | Yes | No | No | No | Someone answers |
* This is sometimes referred to as ‘calling the question.’ Regardless of the terminology, if the motion passes, it ends debate on the main motion being discussed and triggers a vote on it. Our handbook specifies that votes on motions concerning legislation or amendments are conducted electronically after faculty meetings. Thus, once debate concludes–either naturally or due to a successful motion to move the previous question–this electronic vote will occur automatically.
**Tabling and postponing a motion are often confused. If you want to postpone discussion on a motion to a later date, just make a motion to postpone. However, if you want to suspend current discussion to take up another emergency matter, with the intention of returning to the motion during the same meeting, make a motion to table.
***For parliamentary inquiry, point of order, and point of information, ask your question or make your point after being recognized by the chair.
****If you believe that you have the answer to a point of information, raise your hand so the chair can call on you.