The use of the rules for running a meeting, parliamentary procedure, results in efficient meetings where everyone has a chance to give opinions and vote. The main motion is a tool to introduce, debate, and vote on a topic. But at times an additional tool may be required to run a productive meeting. A tool for changing a motion may be necessary.
Instructions
1. To begin discussion of a topic at a meeting, a member makes a main motion. A main motion begins with the words, 'I move...." An example of a main motion is, 'I move that our club hold a car wash next Saturday at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot." The motion is seconded and debate begins.
2. During the debate, it is clear to the members some parts of the motion should be changed. To officially change parts of a motion (but not the overall intent), the motion "amend" can be used. A member is recognized by the chair and states, "I move to amend the motion by ..."
3. There are three basic ways to amend a main motion. The first is to add something to the motion. For example, "I move to amend the motion by adding the words, "and bake sale". The president asks for a second on the amendment and restates the motion with the proposed new wording. "If passed, the main motion would read, the club to hold a car wash AND BAKE SALE next Saturday at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot." The president asks for debate on the amendment. Once debate has finished, the president asks for a vote. If a majority of the membership favor the amendment, the wording of the original motion is changed. More debate on the amended main motion may occur and then a vote is taken.
4. The second way to amend a motion is to substitute. An example is, "I move to amend the main motion by substituting Friday for Saturday. If the amendment passes, the motion would read, "I move that our club hold a car wash next FRIDAY at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot."
5. The third way to amend a motion is to take something out of the original motion. For example, "I move to strike out the words at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot." If the amendment passes, the motion would read, "I move that our club hold a car wash next Saturday."
Tags: main motion, amend motion, club hold, club hold wash, Grocery Store, Grocery Store parking, hold wash