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Referencing the content of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised with contrasts noted in the minority report

Meeting Mechanics · Chapter 3

Amend, refer, postpone, and table

Do - shaping a motion

Why this chapter matters

The most common tools members use to improve, defer, or redirect a motion already on the floor.

Chapter outline

  1. Simple amendment flow
  2. Committee referral flow

Vocabulary (6)

amend
To propose a change to the wording or effect of a pending motion.
refer
To send a matter to a committee or smaller group for study or drafting.
postpone to a certain time
To delay consideration until a specified meeting or time.
postpone indefinitely
To dispose of a main motion without a direct vote on the merits.
lay on the table
To set aside a matter temporarily because something more urgent must be handled first.
subsidiary motion
A motion that changes how the pending question is treated.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Parliamentor)

Simple amendment flow

Practice the flow until you can explain it without the screen.

  1. Main motion is pending
  2. Member seeks recognition
  3. Member moves to amend
  4. Assembly disposes of the amendment
  5. Assembly returns to the main motion as amended or unchanged
Committee referral flow

Practice the flow until you can explain it without the screen.

  1. Motion is pending
  2. Member moves to refer
  3. Assembly debates referral details
  4. Assembly votes on referral
  5. Committee studies and reports back later

Quick fire sample (6 of 6 on Parliamentor)

Which term best matches this definition: To propose a change to the wording or effect of a pending motion.
  1. amend
  2. refer
  3. postpone to a certain time
  4. postpone indefinitely
Which term best matches this definition: To send a matter to a committee or smaller group for study or drafting.
  1. amend
  2. postpone to a certain time
  3. postpone indefinitely
  4. refer
Which term best matches this definition: To delay consideration until a specified meeting or time.
  1. refer
  2. postpone indefinitely
  3. postpone to a certain time
  4. amend
Which term best matches this definition: To dispose of a main motion without a direct vote on the merits.
  1. postpone to a certain time
  2. postpone indefinitely
  3. amend
  4. refer
Which term best matches this definition: To set aside a matter temporarily because something more urgent must be handled first.
  1. lay on the table
  2. amend
  3. refer
  4. postpone to a certain time
Which term best matches this definition: A motion that changes how the pending question is treated.
  1. amend
  2. refer
  3. postpone to a certain time
  4. subsidiary motion

Some topics in this course differ across field references. See when sources disagree on Parliamentor before you teach from this sheet alone.

Full scored drills are on Parliamentor at /courses/meeting-mechanics/chapters/03/print/. Answers are not marked on this sheet.