03 - Laserfiche WebLink

P Motion to table.This motion,if passed,requires discussion of the Motion to close nominations.When choosing officers of the agenda item to be halted and the agenda item to be placed on"hold! body(such as the chair),nominations are in order either from a The motion can contain a specific time in which the item can come nominating committee or from the floor of the body.A motion to back to the body."I move we table this item until our regular meeting close nominations effectively cuts off the right of the minority to in October."Or the motion can contain no specific time for the nominate officers and it requires a two-thirds vote to pass. return of the item,in which case a motion to take the item off the Motion to object to the consideration of a question.Normally,such table and bring it back to the body will have to be taken at a future a motion is unnecessary since the objectionable item can be tabled or meeting.A motion to table an item(or to bring it back to the body) defeated straight up.However,when members of a body do not even requires a simple e ma7oritivote. want an item on the agenda to be considered,then such a motion is Motion to limit debate.The most common form of this motion is to in order.It is not debatable,and it requires a two-thirds vote to pass. say,"I move the previous question"or"I move the question"or"I call Motion to suspend the rules.This motion is debatable,but requires the question"or sometimes someone simply shouts out"question." a two-thirds vote to pass.If the body has its own rules of order, As a practical matter,when a member calls out one of these phrases, conduct or procedure,this motion allows the body to suspend the the chair can expedite matters by treating it as a"request"rather rules for a particular purpose.For example,the body(a private club) than as a formal motion.The chair can simply inquire of the body, might have a rule prohibiting the attendance at meetings by non-club "any further discussion?"If no one wishes to have further discussion, members.A motion to suspend the rules would be in order to allow then the chair can go right to the pending motion that is on the floor. However,if even one person wishes to discuss the pending motion anon-club member to attend a meeting of the club on a particular date or on a particular agenda item. further,then at that point,the chair should treat the call for the "question"as a formal motion,and proceed to it. Counting Votes When a member of the body makes such a motion("I move the previous question"),the member is really saying:"I've had enough The matter of counting votes starts simple,but can become debate.Let's get on with the vote."When such a motion is made,the complicated. chair should ask for a second,stop debate,and vote on the motion to Usually,it's pretty easy to determine whether a particular motion limit debate.The motion to limit debate requires a two-thirds vote of passed or whether it was defeated.If a simple majority vote is needed the body. to pass a motion,then one vote more than 50 percent of the body is NOTE:A motion to limit debate could include a time limit.For required.For example,in a five-member body,if the vote is three in example:"I move we limit debate on this agenda item to 15 minutes:' favor and two opposed,the motion passes.If it is two in favor and Even in this format,the motion to limit debate requires a two- three opposed,the motion is defeated. thirds vote of the body.A similar motion is a motion to object to If a two-thirds majority vote is needed to pass a motion,then how consideration of an item.This motion is not debatable,and if passed, many affirmative votes are required?The simple rule of thumb is to precludes the body from even considering an item on the agenda.It count the"no"votes and double that count to determine how many also requires a two-thirds vote. "yes"votes are needed to pass a particular motion.For example,in a seven-member body,if two members vote"no"then the"yes"vote Majority and Super Majority Votes of at least four members is required to achieve a two-thirds majority In a democracy,a simple majority vote determines a question.A tie vote to pass the motion. vote means the motion fails.So in a seven-member body,a vote of What about tie votes?In the event of a tie,the motion always fails since 4-3 passes the motion.A vote of 3-3 with one abstention means the an affirmative vote is required to pass any motion.For example,in a motion fails.If one member is absent and the vote is 3-3,the motion five-member body,if the vote is two in favor and two opposed,with still fails. one member absent,the motion is defeated. All motions require a simple majority,but there are a few exceptions. Vote counting starts to become complicated when members The exceptions come up when the body is taking an action which vote"abstain"or in the case of a written ballot,cast a blank(or effectively cuts off the ability of a minority of the body to take an unreadable)ballot.Do these votes count,and if so,how does one action or discuss an item.These extraordinary motions require a count them?The starting point is always to check the statutes. two-thirds majority(a super majority)to pass: In California,for example,for an action of a board of supervisors to Motion to limit debate.Whether a member says,"I move the be valid and binding,the action must be approved by a majority of the previous question,"or"I move the question,"or"I call the question," board.(California Government Code Section 25005.)Typically,this or"I move to limit debate,"it all amounts to an attempt to cut off the means three of the five members of the board must vote affirmatively ability of the minority to discuss an item,and it requires a two-thirds in favor of the action.A vote of 2-1 would not be sufficient.A vote of vote to pass. 3-0 with two abstentions would be sufficient.In general law cities in 5