Amend a Motion
1. Amend a Motion (RROO, Section 12)
- Can be applied to any main motion or most other motions that legitimately contain a variable factor, e.g., time.
- Must be seconded.
- Is debatable whenever the motion to which it is applied is debatable.
- Has two degrees: primary and secondary.
- Requires only a majority vote.
- Comes in three forms: Insert or Add, Strike out, Strike out and insert or Substitute.
Writing down form, degree, and the wording of your amendment before making the motion will help the Senate disseminate information more efficiently.
2. Commit or Refer a Motion to Committee. (RROO, Section 13)
- Can be applied to main motions with any amendments that may be pending.
- Must be seconded.
- Is debatable only in regard to the desirability of committing the main question and the appropriate details of the Commit motion. Never debates the merits of the main question.
- Is amendable only as to the variables of which committee, committee membership and manner of selection-if applicable-and committee instructions.
- Requires only a majority vote.
In making a Commit motion, it is necessary to state the name of the committee, committee membership and manner of selection-if applicable-and committee instructions.
3. Request for Permission to Withdraw a Motion (RROO, Section 33)
- A motion may withdrawn by the mover without asking the consent of anyone, if it has not been placed before the Senate.
- If the motion has been placed before the Senate, the mover can ask the President for permission to withdraw.
- The President can do so with unanimous consent or if there is an objection, the President can put the matter before the Senate for a vote.
- A motion cannot be withdrawn once voting on it has begun.