 |
|
MRSC has joined with Carl Neu, Director of the Center for the Future of Local Governance, P. Stephen DiJulio, Attorney, Foster Pepper PLLC, and Paul McClintock, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, to bring you the "Council/Commission Advisor." The Council/Commission Advisor will feature a new article each month with timely information and advice you can use.*
Meeting Tips and Myths
January 2007
Paul McClintock Professional Registered Parliamentarian
Meeting Tip: Perfecting Proposals
Once a motion (proposed action) has been made and seconded, it is stated by the chair, and then it is open to debate and amendment (perfecting). You can amend by striking, inserting, or both (Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), p.129). E.g., a motion "to buy two oak desks" could be amended (a) by striking "oak"; (b) by inserting "used" before "oak"; or (c) by striking "two" and inserting "three." (If strike-and-insert involves a paragraph or more (e.g., the entire motion), you move to "substitute" the new text for the original.) RONR uses "strike out" but accepts the use of "strike"; "delete" is not preferred (p.129 footnote).
You may even want to amend a motion you dislike and will vote against, so that if it is adopted it won't be as bad as originally proposed.
Amendments are adopted by a majority vote, even if the main motion requires two-thirds.
See RONR p.125-160, or Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief, p.38-51.
Meeting Myth: If an amendment is "friendly," you need only to have the maker of the original motion agree to it.
Fact: "Once a motion has been stated by the chair, it is no longer the property of the mover, but of the assembly. Any amendment, 'friendly' or otherwise, must be adopted by the full body, either by a vote or by unanimous consent." -- Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief, p.116.
P. Stephen DiJulio, a partner at Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC, focuses on litigation involving state and local governments, and land use and environmental law. Particular experience includes representation of jurisdictions on eminent domain, utilities (water, wastewater, storm water, solid waste systems), local improvement districts, facility siting and contractor litigation. More.
Carl Neu, author and consultant, is recognized nationally as an authority on, and an experienced practitioner of, the theory and application of governance and leadership to city councils and county boards, local government managers, and community leaders. More.
Paul McClintock is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and Certified Parliamentarian, professionally serving organizations as parliamentarian at meetings, teaching workshops, and writing parliamentary opinions. He also is an active leader in the National Association of Parliamentarians and the American Institute of Parliamentarians at several levels. More.
*The Articles appearing in the "Council/Commission" column represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Municipal Research & Services Center.