Permitted Procedural Motions in Order of Precedence1
Motion | Vote Required2 | Special Requirements |
1. To appeal a procedural ruling of the presiding officer | Majority | Is in order immediately after the presiding officer announces a procedural ruling, as specified in Rule 7, and at no other time. The member making the motion need not be recognized by the presiding officer, and the motion if timely made may not. be ruled out of order. |
2. To adjourn | Majority | May not interrupt deliberation of pending substantive matter. Motion to recess to a time and place certain must also comply with Rule 2(c). |
3. To take a brief recess | Majority | None |
4. Call to follow the agenda | Majority | Must be made at first reasonable opportunity, or the right to make it is waived for the out-of-order item in question. |
5. To suspend the rules | two-thirds | The Council may not suspend provisions of the rules that state requirements imposed by law on the conned. |
6. To go into closed session | Majority | Motion must cite one or more of the permissible purposes for closed sessions listed in G.S. § 143-318.11(a) and must be adopted at an open meeting. A motion based on G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(1) must also state the name or citation of the law that renders the information to be discussed privileged or confidential. A motion based on G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(3) must identify the parties in each existing lawsuit concerning which the Council expects to receive advice during the closed session, if in fact, such advice is to be received. |
7. To leave closed session | Majority | |
8. To divide a complex motion and consider it by paragraph | Majority | None |
9. To defer consideration | Majority | A substantive motion the consideration of which has been deferred expires 100 days thereafter unless a motion to revive consideration (Motion 14) is adopted. Whde a deferred motion remains pending, a new motion with the same effect cannot, be introduced. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Motion 11. |
Motion | Vote Required2 | Special Requirements |
10. Motion for the previous question | Majority | Not in order until there have been at least 20 minutes of debate, and every member has had an opportunity to speak once. |
11. To postpone to a certain time or day | Majority | None. While a postponed motion remains pending, a new motion with the same effect cannot be introduced. CAUTION: Do not confuse with Motion 9. |
12. To refer a motion to a committee | Majority | 60 days or more after a motion is referred to a committee, the introducer may compel consideration of the measure by the Council, regardless of whether the committee has reported the matter to the Council. |
13. To amend | Majority | (a) Amendments must be pertinent to the subject, matter of the motion being amended. An amendment is improper if adoption of the motion with that amendment added has the same effect as rejection of the original motion. A proposal to substitute a different motion shall be treated as a motion to amend. (b) A motion may be amended, and that amendment may be amended, hut no further amendments may be made until the last-offered amendment is disposed of by a vote. (c) Any amendment to a proposed ordinance must be reduced to writing before the vote on the amendment. |
14. To revive consideration | Majority | In order at any time within 100 days after the day of a vote to defer consideration. Failure to adopt Motion 14 within the 100 day period results in expiration of the deferred substantive motion. |
15. To reconsider | Majority | Must be made by a member who voted with the prevailing side (the majority side except in the case of a tie; in that case the “nos” prevail). May only be made at the meeting at which the original vote was taken, including any continuation of that meeting through recess to a time and place certain. Cannot interrupt deliberation on a pending matter, but is in order at any time before final adjournment of the meeting. |
16. To rescind or repeal | Majority | Not in order if rescission or repeal of an action is forbidden by law. |
Motion | Vote Required2 | Special Requirements |
17. To prevent reintroduction for six months | Two-thirds | In order immediately following defeat of a substantive motion and at no other time. If adopted, the restriction imposed by the motion remains in effect for six months or until the next organizational meeting of the Council, whichever occurs first. |
1. Under these rules all procedural motions are debatable and none requires a second. All may be amended, subject to the stated limitations on motions to amend (Motion 13). Except where indicated otherwise, procedural motions may interrupt deliberations on a pending substantive matter | ||
2. The required vote for adoption of a procedural motion is generally a majority of the votes cast, a quorum being present. In a few cases, the required vote is a vote equal to two-thirds of the actual membership of the Council, excluding the Mayor, unless he or she may vote in all cases, and vacant seats. | ||
(Ord. passed 6-8-10)