1. Parliamentary Procedure in
Action
Success Leadership Series
J. Timothy Sulisz

2. Course Objectives
Review basic parliamentary principles:
A. Learn & practice main & 7 subsidiary motions
B. Talk about the rules governing debate on
motions
C. Learn how to use order of precedence

3. Agenda
• Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures
• Handling a Main Motion
• Order of Precedence of Subsidiary Motions
• Seven Subsidiary Motion

4. Why Have Parliamentary Procedures?
• Parliamentary rules take into account the often
conflicting interests that develop during
meetings, and they provide procedures that
ensure decisions are made fairly
• Helps groups conduct meetings in an orderly
fashion

5. Who uses parliamentary procedure?
• Large groups who need to maintain order at
their meetings:
▫ Toastmasters Clubs, Districts, Board of Directors
▫ Charitable organizations such as Kiwanis or Order
of Foresters
▫ Condominium corporations
▫ Union meetings
▫ Board of Directors
▫ City Council
▫ Parliaments of Ontario and Canada

6. Principles of Parliamentary Rules
• The votes of all voting members are counted
equally
• Absent members and members holding minority
opinions have rights
▫ Free and fair debate
▫ To know the meaning of the motion
• Majority has the right to decide and the minority
to be protected and speak on the issue
• Facilitate transaction of business in good faith

7. Quiz: Define the following…
• Quorum
• Constitution
• Bylaws
• Standing rules
• Motion
• Presiding officer

8. Basic Definitions
• Quorum – minimum number of members required to
transact business
• Constitution – basic regulations governing the
organization (name, purpose, members, officers, etc.)
• Bylaws – fundamental rules of the organization that
are amended infrequently
• Standing rules – details concerning administration of
organization that are easily changed or overridden
• Motion – formal proposal that an action be taken
• Presiding officer – meeting leader who sees that rules
are observed

9. Six Steps in Handling a Main Motion
1. Member makes a motion: I move that…
2. Another member seconds the motion: I second the
motion.
3. Presiding officer places motion before group: It is
moved and seconded that…
4. Motion is open for debate: the maker of the
motion is asked if he or she wants to speak
5. Motion is put to a vote: Are you ready to vote?
Restatement of the motion & how the vote will be
taken. All those in favour… All those opposed…
6. Presiding officer announces result: The motion is
adopted or lost

10. Voting
• If the vote is tied, it is lost
• Presiding officer does not vote, unless his vote
affects the results
• For a tie vote, a Chair can vote in favour
ensuring that the motion is passed
• If there is one more vote in favour of a motion,
the Chair can vote against it making a tie so the
motion is defeated

11. Exercise 1
• Give a short simple statement proposing a
course of action
• Second the motion
• Speak in favour or against the motion
• Call for the vote by the chairman & re-statement
of the motion
• All members of the group should participate
• No amendments or others types of motions
• Time limit: 10 minutes

12. Subsidiary Motions
• Only one motion can be discussed at a time
▫ Seven subsidiary motions help the assembly to
modify, delay action on or get rid of a motion
▫ If a subsidiary motion is made, focus shifts to that
motion – it has a higher order of precedence
▫ Action must be taken on the pending motion
before discussing the main motion
▫ Each of the seven subsidiary motion has an order
of precedence or rank

13. Subsidiary Motions
1. Postpone indefinitely – group avoids direct vote
on main motion
2. Amend – wording of another motion is modified
3. Refer to committee – send to another group for
study
4. Postpone to a certain time – consider something
later
5. Limit or extend limits of debate
6. Close debate [previous question] – stop debate on
pending motion and vote
7. Lay on table – put aside a pending motion

14. Subsidiary Motions
• Lay on table
• Close debate [previous question]
• Limit or extend limits of debate
Order of
• Postpone to a certain time Precedence
• Refer to committee (see handout)
• Amend
• Postpone indefinitely

15. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Postpone Indefinitely
• You Say: I move that the motion be postponed
indefinitely
• Purpose: To avoid a direct vote on a motion
• How Used: Dispose of inappropriate or undesirable
motions; avoid going on record as supporting it
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

16. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Amend
• You Say: I move to amend the motion by…
• Purpose: To alter or modify the wording of a motion
• How Used: Insert words, strike out words, or both
to alter the meaning; must be germaine
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

17. Subsidiary Motions
• Amendments are the mostly widely used
subsidiary motions
• Primary and secondary amendments are
possible; tertiary are not
• Debate focuses on second amendment first,
followed by the primary amendment, and then
the main motion
• Can be complex
▫ E.g. amendment by substitution or by filling of
blanks

18. Exercise 2
• Present a simple motion and second it
• Start speaking in favour or against the motion
• Introduce an amendment
• All members of the group should participate
• Time limit: 15 minutes

19. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Refer to Committee
• You Say: I move to refer the motion to…
• Purpose: To send to a committee for further study
• How Used: Group needs more information to make
a decision; specify committee to be assigned
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

20. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Postpone to a Certain Time
• You Say: I move to postpone the motion to…
• Purpose: To postpone to another specific time
• How Used: Crucial members / information not
at the meeting; must state when postponed to
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: Yes
• Required Vote: Majority

21. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Limit or Extend Limits of Debate
• You Say: I move that debate be limited to… [specify
how or when]
• Purpose: To limit or extend debate
• How Used: Limit number / length of speeches;
place maximum time limit on debate
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: Yes
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: 2/3 Majority

22. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Close Debate (Previous Question)
• You Say: I move to close debate (or the previous
question)
• Purpose: to close debate on pending motion
• How Used: Know enough information to vote; avoid
repetition; focus on more important motions
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: 2/3 Majority

23. Subsidiary Motions
• Motion: Lay on the Table (Take from the Table)
• You Say: I move to lay the question on the table
• Purpose: To interrupt business for some urgent
reason (e.g. visit by the mayor)
• How Used: Sparingly; specify reason for taking this
action; rule out of order if reason not legitimate
• Interrupt Speaker: No
• Requires Second: Yes
• Amendable: No
• Debatable: No
• Required Vote: Majority

24. Exercise 3
• Present a simple motion and second it
• Start speaking in favour or against the motion
• Introduce as many of the seven subsidiary
motions in order of precedence
• All members of the group should participate
• Time limit: 15 minutes

25. How to Learn More
• Purchase a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, 11th
Edition
• Participate in Club Business meetings
▫ Prepare wording of motions ahead of time to
present at the business meeting
▫ Investigate any motions that you aren’t familiar
with at a business meeting
▫ Follow-up on any mistakes that you made to learn
how to present the motion better
• Join the Parliamentary Society of Toronto, AIP