Parliamentary Procedure Vocabulary

A motion which brings an item of business before the meeting

• Original main motion

• Unclassified motion

• Pending majority vote

• Secondary motion

Brings an item of business that has already been dealt with back before the organization for consideration

• Unclassified motion

• Pertinent facts

• Two-thirds vote

• Pending

The main role is to be familiar with the duties of the chair so that, if the chair becomes unable to serve, they can step in and take over

• Secretary

• Chairman or chairwoman

• Vice chairman or chairwoman

• historian

Requires members to raise their hand to cast their vote when asked if they are for or opposed to the motion

• Motion

• Show of hands vote

• Ballot vote

• Pending

Provides a means of questioning procedure concerning other motions and must be considered before the motion being discussed

• Unclassified motion

• Majority vote

• Incidental main motion

• Incidental motion

Change or affect how a main motion is handled, and is voted on before the main motion

• Main motion

• Subsidiary motion

• Privileged motion

• Unclassified motion

An item that has been stated by the chair and has not yet been disposed of either permanently or temporarily

• Majority vote

• Two-thirds vote

• Pending

• Voice voting

This person will call the meeting to order, recognize members to the floor, state motions, announce the vote and maintain order; a neutral body, that cannot offer debate on a motion or make motions and can only vote if it is to make or break a tie.

• Vice chairman or chairwoman

• Chairman or chairwoman

• Secretary

• Treasurer

Requires members to answer yes or no as their name is called

• Roll-call vote

• Ballot vote

• Secretary

• Primary amendment

Requires one more vote than half the number of the members present

• Two-thirds vote

• Majority vote

• Voice vote

• Rising vote