Roberts Rules - Abbreviated

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This brief summary touches only the major points of parliamentary procedure; Robert's Rules of Order should be consulted whenever questions arise.

LANGUAGE		INTERRUPT SPEAKER?	SECOND NEEDED?	MOTION DEBATABLE?	MOTION AMENDABLE?	VOTE NEEDED?
PRIVILEGED MOTIONS deal with the welfare of the group, rather than with any specific proposal. They must be disposed of before the group can consider any other motion.
Adjourn the meeting	I move that we adjourn	no	yes	no	no	majority
Recess the meeting	I move we recess until	no	yes	no	yes	majority
Complain about noise, room temperature etc.	Point of privilege	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS provide various ways of modifying or disposing of main motions. They must be acted upon before all other motions except privileged motions.
Suspend debate on a matter without calling for a vote	I move we table the matter	no	yes	no	no	majority
End debate	I move the previous question	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority
Limit length of debate	I move debate on this matter be limited to	no	yes	no	yes	2/3 majority
Ask for a vote by actual count, to verify a voice vote	I call for a division of the house	no	no	no	no	none*
Postpone consideration of a matter to a specific time	I move we postpone the matter until	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Have a matter studied further	I move we refer this matter to a committee	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Consider a matter informally	I move the question be considered informally	no	yes	yes	no	majority
Amend a motion	I move that this motion be amended by	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Reject a main motion without voting on the motion itself	I move the question be postponed indefinitely	no	yes	yes	no	majority
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS grow out of other business that the group is considering. They must be decided before the group can return to the question that brought them up.
Correct an error in parliamentary procedure	Point of order	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
Object to a ruling by the chair	I appeal the chair's decision.	yes	yes	yes	no	majority
Consider a matter that violates normal procedure, but does not violate the constitution or bylaws	I move we suspend the rules	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority
Object to considering some matter	I object to the consideration of this matter	yes	no	no	no	2/3 majority
Obtain advice on proper procedure	I raise a parliamentary inquiry	yes	no	no	no	none, chair rules
Request information	Point of information	yes	no	no	no	none
Withdraw a motion	I request leave to withdraw the motion	no	no	no	no	majority
MAIN MOTIONS are the tools used to introduce new business.
Introduce business	I move that	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Take up a matter previously tabled	I move we take from the table	no	yes	no	no	majority
Reconsider a matter already disposed of	I move we reconsider our action relative to	yes	yes	yes	no	majority
Strike out a motion previously passed	I move we rescind the motion calling for	no	yes	yes	yes	majority
Consider a matter out of its scheduled order	I move we suspend the rules and consider	no	yes	no	no	2/3 majority

*But majority vote if someone objects.

Robert's Rules Chart of Motions

Robert's Rules of Order Motions Chart
RobertsRules.org
Based on Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition)

**Part 1, Main Motions.** These motions are listed in order of precedence. A motion can be introduced if it is higher on the chart than the pending motion.
§ indicates the section from Robert's Rules.
§	PURPOSE:	YOU SAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§21	Close meeting	I move to adjourn	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§20	Take break	I move to recess for ...	No	Yes	No	Yes	Majority
§19	Register complaint	I rise to a question of privilege	Yes	No	No	No	None
§18	Make follow agenda	I call for the orders of the day	Yes	No	No	No	None
§17	Lay aside temporarily	I move to lay the question on the table	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§16	Close debate	I move the previous question	No	Yes	No	No	2/3
§15	Limit or extend debate	I move that debate be limited to ...	No	Yes	No	Yes	2/3
§14	Postpone to a certain time	I move to postpone the motion to ...	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§13	Refer to committee	I move to refer the motion to ...	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§12	Modify wording of motion	I move to amend the motion by ...	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
§11	Kill main motion	I move that the motion be postponed indefinitely	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
§10	Bring business before assembly (a main motion)	I move that [or "to"] ...	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority

**Part 2, Incidental Motions.** No order of precedence. These motions arise incidentally and are decided immediately.
§	PURPOSE:	YOU SAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§23	Enforce rules	Point of Order	Yes	No	No	No	None
§24	Submit matter to assembly	I appeal from the decision of the chair	Yes	Yes	Varies	No	Majority
§25	Suspend rules	I move to suspend the rules	No	Yes	No	No	2/3
§26	Avoid main motion altogether	I object to the consideration of the question	Yes	No	No	No	2/3
§27	Divide motion	I move to divide the question	No	Yes	No	Yes	Majority
§29	Demand a rising vote	I move for a rising vote	Yes	No	No	No	None
§33	Parliamentary law question	Parliamentary inquiry	Yes	No	No	No	None
§33	Request for information	Point of information	Yes	No	No	No	None

**Part 3, Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly.**
No order of precedence. Introduce only when nothing else is pending.
§	PURPOSE:	YOU SAY:	INTERRUPT?	2ND?	DEBATE?	AMEND?	VOTE?
§34	Take matter from table	I move to take from the table ...	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
§35	Cancel previous action	I move to rescind ...	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	2/3 or Majority with notice
§37	Reconsider motion	I move to reconsider ...	No	Yes	Varies	No	Majority

Roberts Rules - Abbreviated

PURPOSE:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

PURPOSE:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

PURPOSE:

YOU SAY:

INTERRUPT?

2ND?

DEBATE?

AMEND?

VOTE?

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