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ROBERT'S RULES CHEAT SHEETPrivileged Motions:
| If you want to: | Yousay: | I? | S? | V? | A? | D? | R? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End meeting | I move that we adjourn (at [time]) | No | Yes | 1/2 | No | No | No |
| Have the meeting stop for a period of time | I move that we recess until [specific time] ORI move that we recess for [time duration] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | No | No |
| Complain about noise, room, temperature, etc. | Point of (personal) privilege, [then state your reasoning for the point] | Yes | No | N/A | No | No | No |
| Make the meeting conform to the schedule | Will the assembly proceed to the orders of the day? OR I call for the orders of the day | Yes | No | 2/3 to overturn | No | No | No |
| Change the normal rules of procedure by temporarily suspending the Bylaws, SGA Rules Bills, Robert’s Rules | I move to suspend the rules in order to [describe reasons] | No | Yes | 2/3 | No | No | No |
| Mention Something to the Senate | I move to address the Senate | No | No | Chair | No | No | No |
| Re-elect the chair | I move to vote to re-elect the (President/ Vice President) of the Senate | No | Yes | 1/2 | No | No | No |
Subsidiary Motions:
| If you want to: | Yousay: | I? | S? | V? | A? | D? | R? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporarily stop discussion of a motion/item | I move to lay [motion/item] on the table | No | Yes | 1/2 | No | No | Only if failed |
| Go into voting procedures and stop further debate | I move to have a vote on [motion/item] ORI move the previous question | No | Yes | 1/2 | No | No | No |
| * Speak on a debatable motion/item | I move for an [time duration] moderated caucus with [time duration] of speaking time | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | No | No |
| Ask a question to the speaker | I move for an [time duration] Q-and-A with [time duration] of speaking time | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | No | No |
| Extend debate | I move to extend [type of debate] by [time amount] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | No | No |
| Limit or end debate | I move to end [type of debate] | No | Yes | 2/3 | No | No | No |
| Stop discussion of an item until a definite time or date | I move to postpone this matter until [time/date/session] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Only if carried |
| Forward legislation for committee consideration | I move to refer [name of legislation] to the [name of committee] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| * Change a motion/item | I move to amend the [motion/item] by [desired change] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stop discussion of an item until an unknown time or date (Often “kills” the motion /item) | I move to postpone this question indefinitely | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Only if carried |
| Skip committee consideration for legislation | I move to discharge [name of legislation] from committee consideration | No | Yes | 2/3 | Yes | Yes | Only if failed |
| Take up a motion/item tabled | I move to take from the table [motion/item] | Yes | Yes | 1/2 | No | No | No |
* This motion might not apply to some motionsSame colored motions have equal precedence, I separated them into different rows for easier understanding though.
Incidental Motions:
| If you want to: | Yousay: | I? | S? | V? | A? | D? | R? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point out rule-breaking, improper behavior, or vulgar language | Point of Order, [reason] | Yes | No | Chair | No | No | No, but can be appealed |
| Inquire about the business at hand or give valuable information to a question | Point of Information, [question/information to add] | Yes | No | N/A | No | No | No |
| Inquire about the rules of the SGA Constitutions, Bylaws, Robert’s Rules | (Point of) Parliamentary Inquiry, [question] | Yes | No | N/A | No | No | No |
| Stop an irrelevant, inappropriate, or undesirable item from being considered | I object to the consideration of this question | Yes | No | 2/3 | No | No | Only if failed |
| Challenge a ruling made by the chair | I appeal the Chair’s decision | Yes | Yes | 1/2 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Split up a motion/item so that different parts may be debated and voted upon separately | I move for the division of the question | Yes | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | No | No |
| Change the voting method to roll call | I move for roll call vote | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Be free from specific obligations stated in the Bylaws | I request to be excused from [obligation] | Yes | No | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Only if failed |
Main Motions:
| If you want to: | Yousay: | I? | S? | V? | A? | D? | R? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bring a new idea before the Senate | I move to [your idea] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Overturn an attendance requirement not including GBM/Committee meetings | I move to vote to overturn the attendance requirement for [specific event] | No | Yes | 2/3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Close the meeting to the public | I move for a closed session | Yes | No | 2/3 | No | No | No |
| Introduce impeachment charges | I move to present the President of the Senate with charges of impeachment | No | No | N/A | No | No | No |
| Amend the SGA Constitution | I move to vote to amend the SGA Constitution | No | Yes | 3/4 | Yes | Yes | Only if failed |
| Amend the SGA Bylaws | I move to vote to amend the SGA Bylaws | No | Yes | 2/3 | Yes | Yes | Only if failed |
| Remove a committee chair by a vote from the entire Senate | I move to vote to remove [name of committee chair] as chair of [committee name] | No | Yes | 1/2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remove a member from a committee | I move to remove [name of Senator] from [committee name] | No | Yes | 2/3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Repeal or cancel a previous motion/item already adopted | I move to (repeal/rescind/annul) [motion/item previously adopted] | No | Yes | 2/3 | Yes | Yes | Only if failed |
| * Vote again on a motion/item and you are a part of the winning side | I move to reconsider [motion/item already voted on] | Yes | Yes | 1/2 | No | Only if original is | No |
* This motion is complicated and might not apply to some motionsOther requests that can be made.
| If you want to: | Yousay: | Interrupt Speaker? | Requires a Second? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withdraw a motion you made | I move to withdraw my motion ORI withdraw my motion | Yes, but must be made before the motion is voted upon | No |
| Agree with a motion initially made | I second OR Second | No, but must be done after the chair requests | No |
Definitions:
- Privileged Motion: a motion that is allowed to interrupt other motions and thus can be brought forth when other motions are on the floor
- Subsidiary Motion: a motion used to assist with a main motion or legislative items
- Incidental Motion: a motion arising out of immediate necessity following another motion. They’re allowed to interrupt other motions and thus can be brought forth when other motions are on the floor EXCEPT in the case of adjournment, recess, or point of privileged
- Main Motion: a motion used to bring business before the assembly and can only be brought forth when no other motion is on the floor.
- Note: some main motions cannot be brought forth UNLESS they are on the agenda, so they aren’t included here since they cannot be considered during a meeting
- All BOLDED votes require that portion of all Senators, regardless of presence/attendance.
I? = Can the person saying the motion interrupt the speaker?S? = Is a second needed?V? = Vote needed to pass?Chair = the chair decidesA? = Is the motion amendable?D? = Is the motion debatable?R? = Can the motion be reconsidered
There is an order of precedent for all motions: Privileged, then Subsidiary, then Main. The table shows which motion takes precedence over another (adjournment takes precedence over recess, therefore it is above that motion in this chart), but all main motions have equal weight (no precedence over another main motion). All Incidental motions fall out of the order of precedence since they arise out of need, but are generally understood to be dealt with as soon as they are said (temporarily take precedence over any motion on the floor) and all have equal weight (no precedence over another incidental motion).