Motions & Roberts Rules

OPSEU Local 596 Guide to Motions 

Companion Document

Key Definitions:

Motion - a proposal, made by a member,  to start an action or raise an item of business. To start a motion a member must be recognized by the Chair, state “I move…” and another member must declare “I second the motion”. 

Point of Order - A question or clarification regarding procedure

Question of Privilege - to raise issues/concerns related to rights, integrity or privilege of members or proceedings. Privilege takes priority over items of business and can be raised over rights, comfort of attendees, or to address violations against another member

Reconsideration - Related to a prior motion. A motion is tabled to revisit or review a prior decision made by the Local Executive and/or membership.  A motion to reconsider can be made where new information is made available or where there is an error in the original deliberation. It cannot be made when a vote has been taken and the subsequent action cannot be undone; where actions (in part) related to the prior motion have been executed; or where a new motion can cause the same action as a reconsideration.

Procedure:
1. Motion: A member rises or raises a hand to signal the chairperson. Once recognized the member may put a motion to the “floor”.
2. Second: Another member seconds the motion.
3. Debate: The members debate the motion.
4. Vote: The chairperson restates the motion, and then first asks for affirmative votes, and then negative votes.
5. Announce the vote: The chairperson announces the result of the vote and any instructions.

Summary From the OPSEU Constitution:

1. To put forward a motion the member must raise their hand, identify themselves and be recognized by the Chairperson before proceeding with a motion

2. There is a 3 minute limit to speak on a motion. Discussion and/or questions must be confined to the merits of the motion.

3. A speaker on a motion may only have the floor once until all speakers have been heard in order (by recognition of the Chairperson)

4. A speaker may have an opportunity to speak again (a second time) once all speakers have been heard

5. A motion may be disrupted where there is a Point of Order, a question of Privilege, an objection to consideration or motion to reconsider

Local Addendum to Constitutional Standards:

1. Where or if a motion is known prior to a scheduled meeting the motioner should notify the Local Executive in advance to provide the motion in writing, the mover and the seconder.

2. This will allow the executive to distribute the motion in advance of the GMM so that members are given ample time to review prior to the meeting. 

3. Where a motion may require time to fully understand an informational meeting can be scheduled prior to the GMM for Q&A to allow ample time for review of a motion. 

4. An information session is not in lieu of a GMM debate but in addition to any discussion on the floor. We want the membership to have sufficient time to review, contemplate and understand a motion as needed. 

5. Such informational sessions will be on a case by case basis and available by recommendation (by the Executive) or request where a motion is prepared and available in advance. 

6. A request for an informational session regarding a predistributed motion may be made by the mover or by a member who requires clarification. A request should be taken to the executive and will be taken into consideration. 

Table 1. Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet

Ref: https://hccsfacultysenate.com/roberts-rules-of-order-cheat-sheet/