It Depends

IT DEPENDS IT DEPENDS Daniel W. Fitzpatrick, PRP One situation that presents parliamentarians with the potential for error are motions that may be processed in differing ways. These motions take on different characteristics depending on the circumstances of their use.

For many students of parliamentary procedure, the first thing they study are motions, their classification and processing using the various classifications with the appropriate Standard Descriptive Characteristics (SDCs).

Motion charts include several different types of motions, including Privileged Motions which includes a student’s first introduction to classifications, SDCs and order of precedence. During the initial phase of learning, the elephant in the room is that many motions are processed differently depending on the nature of when they are proposed.

Every Privileged Motion may also become an Incidental Main Motion, if they are introduced with no business pending. For example, the motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn, the highest-ranking secondary motion in parliamentary procedure becomes an Incidental Main Motion if introduced when no other motion is pending. It goes from the front of the line to just another main motion waiting its turn to be processed. Since all Privileged Motions share this characteristic, the chance for error is magnified.

In their essential form, motion charts are a matrix of possibilities in the context of differing situations.

The motion chart on the next page consists of five rows of motions and six columns of SDCs for a total of thirty variables. One aspect of total quality management is that the more variables a process has, the higher the potential for error.

Within the thirty variables there are thirteen differences between processing a Privileged Motion and processing an Incidental Main Motion. For example, the motion Raise a Question of Privilege has an 83% chance of error (5/6), when the first variable, processing as a Privileged Motion or Incidental Main Motion is selected.

In total there are thirteen Standard Descriptive Characteristics that differ when Privileged Motions are actually Incidental Main Motions. These thirteen differences result in a 43% chance of error. These variable alternative outcomes are considerably smaller in Subsidiary Motions but are still worthy of note.

In conclusion we must be on guard that before motion processing begins, we must first ask ourselves is it a Privileged Motion or an Incidental Main Motion…the answer will always be…it depends. NP

PRIVILEGED MOTIONS1 Interrupt Second Debate Amend Vote Reconsider

Fix the Time NO YES NO, YES M YES to Which to unless in the

Adjourn form of a

RONR (12th ed.) §22 Main Motion

Adjourn

RONR (12th ed.) §21 NO YES NO, NO, M NO unless in the unless in the form of a form of a Main Motion Main Motion

Recess

NO YES NO, YES M NO

RONR (12th ed.) §20 unless in the form of a Main Motion

Raise a YES, unless NO, NO, NO, When not NO, Question of urgent; unless in the unless in the unless in the in the unless in the Privilege should not form of a form of a form of a form of a form of a

RONR (12th ed.) §19 interrupt Main Motion Main Motion Main Motion Main Motion Main Motion once a it is ruled on person starts by the chair. speaking2 If in the form of a main motion —majority.

Call for the YES NO NO, NO, Must be NO, Orders of unless in the unless in the enforced on unless in the the Day form of a form of a request of form of a

RONR (12th ed.) §18 Main Motion Main Motion one member Main Motion unless set aside by a 2/3 vote.

1 Incidental Main Motion if no question is pending. 2 No, if brought up as a Main Motion.

Daniel Fitzpatrick is a retired city manager from Rochester, New Hampshire. He been a PRP since 2009 and serves as the parliamentarian for the New Hampshire White Mountain Unit.