rwin123

Outside the specifics of our confusing situation, let me ask the question in the abstract: Can a vote to replace a main motion with a substitute motion be rescinded? (BTW, I'm a "he"- unclear from my user name!).

I'm really interested in whether we can rescind, with the assumption that we voted to replace the original motion with the substitute (and did not vote to approve the substitute motion).

Oh, and I'm sorry, Atul Kapur for an unclear description. The steering committee determined that we had passed the motion to substitute (not the substitute motion itself). My desire to rescind is out of a desire to set the order straight and to allow the original motion to be discussed properly.

Thanks for the replies. You're correct that there are several problems. There are actually more complications than have already been noted. Our steering committee includes the parliamentarian for our faculty meeting, so the ruling as to what was passed was partly due to his influence/discernment. Secondly, we have a parliamentarian who is a voting participant in our faculty meetings (I've learned that Robert's Rules does not recommend, or actually prohibits, such an arrangement). After arguing against the motion, it was the parliamentarian who suggested the substitute proposal to do away with the course requirement and thus got this ball rolling.

We've had an unusual event in which a college committee proposed the continuance of a course requirement with some modifications (due to staffing constraints). After a rushed discussion in which a few faculty members expressed skepticism to the motion, a motion to substitute in which the substitute is basically the negation of the original proposal (replacing the "keep the requirement" proposal with the "cancel the requirement" proposal. No clear invitation to argue for or against the substitute motion was made, and for that reason there was confusion over whether we voted for a proposed amendment to the substitute motion (which was made after the original substitute motion), or for an actual motion to substitute. The motion (whatever it was) passed, and our faculty meeting steering committee determined that what passed was the motion to substitute. Being on the committee that proposed the original motion, I feel that the rushed nature of the discussion and the unclarity surrounding the vote tarnished iits legitimacy. I have given prior notice to rescind the motion to substitute, in order to allow for proper discussion of the main motion. It seems that utilization of the substitute motion as a way to defeat a main motion is often warned against, but perhaps not completely against the rules? Please let me know what you think of our situation. ASAP, please, as our next faculty meeting is tomorrow!