"Motion to Reconsider"

[Guest ray]

Last month, at our meeting a matter concerning management of the treasury was voted on and passed with a unanimous "aye" response. (It was properly proposed as a motion, seconded, discussed, etc) Some members who were not present at that meeting do not agree with with the results. Can a motion to reconsider be used in this instance? Doesnt there have to be a certain number of the original people wanting to change their vote in order to bring forward such a motion? If so, is that number based on a quorum of the total number of members or just those present at the meeting?

Thanks

[Tim Wynn]

Last month, at our meeting a matter concerning management of the treasury was voted on and passed with a unanimous "aye" response. (It was properly proposed as a motion, seconded, discussed, etc) Some members who were not present at that meeting do not agree with with the results. Can a motion to reconsider be used in this instance? Doesnt there have to be a certain number of the original people wanting to change their vote in order to bring forward such a motion? If so, is that number based on a quorum of the total number of members or just those present at the meeting?

Thanks

It is too late to use the motion to Reconsider. However, any member can move to Rescind or Amend the previously adopted motion. This requires a second; it's debatable, and it requires a two-thirds vote OR a majority vote with notice OR a vote of a majority of the ENTIRE membership. See RONR (11th ed.), Section 35.

[Chris Harrison]

There is a very limited time in which the motion to Reconsider can be made and it is beyond that time frame. However, assuming that the motion hasn't been fully executed it would be possible to Rescind or Amend the previously adopted motion with a majority vote if previous notice was given or a 2/3 vote or a vote of a majority of the ENTIRE membership if notice was not given (RONR pp. 305-310).

[Gary c Tesser]

One thing I liked about the old forum format was, you could change the title, at least for your own post and any responses to it. I would change this one to "Changing our minds" or something, to reflect how it turned out under Chris H's and Tim Wynn's magisterial ministrations.

[Trina]

Last month, at our meeting a matter concerning management of the treasury was voted on and passed with a unanimous "aye" response. (It was properly proposed as a motion, seconded, discussed, etc) Some members who were not present at that meeting do not agree with with the results. Can a motion to reconsider be used in this instance? Doesnt there have to be a certain number of the original people wanting to change their vote in order to bring forward such a motion? If so, is that number based on a quorum of the total number of members or just those present at the meeting?

Thanks

See the pages cited by Tim Wynn and Chris H. for details. As an example of how this might play out, it would be entirely appropriate for any member (presumably one of those absent people who disagreed, but it could be anyone) to move to rescind, or amend, the adopted motion (assuming it has not been fully carried out). The motion to rescind, or amend, then is handled like any other motion... except that it requires a higher vote margin when it comes time to vote. If the original motion passed unanimously, as you describe, it is unlikely -- but not impossible -- for the new motion to succeed. It's always possible that the people who disagree with the original motion will offer good arguments, and persuade enough members to change their minds.

In short, it's a more straightforward process than you were imagining -- no need to keep track of who was present or absent at the previous meeting, or who voted which way on the original motion.

[Shmuel Gerber]

One thing I liked about the old forum format was, you could change the title, at least for your own post and any responses to it. I would change this one to "Changing our minds" or something, to reflect how it turned out under Chris H's and Tim Wynn's magisterial ministrations.

Don't worry; people still can (and often do) respond to a topic other than the one provided in the message being responded to. (Case in point: this very message.)