Reconsider the previously passed motion

[Jayadev]

Our board of trustees passed a motion to reconsider and withdrawn a motion which was approved in the previous board meeting.

This current motion was approved with a simple majority and the chair declared " motion passed". Is it correct? Do not they need two thirds majority for amending or modifying the previously approved motion? Please clarify

Thanks in advance

[jstackpo]

The motion to "reconsider" has time limits (p. 316) which were most probably exceeded in your case.  So it shouldn't have been made.  But that is water under the bridge now.  The motion was indeed withdrawn. The time limits for raising a point of order have (also) long past (p. 250).

 

It sounds as though you really meant to move to "rescind/amend something previously adopted" - maybe.

 

What was your intent?

[Jayadev]

Thanks for your reply.

 

The board is under the impression that the previously passed motion has no more value. How to make the board to realize that it did not follow the procedure and the previously approved motion is still in effect?

[Dan Honemann]

Thanks for your reply.

 

The board is under the impression that the previously passed motion has no more value. How to make the board to realize that it did not follow the procedure and the previously approved motion is still in effect?

 

Although the motion to rescind (or otherwise modify) the previously adopted motion may not have been adopted by the requisite vote, it is too late to raise a point of order about it now. The previously adopted motion is no longer in effect.

[jstackpo]

Well, it isn't "still in effect", because no point of order was raised when you went through your reconsider/withdraw steps.

 

Next time just move to "rescind" the previously adopted motion.

 

And get your board copies of...

 

RONRIB:

"Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief", Updated Second Edition (Da Capo Press, Perseus Books Group, 2011). It is a splendid summary of all the rules you will really need in all but the most exceptional situations. And only $7.50! You can read it in an evening. Get both RONRIB and RONR (scroll down) at this link. Or in your local bookstore.

[Gary c Tesser]

And, since Dr Stackpole wrote this at 10:34 AM his time, I presume you've read it your first time already.  It shouldn't have taken an hour, but if you haven't yet, do it now.  You'll be able to come back here, to the world's premier Internet parliamentary website forum (RONR MB). and ask any questions you might have (you should have some, the book isn't perfect; we call it The Left Book for a reason) before breakfast, it's not even 7 yet, at least in my house, and if you're around and hungry, I can maybe find you a 100-year old egg, but you'll have to say you read the book first.

 

N.B.  We call it The Left Book, but not for that reason.

 

N.B. OK, "We call it The Left Book" might be contentious.

[jstackpo]

It is the "Left Book" because so many presiding officers (and members for that matter) leave it (and all its recommendations) behind when they preside, go to meetings, write minutes, &c&c&c.

[Guest chellealora]

I might be coming in a little late on this discussion about rescinding a motion.  Just to be clear, if a motion was made and approved at a previous meeting but only passed by a couple of votes and there was much discord left within the group, can this motion be rescinded at the very next meeting and discussed further? Would the one making the motion have to have information to substantiate the reason why the motion needs to be rescinded? Any input would be helpful, Thanks!

[Guest Nancy N.]

I might be coming in a little late on this discussion about rescinding a motion.  Just to be clear, if a motion was made and approved at a previous meeting but only passed by a couple of votes and there was much discord left within the group, can this motion be rescinded at the very next meeting and discussed further? Would the one making the motion have to have information to substantiate the reason why the motion needs to be rescinded? Any input would be helpful, Thanks

Roughly speaking, it can be rescinded if it is possible to undo.  (A motion to tear down the old clubhouse and build a new one, say.)

 

Technically, the discussion should be held, and done with, while the motion to rescind is pending, not after.

 

Robert's Rules doesn't require substantiating information.  Nor common sense, for that matter, though it encourages it.

[Josh Martin]

Just to be clear, if a motion was made and approved at a previous meeting but only passed by a couple of votes and there was much discord left within the group, can this motion be rescinded at the very next meeting and discussed further?

 

Yes. The motion to Rescind requires a 2/3 vote, a vote of a majority of the entire membership, or a majority vote with previous notice for adoption.

 

Would the one making the motion have to have information to substantiate the reason why the motion needs to be rescinded?

 

No, but it would probably help.