Voting on an agenda item

[Guest russ]

Once a motion has been made on an agenda item and a vote has been taken.  The motion fails, can members continue discussion without a motion on the floor and attempt to make new motions trying to get the item passed.

 

[Gary Novosielski]

No. 

 

The time for perfecting the motion is while it is pending, before the vote, via the amendment process.  Once the motion fails, it's time to move on to a new item of business.  

 

A new motion can be introduced as long as does not present substantially the same question.  If you want to go back and debate the failed motion, someone who voted against it could move to Reconsider it, at the same meeting. 

 

Otherwise, you can wait until the next meeting and just move it again.  But the best way to ensure that it gets past is to amend it into a form that a majority can support.  That's the essence of the parliamentary process.

[Dan Honemann]

Once a motion has been made on an agenda item and a vote has been taken.  The motion fails, can members continue discussion without a motion on the floor and attempt to make new motions trying to get the item passed.

 

"Renewal of motions is limited by the basic principle that an assembly cannot be asked to decide the same, or substantially the same, question twice during one session—except through a motion to reconsider a vote (37) or a motion to rescind an action (35), or in connection with amending something already adopted (see also pp. 74–75)."  (RONR, 11th ed., p. 336.)

 

Except in small boards or in a committee, no debate should be allowed unless a debatable motion is pending.

[Guest Mari Stone]

On a similar topic - our five man board held a meeting with one absent.  A motion was made and the result was a tie, so it failed.  An amended motion was then made, and it also failed in a tie.  What is the status of the question?  Is it still open?  Is it still on the table for the next meeting?

[Gary Novosielski]

Please ask new questions in a New Topic even if they seem similar.