Revisiting failed motions

[Guest Joan Guest]

Can a motion that failed be brought back for another vote and if so, how many times?

[Chris Harrison]

A defeated motion can be renewed as many times as necessary until it is adopted (unless the bylaws say otherwise).  See RONR pp. 336-342.

[Gary Novosielski]

Can a motion that failed be brought back for another vote and if so, how many times?

 

Not at the same meeting, but at any future meeting.  Renewing the motion is the same as moving it for the first time, so you aren't just bringing it back for a vote, you are also opening it up to debate and amendment, like any new motion.

[Richard Brown]

But if it is desired to bring up the failed motion again at the same meeting, a member who voted on the prevailing side can move to reconsider the motion.  RONR, Section 37, starting on page 315. 

 

Other than that, a failed motion can be "renewed" (re-introduced) only at subsequent meetings.   

 

If a member keeps renewing the same motion at meeting after meeting, to the annoyance of the other members, someone should "object to the consideration" of the motion as soon as it is moved.  That motion is not debatable and it takes a two-thirds vote against consideration of the motion to sustain the objection (i.e., to prevent it from even being considered).  RONR 11th edition, pages 267 - 270.  It's a little used but very effective method of quickly disposing of a motion that the vast majority of members don't want to even consider.