Notice of Motion - Debate

[Sloe]

If a member brings forward a Notice of Motion indicating they will bring it back to the next meeting. Could a separate member put forward a motion to suspend the rules of order and have the item debated immediately (requires 2/3 majority).

 

My thought would be that if the motion to suspend the rules and debate the item is passed appropriately,  then either the member who gave the Notice, or another member would then be required to make the motion (the one given Notice).

 

If the member who originally brought forward the Notice of Motion does not want the item to be debated immediately, likely because the matter will be defeated, what is their recourse? The likelihood is that the motion is being pushed through to defeat it in advance of the member having an opportunity to garner community support, etc.

[Chris Harrison]

Do the bylaws require notice be given on this motion?  If so, then it can't be considered right away because the rights of absentees would be violated (RONR p. 251 a,e).

[Edgar Guest]

Could a separate member put forward a motion to suspend the rules of order and have the item debated immediately (requires 2/3 majority).

Any member could simply make the motion. 

 

If the member who originally brought forward the Notice of Motion does not want the item to be debated immediately, likely because the matter will be defeated, what is their recourse?

 

Make it again at the next meeting.

[Edgar Guest]

Do the bylaws require notice be given on this motion?  If so, then it can't be considered right away because the rights of absentees would be violated (RONR p. 251 a,e).

 

Good point. I assume notice is being given to allow for the lower voting threshold.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

There is unnecessary complexity gonig on here.

 

instead of "... suspend the rules ... have the item debated ...", and whatever else, what is to prevent you from just standing up and MAKING THE MOTION yourself, right then and there?

 

Just because Party P wishes to entertain the item at the next meeting, why should you wait?

Why not just make the motion NOW?

What is stopping you?

 

There is no need for all this suspending of rules fluff.

Just MAKE THE MOTION.

[Gary Novosielski]

Good point. I assume notice is being given to allow for the lower voting threshold.

Or simply because the bylaws require previous notice for this type of motion.

[Sloe]

The bylaw allows for the requirement for notice to be waived provided there is a 2/3 majority in favour to do so.

[Gary Novosielski]

There is unnecessary complexity gonig on here.

 

instead of "... suspend the rules ... have the item debated ...", and whatever else, what is to prevent you from just standing up and MAKING THE MOTION yourself, right then and there?

 

Just because Party P wishes to entertain the item at the next meeting, why should you wait?

Why not just make the motion NOW?

What is stopping you?

 

There is no need for all this suspending of rules fluff.

Just MAKE THE MOTION.

 

Because the rules may require previous notice, or the member giving notice wishes to take advantage of a lower threshold.  

 

In the first instance, a rule requiring notice may not be suspended because it protects the rights of absentees.

 

In the second instance, the motion could be moved immediately, and if it does not pass, it could be moved at the next meeting where the lower threshold might enable it to pass.  But the rule could not be suspended to allow the lower threshold at the current meeting, for the same reason--notice requirements protect absentees.

 

If notice is not required, but given anyway, no harm done, but someone could still make the motion now.

 

In no case would suspending the rules be necessary or appropriate.

 

But you're correct

[Kim Goldsworthy]

... likely because the matter will be defeated, what is their recourse?

The likelihood is that the motion is being pushed through to defeat it in advance of the member having an opportunity to garner community support, etc.

Again, "What difference does this make?"

 

Example:

A defeated motion in January will not interfere with the same member moving the identical motion in Februrary.

And if defeated in February, that defeat will not interfere with the same member moving the identical motion in March.

And so on. Ad infinitum.

 

So, why is it so important to defeat the motion in this month's (or this week's, or this quarter's, etc.) meeting?

The notice is still given. -- The item will still pop up next month, (unless the motion is surprisingly adopted now).

[Gary Novosielski]

The bylaw allows for the requirement for notice to be waived provided there is a 2/3 majority in favour to do so.

Nice of you to finally tell us that little point.

 

They're your bylaws; interpret them.

[Sloe]

My point was - despite the ability for another member to push the item through...what is the recourse for the member that doesn't want that to happen given the rules for reconsideration.

 

Appreciate the responses, my apologies if I was unclear.

[Timothy]

You appear to have some strange rules going on. As far as RONR is concerned, the member would just make the motion at the next meeting whether it was defeated at the previous meeting or not. If you have rules against renewing a motion, the person who favors the motion may still have the option of objecting to the consideration of the motion at the first meeting. It requires a 2/3 vote to sustain his objection, but there is some probability of it passing. I don't know if that would allow him to present the motion at the next meeting, since I don't know what your rules say.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

... given the rules for reconsideration.

"Reconsideration"???

 

Another red herring.

 

Subsequent monthly meetings destroy the continuity of the motion "To Reconsider".

 

Perhaps you used the term ("rules for reconsideration") in the dictionary sense (viz., to review; to ponder at another time).

 

(I am assuming all meetings of each month (or each week, or each quarter) is truly a new session, a new order of business, in the Robertian sense.)

[Gary Novosielski]

My point was - despite the ability for another member to push the item through...what is the recourse for the member that doesn't want that to happen given the rules for reconsideration.

 

Appreciate the responses, my apologies if I was unclear.

 

The rules for Reconsideration do not apply, due to the time interval.

 

Your recourse is to seek recognition, debate persuasively against the motion, and when the time comes, vote No.  If you are not in the majority, there are no tricks in RONR that will allow you to get your way.  But it does afford tools to sway the majority your way.