Affirmed, Adopted, or Carried

[Guest L. E. Younger]

Does it matter whether the word affirmed, adopted, or carried is used when stating that a motion has passed?

[Edgar Guest]

Why not use the word "passed"?

 

My personal preference is for "adopted" (and "lost"). It reminds me of orphans.

 

I'd stay away from "affirmed" or "carried" (what's the opposite?).

 

What's important is that anyone reading the minutes knows what happened.

[jstackpo]

Adopted & Carried are the same, in effect.  "Affirmed" is tad problematic as it implies (at least to me) that you are re-adopting something already passed - which is a no-no. (p. 104)

[Richard Brown]

This might be due to a special rule, but in the Louisiana Legislature, if a bill fails to pass, the Speaker gives the vote totals and then says "and the bill fails to pass".    I've got a copy of the rather voluminous House Rules and will look for it.

[Dan Honemann]

"For a voice vote: "... The ayes have it and the motion is adopted [or "agreed to" or "carried"]. ..." (RONR, 11th ed., p. 50)

[Dan Honemann]

This might be due to a special rule, but in the Louisiana Legislature, if a bill fails to pass, the Speaker gives the vote totals and then says "and the bill fails to pass".    I've got a copy of the rather voluminous House Rules and will look for it.

 

We're interested in Robert's Rules, not the rules (or custom, or whatever) in the Louisiana Legislature.