Committee Chairman Amend a Motion

[SptbgLawyer]

In a Committee of 3 Members, can the Chair of the Committee amend a motion in his Committee?  I am envisioning a situation where the Committee Chairman may be anticipating a motion to be made by a Committee Member but it doesn't include all the parts he envisioned.  Can he then attempt to amend the motion he called for? 

[Edgar Guest]

The chair is free to make a motion to amend the pending motion or to amend a motion that has been previously adopted. The chair has the same rights as any other member of the committee.

 

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that the chair "called for" the motion?

[SptbgLawyer]

In our Committee settings, typically the Committee Chair will ask if there is a motion to _____________________ (fill in the blank).  Typically a Committee Member then makes the motion and the other member will second.  What I envision is he will be looking for a motion to include certain things, but the motion will only include some of the things he envisions when he asks if there is a motion.  Sorry if I am confusing but as long as the Chairman can amend the motion and then call for the second on the amendment and for the vote on the amendment without having to relinquish his position as Chairman, I am good. 

 

We did have one situation in the past where no Committee member would make the motion so the Chairman relinquished his position momentarily in order to make the motion - but I don't think that was necessary given the Chairman has the same rights as any member. 

[Edgar Guest]

In such a tiny small committee the chair should simply make the motion he wants. No second required.