If a motion is defeated, can the exact same motion be brought forward again?

[Guest Monica]

At our last Council meeting, a motion to approve some budget items was defeated because it failed to get the 2/3 votes required. Under what rule can this be brought back to the Council if the parties who were on the prevailing side (i.e voted against approval) do not ask for Reconsideration?

[George Mervosh]

At our last Council meeting, a motion to approve some budget items was defeated because it failed to get the 2/3 votes required. Under what rule can this be brought back to the Council if the parties who were on the prevailing side (i.e voted against approval) do not ask for Reconsideration?

 

If each meeting of your council is a separate session of council, the motion can be made anew by any member at the next meeting. Reconsideration would not be applicable. Otherwise you'll have to wait until a new session begins. 

[Guest Guest]

As further explanation, items appear on our agenda via Staff requests or Council member request. Can the item come back on the meeting that immediately follows the one that defeated it based on a Staff request? Or, does require a a motion to "renew" from a Council member? Can the motion to renew and the motion to be renewed appear on the same agenda?

 

[George Mervosh]

As further explanation, items appear on our agenda via Staff requests or Council member request. Can the item come back on the meeting that immediately follows the one that defeated it based on a Staff request? Or, does require a a motion to "renew" from a Council member? Can the motion to renew and the motion to be renewed appear on the same agenda?

 

Under the rules in RONR, there is no motion to renew, but a member of the council would simply make the motion again.  Your unique rules on how it gets on your agenda must be followed, but under the rules in RONR only members of the group that is meeting can actually make motions.

[Weldon Merritt]

Since the Council appears to be some sort of governmental agency, and has specialized rules that differ from RONR, your answer will not be found in RONR. You will need to check with appropriate legal counsel, or at least someone familiar with your council's rules.

[Guest Monica]

So just putting it on the agenda is not a motion. Will a Council member actually have to make a motion to renew the budget adjustments motion, then have a vote to renew, and then there is another motion to actually vote on the budget adjustments?

[Guest Monica]

We strictly follow Roberts Rules for our Council. There are a few minor exceptions based on Open Meetings and our Agenda, but the issue here, is how to get the item properly before the Council, not on the agenda.

[Curiosulus]

There is no "Motion to Renew" in RONR. A member will simply make the original main motion again.

[Guest Monica]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, my previous "win" is going to be very short-lived. But I have learned something very helpful for the future.

[Gary Novosielski]

So just putting it on the agenda is not a motion. Will a Council member actually have to make a motion to renew the budget adjustments motion, then have a vote to renew, and then there is another motion to actually vote on the budget adjustments?

 

The agenda just outlines the order in which business may be taken up.  The motion will actually have to be made again.  

 

"Renewing" a motion is a parliamentary term that simple means making a motion that has been rejected at a previous session.  There is no separate motion to renew and therefore no vote to renew.  You simply make the motion again, just as you did the first time.

 

Making the motion again to adjust the budget is a renewal of the motion, by definition.