Motions to Reconsider

[Guest Lauren]

Is a motion to reconsider a vote appropriately considered during "old business" as listed on the meeting agenda, or does an agenda need to specifically identify the motion to reconsider will be considered?

[Josh Martin]

21 minutes ago, Guest Lauren said:

Is a motion to reconsider a vote appropriately considered during "old business" as listed on the meeting agenda, or does an agenda need to specifically identify the motion to reconsider will be considered?

First, it’s called “Unfinished Business,” not “Old Business.”

Second, based on what is described here, it seems likely that the time limits on the motion to Reconsider have passed. The motion to Reconsider may be made during the same meeting, or at a meeting held on the next business day in a multiple-day convention.

If the time limits for the motion to Reconsider have passed, the proper tool at this time is to either make a motion to Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted (if the original motion was adopted) or to renew the motion (that is, to simply make the motion again) if the original motion was defeated. In either case, the assembly could add the motion to the agenda under General Orders (or even under Special Orders) if it wishes to do so, or else the motion could simply be made during New Business. This is not Unfinished Business.

[Atul Kapur]

4 hours ago, Guest Lauren said:

does an agenda need to specifically identify the motion to reconsider will be considered?

Under RONR, there is no need to adopt an agenda listing every item that is to come up at the meeting, if you meet regularly and they aren't more than a quarterly time interval apart. So an agenda doesn't need to specifically identify any motion.

Your organization may operate under special rules that require you to adopt such an agenda. If so, then the motion to Reconsider may have been made at one meeting but not considered, so it could be considered at the next meeting.

It probably would come up under New Business, or perhaps as a General Order.

[Dan Honemann]

 "If a motion to Reconsider that involves a main motion cannot be taken up when it is made, then as long as its suspending effect lasts it can be called up and acted upon during any regular meeting, or any special meeting called for that purpose, at any time that no question is pending and no other member has the floor."  (RONR, 11th ed., p. 323, ll. 9-15. emphasis supplied.)