Misuse of Motion

[Guest Ron]

A member made a motion to table another motion to the next meeting instead of making a motion to postpone the motion to the next meeting.

The motion to table passed and the meeting ended.

what if anything can, or should, be done to correct the error?

[Gary Novosielski]

Print a copy of FAQ#12 here and hand it to the chair at the next meeting.  

If it is not clear by then whether the chair intends to treat that motion as a motion to Postpone Definitely--and call it up automatically under Unfinished Business and General Orders, or as a motion to Lay on the Table--so that it will require a motion to Take From the Table, seek recognition and raise a Parliamentary Inquiry regarding how it should be handled.

[Dan Honemann]

On 11/21/2023 at 9:59 AM, Gary Novosielski said:

Print a copy of FAQ#12 here and hand it to the chair at the next meeting.  

If it is not clear by then whether the chair intends to treat that motion as a motion to Postpone Definitely--and call it up automatically under Unfinished Business and General Orders, or as a motion to Lay on the Table--so that it will require a motion to Take From the Table, seek recognition and raise a Parliamentary Inquiry regarding how it should be handled.

This response assumes that the standard order of business described in RONR, 12th ed., 41:5-27 is the prescribed order of business for these meetings.

If you do raise such a parliamentary inquiry as suggested, and if I am presiding, I will advise you that, if no motion is made to take the question from the table prior to the time when General Orders are in order (and it may well be that such a motion will not be in order prior to such time), the motion will come up automatically when General Orders are reached. 

[Drake Savory]

On 11/21/2023 at 7:40 AM, Guest Ron said:

A member made a motion to table another motion to the next meeting instead of making a motion to postpone the motion to the next meeting.

The motion to table passed and the meeting ended.

Did the Chair allow debate? 

If so, then it was a motion to Postpone Definitely despite what everyone called it.

If not, then it was a motion to Lay on the Table, however it does not come up before the assembly automatically.  It needs the motion to Take From the Table.  Assuming your next meeting comes within a quarter interval, if it is not taken from the table by the end of the next meeting, the motion dies.