Motion out of order?

[Guest Marcia Dawson]

Is it allowable for a board to make a motion that will retroactively correct errors made on a prior vote without rescinding that prior vote first? In other words, can a new motion correct after the fact what may have been improper or out of order in the older motion? Thanks.

[hmtcastle]

Is it allowable for a board to make a motion that will retroactively correct errors made on a prior vote without rescinding that prior vote first? In other words, can a new motion correct after the fact what may have been improper or out of order in the older motion? Thanks.

Most motions can be amended (changed) without being completely rescinded. But it's the motion, not the vote, that is changed. If you could be a bit more specific, so could we.

[Guest Marcia Dawson]

To be more specific: Our board made a motion and took a vote 2 months ago on an action that had specific guidelines for deadlines as stated in the committee's SOP. The deadline in the SOP for the submissions from this committee had passed, but the board decided to disregard the deadline and went ahead with a vote. Now the motion on the floor is not to amend the original motion, but to change the deadline retroactively in order to make the vote legitimate. Is that acceptable?

Thanks.

[hmtcastle]

To be more specific: Our board made a motion and took a vote 2 months ago on an action that had specific guidelines for deadlines as stated in the committee's SOP. The deadline in the SOP for the submissions from this committee had passed, but the board decided to disregard the deadline and went ahead with a vote. Now the motion on the floor is not to amend the original motion, but to change the deadline retroactively in order to make the vote legitimate. Is that acceptable?

You'll have to figure out if your rules were broken but it's not clear that deadlines imposed on a committee would be binding on the board. In any case, the fact that action was taken after the deadline had passed can't be changed.

If you think the board violated the rules, and if that violation constitutes what's known as a "continuing breach" (see p.244), and if you're a member of the board, you can raise a Point of Order at the next board meeting.