Main motion

A main motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a motion that brings business before the assembly.^[1] Main motions are made while no other motion is pending. Any of the subsidiary, incidental and privileged motions may be made while the main motion is pending, and in many cases these motions, if passed, will affect the assembly's consideration of the main motion.

When greater formality is desired, the main motion may be made in the form of a resolution, which is always submitted in writing.^[2] A preamble containing several paragraphs explaining the background of and/or justification for the proposed action is often included, but is not required.^[3]

1 Explanation and Use
- 1.1 Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)
2 Incidental Main Motion
3 Common Motions
4 References

Explanation and Use

**Main motion (RONR)**
Class	Main motion
Requires second?	Yes
Debatable?	Yes
May be reconsidered?	Yes
Amendable?	Yes
Vote required:	Majority

Main motions are made while no other motion is pending. Any of the subsidiary, incidental and privileged motions may be made while the main motion is pending, and in many cases these motions, if passed, will affect the assembly's consideration of the main motion.

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

Normally, this is a motion that introduces a substantive question as a new subject, in which case it is also called an original main motion.^[4] Otherwise, it is an incidental main motion, examples of which are the motions to adopt recommendations of a committee, to ratify action previously taken without a quorum, to rescind an action previously taken, or to adjourn or recess while no main motion is pending.^[5]

Incidental Main Motion

Incidental main motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a classification under Robert's rules of order for a group of main motions that are incidental to or related to the business of the assembly, or its past or future action.^[6] In contrast, regular main motions are motions that introduce new business. Unlike regular main motions, incidental main motions cannot have objection to the consideration of the question applied to them.

Common Motions

Subsidiary motions

Privileged motions

Motions that bring a question again before the assembly

Rescind, repeal, or annul or amend something previously adopted
Discharge a committee (if the subject was referred by a main motion rather than by the subsidiary motion to commit)

References

^ Robert, Henry M. (2000). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th ed., p. 59 (RONR)
^ ^a ^b RONR, p. 32
^ ^a ^b RONR, p. 102-103
^ RONR, p. 95
^ RONR, p. 96-97
^ Robert, Henry M. (2000). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th ed. ed.). pp. p. 96.

Parliamentary procedure

Major concepts	Deliberative assembly · Motions · Main motion · Quorum · Session · Chair · Committee · Committee of the whole · Dilatory motions and tactics · Minutes · Second · History of parliamentary procedure · Principles of parliamentary procedure · Voting methods in deliberative assemblies · Floor

Subsidiary motions	Postpone indefinitely · Amend · Commit · Postpone to a certain time · Limit or extend limits of debate · Previous question · Lay upon the table · Place upon the table

Privileged motions	Call for the orders of the day · Raise a question of privilege · Recess · Adjourn · Fix the time to which to adjourn

Incidental motions	Point of order · Appeal · Suspend the rules · Objection to the consideration of a question · Division of a question · Consideration by paragraph or seriatim · Division of the assembly · Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls · Motions relating to nominations

Incidental motions (Requests and inquiries)	Parliamentary inquiry · Point of information · Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion · Request to read papers · Request to be excused from a duty · Request for any other privilege

Motions that bring a question again before the assembly	Take from the table · Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted · Discharge a committee · Reconsider

Legislative procedure	Call of the house · Hoist · Pass on

Disciplinary procedures	Censure · Declare the chair vacant · Impeach · Naming

Parliamentary authorities	Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) · The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC or Sturgis) · Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure · Riddick's Rules of Procedure · Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure · Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice