A gavel appears on top of a table. Someone hammers the gavel three times. The video moves to the right and the title of the video, “Making, Amending and Voting on a Motion” appears on the left side.
The gavel and a badge of “President” is kept on top of a table. Someone strikes the gavel. Seven young adults in blue uniform appear in a room. Two pairs of girls are on two desks facing each other, the third desk with two girls and a boy is in-between them. All of them have papers in Front of them. All the girls are seated and the boy, Mr. President is standing in the center in a stand at ease position.
MR. PRESIDENT: “I now declare this meeting of the student FFA chapter duly open for the transaction of business or attention to any matters which may properly be presented.”
A girl on the far left stands up and speaks.
NARRATOR: Learning parliamentary procedure rules will help you throughout life in a variety of leadership roles.
A picture of a group of people in a corporate meeting room appears. The man in the middle is standing and leaning on to the table.
Think about where you might use basic knowledge of meeting procedures and skills.
A picture of members sitting in a room facing towards a girl who is speaking on a microphone appears. All of them are wearing uniforms. Another meeting with a girl standing in front of other students appears. The podium next to her has gavel kept on it.
Making, amending, and voting on a motion is basic knowledge that will help you conduct and participate in orderly and effective meetings.
The screen splits into two halves. A photo of gavel appears on the right side. The term, “Motion” is defined as “a proposal bought before the meeting group for consideration.”
What is a Motion? A Motion is a proposal brought before a meeting group for consideration. Here is an example of a simple motion:
The meeting room with seven people in uniform reappears. The girl on the far left, Lexi, gets up and speaks to Mr. President in the middle. The text-bar below reads, “Making a simple motion, with a second.”
LEXI: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Lexi.
LEXI: I move our chapter have a beef raffle fundraiser.
GROUP: Second
The heading text, “Second” with the text, “Required to allow further action on a motion,” “Without a second, the motion dies from lack of support” appears.
NARRATOR: As you heard, this motion received a second and must therefore be acted upon by the group. A motion which does not receive a second dies from lack of support and should not be considered by the group.
The meeting room reappears. Mr. President in the middle speaks after Lexi sits. The text-bar below reads, “The president restates the motion, then asks for debate.”
After the motion has been made, the President restates the motion and opens the matter to discussion or debate.
MR. PRESIDENT: The question is that our chapter have a beef raffle fundraiser, is there any debate?
Lexi stands up and speaks again. The text-bar below reads, “If there is no debate, the motion may be voted upon at this time.”
NARRATOR: If there is no debate, the motion may be voted upon at this time.
The screen splits into two halves. A photo of gavel appears on the right side. On the left side, the term, “Debate” is defined as “Allows members to speak about the benefits and possible drawbacks of adopting a motion as presented.”
What is debate? The function of debate is to allow members to speak about the benefits and possible drawbacks of adopting a motion as presented. The following are examples of debate with regard to the open motion:
Lexi stands and speaks again. The text-bar below reads, “Debate in favor of motion.”
LEXI: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Lexi.
LEXI: Thank you, I have made this motion because we all know that we need money for the upcoming state convention. By having a beef raffle, we will have the opportunity to increase our funds. I urge you all to vote yes on this matter.
Lexi takes her seat and Mr. President asks the meeting room.
MR. PRESIDENT: Is there any further debate?
The girl on the far right, Keagan, stands up to speak. The text-bar below reads, “Debate against the motion.”
KEAGAN: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Keagan.
KEAGAN: I do not think having a beef raffle is a good idea. I do not believe that people in this community will buy beef raffle tickets. For these reasons I urge you to vote against this main motion.
The heading-text, “Motion may be amended by '' appears. Under it bullet points appear with the text, “Inserting Information,” “Striking Information,” and “Both Striking and Inserting Information.”
NARRATOR: At any time while the motion is open it may be amended. The presented motion may be amended in one of three ways. By inserting information, striking out information, or both striking out and inserting to the original motion. Here is an example of an amendment which inserts information:
Keagan takes her seat and the girl on the right of the president in the middle, Gayrn stands up and speaks. The text-bar below reads, “Amending a motion by inserting information.”
GAYRN: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Gayrn.
GAYRN: I move to amend the main motion by adding to the end: And we draw the winner at the FFA awards banquet.
GROUP: Second.
Gayrn sits and Mr. President speaks. The text-bar below reads, “The President first restates the amendment, then asks for debate.”
MR. PRESIDENT: The question is to amend the main motion by adding to the end: And we draw the winner at the FFA awards banquet. Is there any more debate?
The previous graphic text about “Motion may be amended by” reappears.
NARRATOR: This is an example of amending a motion by striking out information:
Lexi again stands up and speaks. The text-bar below reads, “Making a simple motion with a second.”
LEXI: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Lexi.
LEXI: I move our chapter have a beef raffle fundraiser and sell the tickets for ten dollars.
Mr. President speaks. The text-bar below reads, “The President restates the motion, then asks for debate.”
MR. PRESIDENT: The motion before the table is to have a beef raffle fundraiser and sell the tickets for ten dollars. Is there any discussion?
The girl on the left of Mr. President in the middle, Aubrey stands and speaks. The text-bar below reads, “Amending a motion by striking out information.” The graphic text of, “Motion may be amended by” reappears.
AUBREY: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Aubrey.
AUBREY: I move to amend the motion by striking out ten dollars.
Mr. President asks the group.
MR. PRESIDENT: The question is to amend the motion by striking out ten dollars.
The previous graphic text about “Motion may be amended by” reappears.
NARRATOR: The motion may also be amended by both inserting and striking out information:
Mr. President asks the group.
MR. PRESIDENT: Is there any debate?>
Kegan stands and speaks. The text-bar below reads, “Amending a motion by inserting and striking out information.”
KEAGAN: Mr. President
MR. PRESIDENT: Yes, Keagan.
KEAGAN: I move to amend the motion by striking out beef and adding pork.
Mr. President speaks and the text-bar below reads, “The President first restates the amendment, then asks for debate.
MR. PRESIDENT: The question is to amend the motion by striking out beef and adding pork, is there any further discussion?
The heading-text, “Voting on the Amendment” and the text, “If the amendment passes, the original motion is no longer considered.” and “If the amendment does not pass, the original motion is still up for consideration.” Appear under it as bullet points.
NARRATOR: After the amendment is offered the President restates the amended motion and the amendment must be voted upon. If the amendment passes, the original motion is no longer considered. If the amendment does not pass, the original motion is still up for consideration.
The heading-text, “A motion must be voted on” appears and the text, “The President first restates the motion,” “The President then asks for a vote of members present” appear under it as bullet points.
Once all discussion is finished and any amendments have been voted upon, the motion is then voted upon. The President first restates the motion, then asks for the vote of members present.
The bullet points were replaced with the text, “By voice,” “By raising,” “By roll call” and “By Ballot.”
The vote may be taken in one of several ways: By voice—where members cast their vote by either saying Aye or Nay. By rising—where members are asked to stand when prompted if they are for or against the motion. By roll call—where each member's name is called, and their individual vote is recorded. Or by ballot—where each member writes their vote on a piece of paper and all votes for and against are tallied.
The bullet points are replaced with what the narrator says.
Once the motion has been voted upon regardless of whether the motion passes or fails the president signifies that the motion before the group is now closed by a single gavel tap.
The President speaks. A text bar below reads “The president first restates the motion, then asks for a vote.”
MR. PRESIDENT: The main motion before the chapter is to have a beef raffle fundraiser and drawing the winner at the awards banquet. All those in favor say Aye.
Majority of group: Aye.
MR. PRESIDENT: All those opposed say No.
One Person: No.
MR. PRESIDENT: The main motion passes.
The text-bar below reads, “The President announces the outcome then gives a single gavel tap.” At the end, the President taps on gavel.
The text-heading, “Most Motions:” along with the text, “Require a simple Majority of Members Present to Pass” and “Vote can be taken by Voice” under it as bullet points appear.
NARRATOR: Most motions require a simple majority of the members present to pass, and can be taken with a voice vote.
The text-heading, “Most Motions:'' along with the text, “Require a simple Majority of Members Present to pass” and “Vote can be taken by Voice” under it as bullet points appear. The text disappears and new text replaces it. The heading, “An Exception:'' along with its bullet points, “Any motion that limits the rights of members requires a 2/3 majority vote to pass and the vote must be counted.
One exception is any motion that limits the rights of members requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass and requires the vote to be counted.
Mr. President speaks. The text-bar below reads, “The President asks for a vote where the vote can be counted.”
MR. PRESIDENT: All those in favor raise your right hand.
All the members raise their hands. The text-bar below reads, “The secretary then counts and records the outcome of the vote.”
A montage of other such meetings with members discussing appears.
As you can see, the basic knowledge of parliamentary procedures can keep meetings orderly, organized, and easier for members to understand. Basic skills in parliamentary procedure can be used throughout your life. Practice making motions with your friends or chapter members until you become confident in stating a simple action idea into a motion.
The President picks up the gavel and hammers it three times.