[Courtesy of Northborough.org]
A MOTION PRIMER
Contrary
to popular belief, an article in the warrant is not "self-starting."
If an article were to be called up, and nobody makes a motion under it, the
article would simply be "passed over", and whatever action had been
contemplated thereby would not occur. It is a motion, which puts an article
"in play," and it is the motion, not
the article, which is actually voted upon. Thus, while speakers may refer to
passing, defeating, or otherwise dealing with "the article," in fact
and in law, what the meeting deals with, debates, and votes upon are motions,
not articles. The article in the warrant serves only the purpose of letting the
voters know what may come before the meeting and the outside scope of what may
be considered. It may be that a speaker will question whether a certain motion
is "within the four corners of the article." Such a challenge requires
the Moderator to determine whether the motion should be allowed, as being within
a reasonable reading of the article as printed in the warrant, or be ruled out
of order as being beyond the legitimate subject matter of the article.
Many
times the first or "main" motion under an article will be "Move
in the words of the article." By making such a motion, the speaker is
adopting the article as his or her motion thereunder. This can only be done
where the language of the article is drafted in such a way that it is
susceptible of simple adoption as a motion.
Frequently
there will be a motion "to indefinitely postpone" an article. This
motion, if adopted, kills the article for all intents and purposes for the Town
Meeting. The motion is frequently used when proponents of an article have
decided not to proceed with it but want an opportunity to explain to the meeting
why they are, in effect, abandoning the article at this time. The motion also
may be used by someone who wishes to defeat an article before it can be fully
debated on the merits. In such cases it is important to understand that
indefinite postponement can have the same effect as defeat which, in turn, can
have significance with respect to some items, notably zoning matters, as to when
the matter can again be considered by the Town.
You may
hear a "Motion for the previous question, "Move the question,"
or, simply folks shouting, "question." This is a motion to terminate
debate and requires a two- thirds vote to pass. The Moderator has discretion as
to whether to accept a motion for the question and it will be refused if the
Moderator does not believe there has been a fair opportunity for debate as of
the time it is made. However, once made and accepted by the Moderator and
seconded, it is voted upon without debate and upon passage terminates the debate
then occurring ad requires an immediate vote on the substantive or procedural
matter on the floor.
For
those who may have participated in other parliamentary activities: The sometimes
frequently utilized in other fora, "Motion
to Lay on the Table" is almost never used today. The more common use of the
"Motion to Indefinitely Postpone" to perform the "killing"
function of the motion to table, and to use a "Motion to Postpone to a Time
Certain" to accomplish a "tabling" or temporary suspension of
debate on a matter because of lack of information or other cause.
Back to Warrants page
A Motion
Primer [Courtesy
of Northborough.org]