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Motion to Amend

The motion to amend offers a change to the original motion. It may be a change in wording, to make the motion clearer, or to alter some provision of it. The amendment must be acted upon before the original motion can be approved or rejected. If the amendment is approved, the original motion is changed to reflect it. Amendments can "stack" --that is, someone can offer an amendment to an amendment to an amendment ... which can get very confusing. Each one will have to be acted upon in turn. When a motion begins to have amendments made to it, it is essential that someone write down the amendments and how they affect the original motion, so that the exact motion, as amended, can be read back to the group before they vote on it.

Some groups make use of "friendly amendments" --a member offers a "friendly amendment" to the maker of the original motion. If he and the seconder agree, the motion is reworded to reflect the friendly ammendment. In effect, what has happened is the maker of the original motion has withdrawn his motion and made a new one. Although it's convenient, it is not strictly according to the rules.

It is also possible to "perfect" a motion. This is similar to "calling the question," but instead of ending debate, it simply ends the possibility of making further amendments. If a motion to perfect passes, no more amendments will be allowed, but debate on the motion as it now stands will still be allowed.

Amendments are one of the most basic, yet most potentially confusing aspects of parliamentary procedure. We've given several examples below to help.

Here's how it works:

What to say:	"I move to amend the motion by ..." or "I move we amend the motion to read ..."
May you interrupt the speaker?	No, you must wait to be recognized.
Do you need a second?	Yes.
Can the motion be debated?	Yes, unless the motion being amended is not debateable.
Can the motion be amended?	Yes, see the examples below.
What vote is needed to pass?	Simple majority.
Can it be reconsidered?	Yes.
Example 1: A simple amendment	PRES: "The motion has been made and seconded to hold our ice cream social on Friday, March 20th, at 6 PM. Is there any discussion?" MEM1: "Mr. Chairman, I move we amend the motion by changing the time to 7 PM, and if there is a second, I'd like to speak to the amendment" PRES: " Is there a second?" MEM2: "Second." PRES: "Go ahead." MEM1: "I believe both of the Advisors assigned to this event work until 5. Moving the time to 7 would be more convenient for them." PRES: "Is there any other discussion of the proposed amendment?" [Silence] PRES: "Then we will proceed to vote on the amendment. All in favor of amending the original motion by changing the time to 7 PM?" MEMS: "Aye!" PRES: "Those opposed?" [Silence] PRES: "The ammendment passes. The motion is now to hold our ice cream social on Friday, March 20th, at 7 PM. Is there any further discussion of the motion? ..."
Example 2: "Stacked amendments" [These get very confusing, very fast! - to help, the content of the original motion is always in green, content added by the first amendment is in blue, and content added by the second amendment is in red.]	PRES: "The motion is made and seconded to refer this matter to the Membership Committee. Is there any discussion?" MEM1: "I'm not sure this really falls under the membership committee. I move we amend the motion to refer the matter to a committee of the Master Councilor's choosing." PRES: "The amendment has been offered, is there a second?" MEM2: "Second" PRES: "Is there any discussion? MEM3: "I'd like to offer an amendment to the amendment, specifying that the committee of the Master Councilor's choosing should be chaired by a member of the Membership Committee." PRES: "We have an amendment to the amendment offered, specifying .... [restates the amendment] Is there a second?" MEM4: "Second." PRES: "Is there any discussion to the amendment to the amendment?" [None] PRES: "All in favor ... Opposed? ... The amendment to the amendment passes. We now return to the original amendment. Brother Scribe, please read the amendment as it now stands." SCR: "To amend the original motion by specifying that the matter be referred to a committee of the Master Councilor's choosing, chaired by a member of the Membership Committee." PRES: "Is there any additional discussion of the amendment? [none] Then we will proceed to vote on the amendment. All in favor? ... Opposed? ... The amendment carries... we can now discuss the original motion, as amended. Brother Scribe, please read the motion as it stands." SCR: "Moved that we refer the current discussion to a committee of the Master Councilor's choosing, to be chaired by a member of the Membership Committee." PRES: "Is there any further discussion? [none] All in favor? ... Opposed? ... The motion carries. The discussion is hereby refered to committee ... I appoint Brother ________ to chair the committee, and Brothers __________, ___________, and ____________ to serve with him."
Example 3: An "out of order" amendment.	PRES: "We have a motion and second to donate $100 to the Scottish Rite Learning Centers. Is there any discussion?" MEM1: "Mr. Chairman, I move to amend the motion by specifying that the gift be made to the Harrisburg Learning Center." MEM2: "I second that." PRES: "There is a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on the amendment?" MEM3: "I move to amend the motion by changing the amount to $150." PRES: "I'm sorry, that amendment is out of order at this time ... once we have dealt with the amendment currently on the floor, you'll be free to introduce your amendment." (The second amendment was out of order, because it was another amendment to the original motion, rather than an amendment to the first amendment. The first amendment must be passed or defeated before another unrelated amendment can be proposed.)

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