What is a motion during a meeting?

A motion is a proposal to adopt, amend or to otherwise deal with a matter moved by a member and seconded by another member, read by the Chair for the consideration of Council or a committee. It is subject to debate.

After hearing a motion, Council may decide to:

• Receive the information
• Add it to New Business for further consideration
• Refer it to another agenda item
• Refer it to staff, an advisory committee or a board for a report
• Amend it

Every muncipality manages its own Procedural Bylaw that outlines all of the rules for how council and committee meetings are conducted, including their structure, order, voting mechanisms, etc.

What is the difference between a motion and a resolution?

A motion becomes a resolution once it has been voted on and passed.

Types of motions

• Main motions
• Subsidiary motions
  • Amend
  • Refer
• Privileged motions
  • Recess
  • Adjourn
  • Point of Order
  • Point/Question of Privilege
  • Point/Question of Personal Privilege

Motion to refer

A motion to refer:
(i) is not debatable except on the advisability of postponing or referring the question;
(ii) may be amended;
(iii) shall include the terms of referral including the time or conditions under which the matter is to be returned to Council for consideration; and
(iv) may include the reasons for the referral.

Motion to table

A motion to table:
(i) may or may not state a definite time or date as to when the matter shall be further considered;
(ii) shall apply to the main motion and to any motions to amend the main motion that are on the table;
(iii) is not debatable except as to time; and
(iv) shall not be amendable except as to time.

Where a motion to table is adopted without a definite time or date as to when the matter shall be further considered, Council shall not consider the matter until such time as Council, by resolution, brings back the matter for consideration.

(iii) to table the motion under consideration to a definite date;
(iv) to table the motion under consideration indefinitely;

“Substantive Motion” means any motion except a motion to:
(i) recess;
(ii) table;
(iii) refer;
(iv) extend the meeting;
(v) put the question;
(vi) enter into Committee of the Whole;
(vii) rise and report;
(viii) change the order of business; or
(ix) adjourn.

Motion to amend

Only one amendment can be presented to the main motion at one time and only one sub-amendment can be presented to an amendment at one time. When a sub-amendment has been disposed of, another may be introduced. When an amendment has been decided, another may be introduced.

Waterloo

A motion to amend:
(i) shall be relevant to the main motion;
(ii) shall not be directly contrary to or propose a direct negative to the main
motion;
(iii) shall be debatable; and
(iv) shall not itself be amended more than once;
and motions to amend shall be put to a vote in reverse order from which
motions to amend are put forward, and should the motion to amend be
carried, the main motion shall then be considered by Council as amended.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a motion to amend shall not be required where the
mover and seconder of the main motion agree to re-word the main motion to
accommodate a proposed amendment.

Belleville

Motion to put the question

to put the question (to end debate on the motion under consideration).

A motion to put the question:
(i) is not permissible until every Member present has had the opportunity to speak to the question at least once;
(ii) is not amendable; and
(iii) is not debatable;
and upon adoption, the Presiding Officer shall forthwith put the main motion
and all amendments thereto to a vote.

Motion to suspend the rules

A motion to suspend the rules:
(i) is permissible in accordance with Part 4.10 of this By-law;
(ii) is not debatable;
(iii) is not amendable;
(iv) shall include a statement as to the purpose of the suspension;
(v) requires the support of minimum two-thirds of the whole Council; and
(vi) is not permissible with regard to any statutory requirements that apply to the
proceedings of Council.

Motion to recess

A motion to recess:
(i) is permissible when there is business before Council for consideration;
(ii) shall specify the length of time of the recess;
(iii) is not debatable except with regard to the length of the recess; and
(iv) shall be amendable with respect to the length of the recess.

Motion to adjourn

A motion to adjourn:
(i) is permissible except during Committee of the Whole;
(ii) is not amendable;
(iii) is not debatable;
(iv) is not in order when a Member is speaking or during a vote; and
(v) when resolved in the negative, cannot be made again until the Presiding
Officer has deemed sufficient business has been conducted by Council in the
intervening time.

Consent motions

In preparing the agenda for Council meetings, the Clerk may identify items which are considered to be routine and non-controversial under the heading “Consent Motion”, which matters may be considered by Council as a summary matter in one motion rather than as separate items, unless a member of Council otherwise requests.

Any member, before the consent motion is voted on, may remove any number of items of business from the consent motion.

In the event that a member declares a pecuniary interest on an item that is included in the consent motion, that item shall be removed from the consent motion and dealt with separately.

Items removed from the consent motion shall be considered immediately following the consent motion.