EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY

MAIN CAMPUS

WRITTEN REPORT
CHAPTER VI
SUBSIDDIARY MOTIONS

By ,
Garado , Jhea C.
Madeja , Bethelyn Joy A.
Plana , Lichelle L.
Bebita ,Keith A.
Coles , Roselle
Capacite , Nelenn Mae
Pontica , Dominique Roy
Menzon , Natalie Claire

INTRODUCTION
Subsidiary motions are applicable to other motions for the purpose of modifying the main
question or affecting its consideration and disposition. The will of such a deliberative assembly
is expressed by its action on proposals submitted for consideration in the form of motions or
resolutions offered by members. In order to make a motion, a member ordinarily must rise and
address the chair and secure recognition. If the motion is considered in order and is seconded by
another member, it is “stated” by the presiding officer and then is subject to the action of the
assembly.[ Reported by , Jhea Garado ]

DISCUSSION
First type - Postpone Indefinitely is a motion that the assembly decline to take a position on the
main question. Its adoption kills the main motion (for the duration of the session) and avoids a
direct vote on the question. It is useful in disposing of a badly chosen main motion that cannot be
either adopted or expressly rejected without possibly undesirable consequences.
Standard Descriptive Characteristics
1. Takes precedence over nothing except the main question to which it is applied.
2. Can be applied only to the main question and can therefore be made only while a main
question is immediately pending.
3. Is out of order when another has the floor.
4. Must be seconded.
5. Is debatable
6. Is not amendable.
7. Requires a majority vote.
8. An affirmative vote on the motion to Postpone Indefinitely can be reconsidered.
1.1 Rationale
Debate on the subsidiary motion to Postpone Indefinitely will likely involve also the advisability
of the resolution itself. When debate ceases, however, the subsidiary motion is voted on first.

CHAIR: The question is on the motion to postpone indefinitely the resolution, “ Resolved, That
the Le Politikons endorse the CASSO President, Juan Dela Cruz, for the office of SSG
President.” As many as are in favor of postponing the resolution indefinitely, say aye. … Those
opposed, say no. … The ayes have it and the resolution is postponed indefinitely.
 If the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is lost, the chair announces the result and
immediately states the question on the main motion. The wording in this case is:

CHAIR: The noes have it. The motion to postpone indefinitely is lost. The question is on the
resolution, “Resolved, That …” [Continues as for any main motion.]

REPORTER : JHEA C.GARADO

Second type- The subsidiary motion to Amend is a motion to modify the wording of a pending
motion before the pending motion itself is acted upon. It should be noted that the motion then
used is not the subsidiary motion to Amend, but a main motion having particular characteristics.
It is probably the most widely used of the subsidiary motions.
The purpose of the motion-to-amend is to modify a motion that has already been
presented in such a manner that it will be more satisfactory to the members. The following are
common methods of amending:
1. By addition or insertion to add something to the motion which it did not contain
2. By eliminating or striking out to subtract or eliminate something from the original
motion
3. By substitution to eliminate something from the original motion and substitute
something else in its place
A hostile amendment is opposed to the spirit to which it is applied. To be germane, an
amendment must have direct bearing on the subject of the motion to which it is applied. An
amendment may nullify the original motion, but if it relates to the same subject matter, it is
germane.
TYPES OF AMENDMENTS
1. Amendment of the First Rank- An amendment to the motion
2. Amendment of the Second Rank – An amendment to an amendment, that modifies and
relatives directly to the amendment, and NOT to the original motion.

REPORTER: BETHELYN JOY A. MADEJA

Third type - The subsidiary motion to Commit or Refer is generally used to send a pending
question to a relatively small group of selected persons—a committee— so that the question may
be carefully investigated and put into better condition for the assembly to consider. The motion
to Commit also has three variations whose object is not to turn the main question over to a
smaller group, but to permit the assembly’s full meeting body to consider it with the greater
freedom of debate that is allowed in committees—that is, with no limit on the number of times a
member can speak.
Standard Descriptive Characteristics
The subsidiary motion to Commit or Refer:
1. Takes precedence over the main motion, over the subsidiary motions to Postpone
Indefinitely and to Amend, and over the incidental motions for Division of a Question and
for Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim. It also takes precedence over a debatable
appeal under either of the following conditions:
2. Can be applied to main motions, with any amendments that may be pending; can be thus
applied to orders of the day or questions of privilege while they are actually pending as
main motions, and such an application is independent of, and does not affect, any other
matter that they may have interrupted; can be applied to debatable appeals, but if such
an \
3. Is out of order when another has the floor.
4. Must be seconded.
5. Is debatable.
6. Is amendable as follows: in the case of a standing committee, as to the committee to
which the main question is to be referred; in the case of a special committee, as to the
committee’s composition and manner of selection; and in the case of any form of
committee, as to any instructions the committee is to follow.
7. Requires a majority vote.
8. An affirmative vote on the motion to Commit can be reconsidered if the committee has
not begun consideration of the question. Thereafter, if the assembly wishes to take the
question out of the hands of the committee, the motion to Discharge a Committee (36)
must be used.
Form and Example
The motion to Commit or Refer may be made in many forms. The following are
typical: “I move to refer the motion to a committee”; “I move to recommit the
resolution”; “I move that the motion be referred to the Social Committee”; “I move that
the resolution be referred to a committee of three to be appointed by the chair” [or
“nominated by the chair,” or “elected from open nominations”]; “I move that the question
be referred to the Executive Board with full power”;

REPORTER : ROSELLE COLES

: ::
Fourth Type - The subsidiary motion to Postpone to a Certain Time (or Postpone Definitely, or
Postpone) is the motion by which action on a pending question can be put off, within limits, to a
definite day, meeting, or hour, or until after a certain event. This motion can be moved regardless
of how much debate there has been on the motion it proposes to postpone. A question may be
postponed either so that it may be considered at a more convenient time, or because debate has
shown reasons for holding off a decision until later. This motion should not be confused with
Postpone Indefinitely does not actually postpone the pending question, but kills it.
Form and Example
The form used in making this motion depends on the desired object:
a) Simply to postpone the question to the next meeting, when it will have precedence over
new business: “I move to postpone the motion [or “that the question be postponed”] to
the next meeting.”
b) To specify an hour before which the question will not be taken up (unless by a two-thirds
vote or through reconsideration), and when it will come up automatically as soon as no
business is pending and any remaining matters that have precedence over it have been
disposed of: “I move that the resolution be postponed until 3 P.M.” [or “… until 9 P.M. at
the meeting scheduled for February 15”].
c) To postpone consideration of a motion until after a certain event in a meeting, when it
will immediately be taken up (unless a special order intervenes): “I move to postpone the
question until after the address by our guest speaker.”
d) To ensure that the question will come up at the next meeting and will not be crowded out
by other matters: “I move that the question be postponed to the next meeting and be made
a special order.” (Two-thirds vote required for adoption.)

REPORTERS: NELENN MAE CAPACITE AND

DOMINIQUE PONTICA

Fifth type- The Previous Question is the motion used to bring the assembly to an immediate vote
on one or more pending questions; its adoption does this with certain exceptions. Adopting or
“ordering” the Previous Question:
1. immediately closes debate on, and stops amendment of, the immediately pending
question and such other pending questions as the motion may specify and
2. prevents the making of any other subsidiary motions except the higher ranking Lay on
the Table. The adoption of an order for the Previous Question does not prevent the
making of privileged or incidental motions as applicable, and, strictly speaking, it does
not prevent a special order set for a particular hour from interrupting the pending
 business. The motion for the Previous Question has nothing to do with the last question
previously considered by the assembly and has a long history of gradually changing
purpose. The Previous Question is not allowed in committees.
Form and Example
The forms used in making this motion include: “I move the previous question” (to apply
only to the immediately pending question); “I move [or “demand,” or “call for”] the previous
question on the motion to commit and its amendment”; “I demand the previous question on all
pending questions”; and so on. Calls of “Question!” by members from their seats are not motions
for the Previous Question and are disorderly if another member is speaking or seeking
recognition.
MEMBER A (obtaining the floor): I move the previous question on [specifying the
motions, unless he desires that only the immediately pending question be affected]. (Second.)
CHAIR: The previous question is moved and seconded on [naming the motions, unless
none was specified]. Those in favor of ordering the previous question on [repeating the motions],
rise. … Be seated.

REPORTER : KEITH BEBITA

Sixth type - The motion to Lay on the Table enables the assembly to lay the pending question
aside temporarily when something else of immediate urgency has arisen or when something else
needs to be addressed before consideration of the pending question is resumed, in such a way
that:
 there is no set time for taking the matter up again;
 but its consideration can be resumed at the will of a majority and in preference to any
new questions that may then be competing with it for consideration.

Form and Example

Forms used in making this motion are: “I move to lay the question on the table”; or “I
move that the resolution be laid on the table. This motion, as explained earlier, is undebatable
and cannot be qualified in any way. In moving it, a member can mention its intended purpose or
name a time at which he/she plans to move that the question be taken from the table, but he/she
cannot move to lay a question “on the table until after the completion of …,” or, “on the table
until 2 P.M.” Rather than always ruling such a motion out of order, however, the chair should
properly treat it as a motion “to postpone the question until …” that is, he should state the motion
as admitted in that form unless the motion to Postpone is out of order at the time. Since the
motion to Lay on the Table can be neither debated nor amended, the chair puts it to a vote
immediately after stating the question on it, as follows:

CHAIR: It is moved and seconded to lay the pending question(s) on the table. As many as are in
favor of laying the pending question(s) on the table, say aye. … Those opposed, say no. … [and
so on, as in the examples already given for motions requiring a majority vote for adoption].

REPORTER : LICHELLE PLANA AND NATALIE

CLAIRE MENZON

CONCLUSION
The subsidiary motions in parliament are a pivotal part of the devices of parliamentary
proceedings. The categories of motions include substantive, substitute, and subsidiary. Members
of the Parliament use motions in parliament to raise and resolve public issues.
These procedures help the Parliament adapt to the changing public needs and allow members to
voice their concerns in the respective Houses effectively.
 ASSESSMENT IN PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
GROUP 1
PART 1 .
Identification .
1. This type of subsidiary motion is in pursuit to modify a motion that has already been presented
in such a manner that it will be more satisfactory to the members. AMEND
2. A concept in Amendments that it has direct bearing upon the subject matter of the motion, that
is, it is relevant, or relates to it. GERMAINE
3. Motions that those that may be applied to another motion for the purpose of modifying it,
delaying action on it, or disposing of it. SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS
4. This motion does not actually "postpone" it but actually kills the motion.POSTPONE
INDEFINITELY
5. A motion in pursuit of bringing the assembly to an immediate vote on one or more pending
questions. PREVIOUS QUESTION
6. Takes precedence over the main motion, over the subsidiary motions to Postpone Indefinitely
and to Amend, and over the incidental motions for Division of a Question and for Consideration
by Paragraph or Seriatim TO COMMIT OR REFER
7. A type of subsidiary motion that can be considered as a smooth and simple process of nearly
killing or eliminating a motion . POSTPONE TO A CERTAIN TIME
8. If the motion isn't taken from the table by the next regular meeting, the motion dies. LAY ON
THE TABLE
9. This motion is used to bring the matter of the motion or bill before the body for consideration,
and must be seconded by another member in order for it to be put to a vote. LAY ON THE TABLE
10. In this motion ,the committee should include members on both sides of the question so that the
report is comprehensive. TO COMMIT OR REFER
PART 2. ENUMERATION
1. Give at least 5 types of subsidiary motions.
2. Give at least two commonly used Standard Descriptive Characteristics among all the types of
subsidiary motions .
3. Give at least one example of a statement portraying the usage of subsidiary motions .