ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS

Robert’s Rules of Order Revised > ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS.

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Henry M. Robert (1837–1923). Robert’s Rules of Order Revised. 1915.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS.

The ordinary motions rank as follows, the lowest in rank being at the bottom and the highest at the top of the list. When any one of them is immediately pending the motions above it in the list are in order, and those below are out of order. Those marked (2/3) require a 2/3 vote for their adoption; the others require only a majority.

Undebatable

Privileged 2

Fix the Time to which to Adjourn (when privileged). 1 2

Adjourn (when privileged). 2

Take a Recess (when privileged). 1 2

Raise a Question of Privilege.

Call for the Orders of the Day.

Subsidiary

Lay on the Table.

Previous Question (2/3).

Limit or Extend Limits of Debate (2/3). 1

Debatable

Subsidiary

Postpone to a Certain Time. 1

Commit or Refer. 1

Amend. 1

Postpone Indefinitely.

A Main Motion. 1

Note 1. Can be amended: the others cannot be amended. [back]

Note 2. The first three motions are not always privileged. To Fix the Time to which to Adjourn is privileged only when made while another question is pending, and in an assembly that has made no provision for another meeting on the same or the next day. To Adjourn loses its privileged character and is a main motion if in any way qualified, or if its effect, if adopted, is to dissolve the assembly without any provision for its meeting again. To Take a Recess is privileged only when made while other business is pending. [back]

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