Congressional Debate - Frequently Used Parliamentary Motions

Frequently Used Parliamentary Motions

The following motions are used at almost all Congressional Debate tournaments:

Motion Notes Second Required Fraction of Chamber Required
To open the floor to debate* Also called the "main motion" Yes Majority
To take a bill from the table Re-opens debate on tabled legislation, which may or may not have already been debated Yes Majority
To lay a bill on the table Pauses debate on a bill. Some states typically return to vote on all tabled items before the conclusion of a tournament, but there is no rule requiring this. Yes Majority
To call the previous question To call the "previous question" ends debate on a bill and states the main motion to vote on it Yes 2/3
To recess The time of the recess (e.g. "for ten minutes" or "until 11:30") must be specified Yes Majority
To rise to a point of personal privilege To make a personal request No Decision of chair
To rise to a point of order/parliamentary procedure To correct a parliamentary error, ask a question, or clarify a procedure No Decision of chair
To amend Modifies a pending motion or the pending bill/resolution; filled-out slip must be passed to P.O. in advance 1/3 second triggers debate on the amendment 2/3 majority to call the previous question to end debate, then majority to pass.
To adjourn Made at the end of a tournament Yes Majority

These motions are allowed at some Congressional Debate tournaments, depending on the region and the style of debate:

Motion Notes Second Required Fraction of Chamber Required
To demand a roll call vote Used to verify a voice vote or vote by show-of-hands. Yes 1/5
To "Divide the House" Used to verify a voice vote No No (demand by a single member requires a re-count)
To modify or withdraw a motion To change or take back a motion that has not yet passed Yes, only if chair has already stated the motion Majority (after motion is stated by chair), no vote required if motion has not been stated.
To suspend the rules To take an action against rules (such as adding an additional minute of questioning) Yes 2/3
To appeal a decision of the chair Allows chamber to overrule the PO's ruling on a prior point of order Yes Majority
To extend questioning time* To continue asking questions of the speaker Yes 2/3

These motions were once common but are no longer allowed by the official NFL Congressional Debate guidelines (as of the 2006-07 school year):

Motion Notes Second Required Fraction of Chamber Required
For open chambers If open chambers is passed, representatives may move freely and even leave the house in the middle of debate. Yes 2/3
Yield to a two-part question To ask two related questions in a row; made before questions are asked No Decision of speaker

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Famous quotes containing the words frequently and/or motions:

    “The obvious parallels between Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz have frequently been noted: in both there is the orphan hero who is raised on a farm by an aunt and uncle and yearns to escape to adventure. Obi-wan Kenobi resembles the Wizard; the loyal, plucky little robot R2D2 is Toto; C3PO is the Tin Man; and Chewbacca is the Cowardly Lion. Darth Vader replaces the Wicked Witch: this is a patriarchy rather than a matriarchy.”
    —Andrew Gordon, U.S. educator, critic. “The Inescapable Family in American Science Fiction and Fantasy Films,” Journal of Popular Film and Television (Summer 1992)

    “A lover, when he is admitted to cards, ought to be solemnly silent, and observe the motions of his mistress. He must laugh when she laughs, sigh when she sighs. In short, he should be the shadow of her mind. A lady, in the presence of her lover, should never want a looking-glass; as a beau, in the presence of his looking-glass, never wants a mistress.”
    —Henry Fielding (1707–1754)