Today’s fun fact about parliamentary procedure: There’s a little-known option for making a motion—you can draft a motion that includes a “blank,” and members can propose options for that blank without moving to amend the motion. This concept can be a business meeting game changer, and here’s how it works.
Making a Motion with a Blank
Wording a motion with a blank is a bit different from the traditional motion-amendment process in a few ways. Let’s review the normal process of motions and amendments first, and then look at this alternate of wording and processing a motion.
1. Traditional Motion-Amendment Process
- A member is recognized.
- A member makes a main motion.
- The Chair repeats the motion.
- The motion is seconded.
- The motion is discussed.
- The motion is voted on.
During discussion, members can also propose amendments to the main motion—these are called primary amendments. Amendments are made by striking words, inserting words, or replacing words in the main motion.
Members can also propose amendments to primary amendments—these are called secondary amendments.
2. Alternate Fill-in-the-Blank Motion Process
A different option allows for construction of a main motion with a blank that members can fill in with options of their choice.
The details of this process differ among parliamentary authorities, but in general, the process works as follows.…
- A member is recognized.
- A member makes a main motion—with a blank indicating one unspecified piece of the proposed motion.
- The Chair repeats the motion.
- The motion is seconded.
- The Chair invites members to submit options for the blank and discuss the motion and options.
- When members are finished submitting options and discussing them, they vote on which option should fill the blank.
- Members then vote on the final wording of the motion with the blank filled.
An Example
Let’s look at an example of the traditional motion-amendment process, followed by an example of this alternative using a blank.
1. Traditional Motion-Amendment
- Member A makes the following motion: “I move that we paint the organization headquarters blue by the next annual meeting.”
- Member B moves to amend the motion: “I move to strike the word blue and insert the word red.” The group starts to discuss blue vs. red.
- Member C moves to amend the amendment: “I move to strike the word red and insert the word green.” The group discusses red vs. green, votes on the amendment to the amendment, and the amendment to the amendment passes.
- The group discusses green vs. blue, votes on the amendment as amended, and the amendment is adopted.
- The group discusses and votes on the amended main motion: “To paint the organization headquarters green by the next annual meeting.”
2. Alternate Fill-in-the-Blank Motion
- Member A makes the following motion: “I move that we paint the organization headquarters _______ by the next annual meeting.”
- Members B, C, and D submit colors during discussion: blue, red, and green. The motion in general and the suggested colors are discussed.
- A vote is taken on all three options. The choices can be placed on a ballot, or the Chair can take a vote on each choice individually:
“All those in favor of filling the blank with blue, say, ‘aye.’ All those opposed, say, ‘no.’”
“All those in favor of filling the blank with red, say, ‘aye.’ All those opposed, say, ‘no.’”
“All those in favor of filling the blank with green, say, ‘aye.’ All those opposed, say, ‘no.’”
- The choice that receives the highest majority fills the blank.
- The group discusses and votes on the final wording of the motion with the blank filled.
Advantages of Making a “Fill-in-the-Blank” Motion
1. Unlimited Choices
The traditional motion-amendment process only considers one option, then a second, and sometimes a third, but never an unlimited number. A fill-in-the-blank motion allows for many options to be proposed and for all to be considered in the end.
2. Multiple, Not Binary
In the traditional motion-amendment process, the choice is always binary. To reference the example above, discussion happened and a vote was taken on red vs. green, and the next discussion and vote considered green vs. blue. There was no chance to go back to consider blue vs. red as a set of options. Using a fill-in-the-blank motion, members can consider many options equally at one time.
3. Efficiency
Because the fill-in-the-blank method allows discussion and voting on multiple options at once rather than simply two at a time, a group can often streamline its discussion and come to a final decision more quickly.
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