Robert’s Rules of Order Revised > Subject Index > Page 135

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

Page 135

amendment of a constitution or by-laws, or rules of order, or order of business, previously adopted, requires a two-thirds vote; but an amendment of that amendment requires only a majority vote. When a motion or resolution is under consideration only one amendment of the first degree is permitted at a time, and one amendment of that amendment — that is, an amendment of the second degree — is allowed also. An amendment of the third degree would be too complicated and is not in order. 24 Instead of making it, a member may say that if the amendment of the amendment is voted down, he will offer such and such an amendment of the amendment. While there can be only one amendment of each degree pending at the same time, any number of them may be offered in succession. An amendment must be germane 25 to the subject to be amended — that is, it must relate to it, as shown further

Note 24. In Congress, where the quorum is a majority of the members elected, and the members are paid for their services, there is no need for this form of the motion. On the contrary, it has been found necessary to provide means by which the majority may, when it pleases, prevent the making of the motion to re-consider by any one except the member in charge of the measure. [back]

Note 25. In the early history of our Congress a call of the house required a day’s notice, and in the English Parliament it is usual to order that the call shall be made on a certain day in the future, usually not over ten days afterwards, though it has been as long as six weeks afterwards. The object of this is to give notice so that all the members may be present on that day, when important business is to come before the house. In Congress a call of the house is only used now when no quorum is present, and as soon as a quorum appears it is usual to dispense with further proceedings in the call, and this is in order at any stage of the proceedings. In Congress it is customary afterwards to remit the fees that have been assessed. In some of our legislative bodies proceedings in the call cannot be dispensed with except a majority of the members elect to vote in favor of so doing. [back]

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD · SUBJECT INDEX

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