Statement of the Motion by the Presiding Officer 3 1 "Debate" When a motion has been properly moved and seconded, it is the duty of the presiding officer to state it as correctly and clearly as possible even though it may be necessary to change the wording of the motion. The meaning of the main motion however, cannot be changed. If there is a change in the meaning of the main motion, a subsidiary motion to amend must be introduced. Subsidiary Motion to Adopt a Main Motion Any member can make a motion to amend. The subsidiary motion changes the main motion by inserting, adding or striking words. A subsidiary motion to amend need to be seconded, debated, and voted on. If adopted, the proposed change becomes the motion to be acted upon. Discussing a Motion Immediately after stating the motion the presiding officer should turn toward the maker of the motion to see if he wishes to be assigned the first floor to debate. The maker of the motion has the first right to speak to the motion. To do that, the member rises, addresses the presiding officer, obtains the floor, and speaks to the motion. After the maker is done, he sits down, and someone else can speak for or against the motion. The presiding officer cannot close the debate so long as any member who has not exhausted his right to debate desires the floor. In the debate or discussion, a member has the right to speak twice on the same motion on the same day, but cannot make a second speech on the same motion so long as any member who has not spoken on that motion desires the floor. Taking the Vote When no one else rises to speak, the presiding officer once more asks, "Is there any further discussion?", pauses and looks around, and hearing none, re-states the motion and calls for a vote. The votes may be taken by a show of hands, by rising, by voice vote saying "aye" or "no", or by ballots. In putting the question in any of these methods, the presiding officer calls for affirmative votes first, then for the negative vote. The negative votes must be called no matter how nearly unanimous the affirmative vote may appear. The presiding officer always announces the result of the vote. If the affirmative wins by voice vote, he announces: "The ayes have it and the motion is carried." If the negative wins, the presiding officer announces: "The No's have it and the motion is lost." If the vote is taken by show of hands, the presiding officer announces the vote: "The affirmative has it, and the motion is carried"; or "The negative has it and the motion is lost". The majority vote means that more than half of those eligible to vote approve a motion. If there is a tie vote, i.e. 50% in favor and 50% opposed, then no one receives a majority vote. If there is no way to break the tie vote, the motion is lost. RULES GOVERNING DEBATE applies to a discussion on the merits of a pending motion, that is, whether the proposal under consideration should or should not be agreed to. Until a matter has been brought before the assembly in the form of a motion proposing a specific action, it can not be debated 1 Length and Number of Speeches 1. A member, having obtained the floor, can speak no longer than ten minutes unless he obtains the · consent of the assembly. 1 2. When a member's time is exhausted, the presiding officer rises and if member does not immediately conclude his remarks, calls to his attention to the fact, or by interrupting him if necessary. 3. Unless the assembly has a special rule, no member can speak more than twice to the same question on the same day. Modification of General Limits of a debate 11 The rule allowing each member two speeches of ten minutes length on each debatable question can be made restrictive or more liberal by adopting a special rule of order after notice, or by majority vote of the entire membership.
1 Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. www.pnaa03.org <strong>2004</strong>-2006 BYLAWS Approved by the Executive Board Honolulu, Hawaii Submitted by <strong>PNAA</strong> Bylaws Committee <strong>PNAA</strong> Bylaws Committee Chairperson Signed by: s/jlnunciacion £ipat,
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