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Main Motion

A motion that brings before the assembly any particular subject and is made when no other business is pending. If passed, it commits the assembly to do or say something. Motions in this classification include: Original Main Motion and Incidental Main Motion.

majority

More than half of the votes cast.

majority of the entire membership

More than half of all the members of the entity that is meeting. For example, in a meeting of a convention, a majority of the entire membership refers to a majority of all the registered convention attendees entitled to vote.

majority report

An incorrectly used term for the report of the majority of the members of a committee. Instead, it should simply be referred to as the committee report.

majority vote

More than half of the votes cast.

making the motion to Reconsider

The motion to Reconsider can be divided into the making of the motion and the actual consideration of the motion, referred to as calling up. The making of the motion to Reconsider has higher ranking than the consideration of the motion. Therefore, there are times that the motion can be made, but not yet considered. Just the making and seconding of the motion to Reconsider temporarily suspends actions stemming from the vote it is proposed to Reconsider. That suspension lasts until the vote on Reconsider is taken. Also see Call up the Motion to Reconsider.

mass meeting

An open and informal meeting of a group of people with a common interest but not formally organized. These meetings happen for many different reasons, one of which is that it's the very first step in the beginning of an organization. Because a mass meeting is not a meeting of an organized group, the rules applicable to a mass meeting are very different from those of other meetings. If you are going to attend a mass meeting or you are the person calling the mass meeting, you should review the section in Robert’s Rules regarding mass meetings. If the purpose of the mass meeting is to form a new organization, there is another section in Robert’s Rules that you will also want to review. That section walks you through the process of organizing a permanent society.

meeting

An assembly of members gathered to conduct business during which there is no separation of the members except for a short recess.

member

A person who belongs to an organization.

membership

Members of an organization get together to meet and make decisions on behalf of the organization. As a general principle, usually the members of the organization have the rights to control the organization, unless they choose to assign those rights and responsibilities to another group. The place they assign those rights and responsibilities is in the bylaws. The entities that they assign those rights and responsibilities to varies but most frequently include staff, the board of directors, the executive committee, or other committees.

minority report

A formal expression of the views of a portion of the committee or group that are not in agreement with the majority stand on an issue.

minutes

The written record of the proceedings of a deliberative assembly. They are a record of what was done at the meeting, not what was said at the meeting.

mock minutes

A tool to assist in the minutes writing process. They are minutes prepared in advance of a meeting or convention which includes all that will be occurring, and the order in which it will occur. They contain many blank spaces that are filled in during the meeting by the person(s) in charge of the minutes. They are prepared using the agenda and/or the script for the meeting.

motion

A proposal that the group take a specific action or stand. Motion and question are interchangeable terms.

motions relating to methods of voting and the polls

These motions are used to demand a ballot vote, count a vote, or close or reopen polls.

motions relating to nominations

These motions are used in relation to nominations of candidates for office. They include motions relating to the method of nomination, closing nominations, and reopening nominations.

motions that bring the question again before the assembly

Motions that are used to bring back a motion that has already been considered by the assembly. Motions in this classification include: Rescind, Amend Something Previously Adopted, Take from the Table, and Reconsider.

move

The word used to make a motion: “I move that...."

mover

The person who makes the motion.