Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules, Fourth Edition

Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely)

45 Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely) Is the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time the same as the motion to Postpone Definitely? Yes. The Motion to Postpone to a Certain Time is also referred to as “Postpone Definitely,” or simply as “Postpone.” When should the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time be used? A main motion “may be postponed either so that it may be considered at a more convenient time, or because debate has shown reasons for holding off a decision until later” (180). The motion may be postponed to later in the same meeting (either to a specific time or to a point prior to or following a specific business item or event) or to the following meeting (where it will become unfinished business unless it was postponed to a specific time or to a point before or after a certain business item or event) so long as the organization meets at least quarterly. May debate on the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time go into the merits of the main motion? No. “[Debate] must not go into the merits of the main question any more than is necessary to enable the assembly to decide whether the main question should be postponed and to what time” (182). How long may a main motion be postponed? If an organization meets less often than at quarterly intervals, a main motion may be postponed only to the end of the same session; if an organization meets at least within quarterly intervals, a main motion may be postponed to the end of the next session (183, 364). In other words, for organizations with regular business meetings, a main motion may be postponed to the end of the following meeting. But at an annual convention, the assembly cannot postpone a main motion (resolution, new business item) to the next convention (87, 90–91, 183). 46 Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules Because no new main motion with the same subject matter may be made while a motion is postponed and because motions postponed for a long period of time tend to complicate procedure, it is wise to follow the limitation. When a main motion is postponed, what happens to any pending amendments? When a motion is postponed, any pending motions (Postpone Indefinitely , Amend, Refer) are postponed with the main motion. When consideration of the postponed main motion is resumed, the business is in the same condition as it was when the motion was postponed. For example, a main motion with a motion to Amend and a motion to Refer is postponed until unfinished business. When the assembly reaches unfinished business, the chair states, “We turn now to the motion to . . . which was postponed until unfinished business. Also pending is a motion to Amend by . . . and a motion to Refer. Debate is now open on the motion to Refer.” What confusion results between the motion to Postpone to a Certain Time and the motion to Lay on the Table? Members usually misuse the motion to Lay on the Table when they mean to Postpone to a Certain Time. There is no such motion as “to lay on the table until 4:00 p.m.” or “to table until the next meeting.” (See “Lay on the Table,” pages 60–62.) The motion to Postpone to a Certain Time is a motion that should be used more often. For example: If you want to postpone discussion of the dues until after the budget is adopted, say, “I move to postpone consideration of the dues until after action is taken on the budget.” If you want to postpone consideration of an item until missing members arrive in the afternoon, say, “I move to postpone until 3:00 p.m.” If you believe an item needs additional study, say, “I move to postpone until the next meeting.” May a class of business or several items be postponed? No (184–85). The same answer applies to the motion to Lay on the Table (211). 47 Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely) May an amendment be postponed? Not alone, but such a motion can be made to the main motion while an amendment is pending. If adopted, the amendment follows the main motion (132). Creating Orders What is meant by an “order”? A question (main motion) that has been postponed becomes an order to consider the motion at a later time...