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Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted
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99 Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted What is the purpose of the motion to Rescind? The motion to Rescind is used to nullify or negate a main motion adopted earlier. “The effect of Rescind is to strike out an entire main motion, resolution, order, or rule that has been adopted at some previous time” (305). After a main motion has been adopted, how soon, how often, and for how long may a member make a motion to Rescind? How soon? Technically, a member may move to rescind immediately, but the practical answer is at the next meeting. Rescind picks up where Reconsiderleavesoff.Atthemeetingduringwhichtheactionwastaken, use Reconsider; at the following (or a later) meeting, use Rescind.64 How often may a member make the motion to Rescind? A general principle of parliamentary law is that an assembly should not have to consider the same subject matter more than once during a single meeting. (Reconsider is, of course, the exception.) Thus, the answer is once each meeting. For how long? Theoretically a member may make the motion to Rescind forever (307), but there is a practical limitation: a motion to Rescind cannot cancel or countermand an action that already has been executed. May part of a previously adopted motion be rescinded? Yes, there are three routes available for rescinding part of an action that had been adopted previously: 1. At the same meeting, move to reconsider the vote on the main motion that was previously adopted. If the motion to Reconsider is adopted, move to amend by striking. 2. Move to rescind the previously adopted motion, then move to amend the motion to Rescind so that the rescission is limited to part of the motion previously adopted. 100 Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules 3. Move to Amend Something Previously Adopted. This is the most direct route to use “if it is desired to change only a part of the text, or to substitute a different version” (305). The motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted is seldom used and appears to be an exception to the general rule that amendments apply to pending motions. If the motion changes or strikes part of the motion previously adopted, it amends the motion; if the motion strikes the entire motion, it rescinds the motion. What is the vote required for the motion to Rescind or to Amend Something Previously Adopted? It depends. A majority vote is required if previous notice is given. If previous notice is not given, then the motion requires a two-thirds vote or a vote of a majority of the entire membership (306–7). (In the unlikely event of the motion in committee, see Robert’s 306 for the vote requirement.) ...