Notes and Comments on Robert's Rules, Fourth Edition

Amend (the Amending Process)

23 Amend (the Amending Process) How can the chair know if a motion is amendable? In the absence of memorizing whether each motion is amendable, a good guideline to apply is that a motion is amendable if it is variable in wording (132). A main motion, for example, is amendable because it is variable in wording, but the motion to Postpone Indefinitely is not amendable because it is not variable in wording. How does a member proceed in making an amendment? There are three ways to amend: 1. Insert or add. 2. Strike. 3. Strike and insert words or substitute (133–34). Actually, Robert’s says “strike out” words—although in a note it says, “the shortened expression ‘to strike’ is acceptable” (134). We like “strike.” “Strike out” is redundant. “I move to strike” has a cleanness to it, a rapier-like sharpness, a thrust into the motion of which opponents ought to beware. It is in the amending process where many meetings become confusing . Too often, makers of motions to Amend ramble rather than discipline themselves to one of the three ways listed. The chair should insist that members be concise with respect to the words they choose to use in their amendments. Members should say what is to be struck, then what is to be inserted, and nothing more. Some well-intentioned members think they are helping to clarify by stating, “I move to amend so the motion will read . . .” Do not do this. Everyone now has to search through the motion to locate which specific words are being inserted or added, struck, or struck and inserted. After the chair states the specific proposed change and members can see the proposed change, then the chair can inform the members or delegates how the motion will read if the amendment is adopted. 24 Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules Generally, amendments should be submitted in writing; and, as with the main motion, it is important that the chair state the amendment before allowing any debate. What is meant by germane? “Germane” means relevant to, that is, “closely related to or having bearing on the subject of the motion to be amended” (131, 136–38). Amendments must be germane. How can one be sure an amendment is germane? The distinction is not always easy. One must examine the context of the motion to reach a decision. Consider, for example, the main motion , “I move that we recognize Professor Adams as the outstanding teacher at the university.” If the intent of the motion is to get the organization to express its feelings about Professor Adams, then 1. an amendment to strike “outstanding teacher” and insert “big windbag” would be in order; 2. an amendment to strike “Professor Adams” and insert “Professor Wilson” would not be in order. If the intent of the motion is to select the recipient for the organization ’s outstanding teacher award, then 1. an amendment to strike “outstanding teacher” and insert “big windbag” would not be in order; 2. an amendment to strike “Professor Adams” and insert “Professor Wilson” would be in order. An amendment may be hostile to the specific intent of the motion as long as it is germane to the general intent of the motion.28 What is meant by a hostile amendment? Robert’s states that “an amendment can be hostile to, or even defeat, the spirit of the original motion and still be germane” (136). Take, for example, the motion “that the executive director be given a thirty-day paid vacation.” It would be in order for a member to move to strike “paid vacation” and insert “notice.” Why? The amendment certainly changes the maker’s intent to do something nice for the executive 25 Amend (the Amending Process) director, but the amendment is relevant to the general intent of the motion, which is for the organization to express its opinion of the executive director. Remember, once the motion becomes the property of the body, all members share in the ownership of the motion; therefore, any member has the right to present a specific opinion about the proposal as long as the amendment is relevant (germane) to the general intent of the motion. The proposer of the amendment has the same right to say something bad (hostile) about the executive director as the maker of the main motion has to say something nice. The key, then, is to distinguish...