As of June 14, 2024, the University Senate is dissolved and will be replaced by a Faculty Senate. During the transition, this site will continue to hold relevant information for the continuation of duties. The previous University Senate rules have been transitioned to Administrative Regulations. Information on Curriculog, proposals and syllabi has permanently moved to the Office of the Provost website under Curriculum Proposals.

If you have any questions regarding the transition, please email facultysenatetransition@uky.edu or Christine Harper, Acting Associate Provost for Academic Operations at christine.harper@uky.edu.

Motions

Motion	Needs a Second?	Is it Amendable?	Is it Debatable?	Required Vote?	Can it be Reconsidered?	May it Interrupt?	Type of Motion
Adjourn	Yes	NO	NO	Majority	NO	NO	Privileged
Amend	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	Yes	NO	Subsidiary
Amend something previously adopted	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority with notice or 2/3 without notice	Consult Parliamentarian	NO	Bring back
Commit or Refer to Cmte	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	Yes	NO	Subsidiary
Consideration by paragraph	Yes	Yes	NO	Majority	NO	NO	Incidental
Division of a question	Yes	Yes	NO	Majority	NO	NO	Incidental
Division of assembly (recount)	NO	NO	NO	Request by one member	NO	NO	Incidental
End debate/Call the question	Yes	NO	NO	2/3 Majority	Yes	NO	Subsidiary
Limit debate	Yes	Yes	NO	Majority	Consult Parliamentarian	NO	Subsidiary
Main motion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	Yes	NO	Main
Objection to the question	NO	NO	NO	2/3 Majority in the Negative	NO	NO	Incidental
Point of information	NO	NO	NO	Chair Responds or Requests Answer	NO	Yes	Incidental
Point of order	NO	NO	NO	Chair Resolves	NO	Yes	Privileged
Postpone indefinitely	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	Yes	NO	Subsidiary
Postpone to specific time	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	Yes	NO	Subsidiary
Recess	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority	NO	Yes	Privileged
Rescind/Repeal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority with notice or 2/3 without notice	Consult Parliamentarian	NO	Bring back
Table the motion	Yes	NO	NO	Majority	NO	NO	Subsidiary
Take from the table	Yes	NO	NO	Majority	NO	NO	Bring back

Types of Motions

Adjourn: A motion to end the meeting.

Amend: A motion to alter or modify the wording of a main motion. A primary amendment changes the motion. A secondary amendment changes the first amendment. Voting order is secondary, primary and then main motion.

Amend something previously adopted: A motion to modify a previously adopted motion.

Commit or Refer to Cmte: This is a motion put forward to refer the current motion to a committee.

Consideration by paragraph: A motion to consider a lengthy motion by paragraph, section or article. This opens each section up to debate and amendment, before the entire document is considered for adoption.

Division of a question: A vote by the assembly to divide a pending motion into two or more parts. Each part must be able to stand on its own.

Division of assembly (recount): Demand by a member to retake a voice vote or show of hands, by asking for a rising vote. The electronic clicker voting system should make this moot.

End debate/ Call the question: A motion to close debate and bring the pending motion up for vote. This requires a 2/3 vote in favor and is done without debate.

Limit debate: A motion to change the length of time an item is debated.

Main motion: A motion which is not applied to another motion, requires a second, is debatable and amendable, usually majority vote required for adoption.

Objection to the question: A member objects to a motion. This must be done when the motion is on the floor, but before discussion. This requires a 2/3 vote in the negative for passage.

Point of information: A request for facts affecting the pending business. The request is made to the chair, although the chair may ask someone else to respond.

Point of order: A motion that brings any violation of rule to the chair's attention. It must be done as soon as the violation occurs. The chair rules on this.

Postpone indefinitely: A motion to reject a main motion without a direct vote or kill it in order not to consider it at that session.

Postpone to specific time: A motion to delay consideration of a main motion until later specified time.

Recess: A motion to take a short intermission in the meeting.

Rescind/Repeal: A motion to repeal a previously adopted motion entirely.

Table the motion: A motion to set aside a main motion temporarily while other more urgent matter is considered without designating a time. If a time is designated, it is technically a motion to postpone for a specific time.

Take from the table: A motion to resume consideration of the motion that was previously laid on the table.

Categories of Motions

Main motion: Introduces new substantive business. It is the lowest rank and may only be made when no other business is pending.

Subsidiary motion: Assists the body in handling a main motion. It ranks above the main motion, but below privileged motions.

Privileged motion: Does not relate to the pending motion but deals with special matters of immediate and overriding importance and generally takes precedence.

Incidental motion: Changes the procedure for handling a motion, but does not change what the body is considering. It generally needs an immediate decision.