A Couple More Parliamentary Procedure Myths and Facts

Myth - There can only be 1 motion on the floor at a time.

Fact: There can be many motions on the floor at one time, so long as they deal with procedural or subsidiary issues and are germane (related to the same subject as the original motion). For example, there could be a main motion that we buy a new coffee machine for up to $50. Someone could then move to amend that to change $50 to $100, and someone else could move to amend the amendment to say the $100 ceiling is only applicable if the coffee machine is purchased on sale. Someone else could move to send the whole subject to a committee, and someone else could move to take a recess of 10 minutes to discuss this informally. Someone else could move to adjourn and someone else could move to set the time to which to adjourn, meaning that if the motion to adjourn is adopted, the meeting will continue starting at, for example, 2pm the following day. Each of these motions can be made so long as the newer one has a higher priority, and then each is voted on in order from the top down. This doesn’t mean this is good practice, and in reality it is not likely that there would be more than a main motion, an amendment, and a motion to refer to committee.

Myth - During debate anyone can say whatever he or she wants.

Debate-2: All discussion must relate to the motion before the group, and all debate must refer to the motion and not the people involved or their alleged motivations. If someone says, “Anyone who votes for this is a fool,” or “All of you are failing in your duty to do your jobs properly,” the Chair can and should hit the gavel and say that person is out of order and direct that he or she stop talking, and if need be order that he or she be removed from the room. The whole purpose of parliamentary procedure is to insure that the majority can rule while protecting the rights of the minority to try to convince the majority to change their minds, while always insuring that discussion is polite and respectful.
(Citation: RONR at pages 391-394)