A main motion, in parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...

, is a motion

Motion (parliamentary procedure)

In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. In a parliament, this is also called a parliamentary motion and includes legislative motions, budgetary motions, supplementary budgetary motions, and petitionary...

 that brings business before the assembly. Main motions are made while no other motion is pending. Any of the subsidiary

Subsidiary motion

A subsidiary motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a type of motion by which a deliberative assembly deals directly with a main motion prior to voting on the main motion itself.-Explanation:...

, incidental

Incidental motion

An incidental motion, in parliamentary procedure, is one of a category of motions that relate in varying ways to the main motion and other parliamentary motions.-Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised :...

 and privileged

Privileged motion

A privileged motion is a motion in parliamentary procedure that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency...

 motions may be made while the main motion is pending, and in many cases these motions, if passed, will affect the assembly's consideration of the main motion.

When greater formality is desired, the main motion may be made in the form of a resolution

Resolution (law)

A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...

, which is always submitted in writing. A preamble

Preamble

A preamble is an introductory and expressionary statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy. When applied to the opening paragraphs of a statute, it may recite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute...

 containing several paragraphs explaining the background of and/or justification for the proposed action is often included, but is not required.

Explanation and Use

Main motions are made while no other motion is pending. Any of the subsidiary

Subsidiary motion

A subsidiary motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a type of motion by which a deliberative assembly deals directly with a main motion prior to voting on the main motion itself.-Explanation:...

, incidental

Incidental motion

An incidental motion, in parliamentary procedure, is one of a category of motions that relate in varying ways to the main motion and other parliamentary motions.-Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised :...

 and privileged

Privileged motion

A privileged motion is a motion in parliamentary procedure that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency...

 motions may be made while the main motion is pending, and in many cases these motions, if passed, will affect the assembly's consideration of the main motion.

When greater formality is desired, the main motion may be made in the form of a resolution

Resolution (law)

A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...

, which is always submitted in writing. A preamble

Preamble

A preamble is an introductory and expressionary statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy. When applied to the opening paragraphs of a statute, it may recite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute...

 containing several paragraphs explaining the background of and/or justification for the proposed action is often included, but is not required.

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

Normally, this is a motion that introduces a substantive question as a new subject, in which case it is also called an original main motion. Otherwise, it is an incidental main motion, examples of which are the motions to adopt recommendations of a committee, to ratify action previously taken without a quorum, to rescind an action previously taken, or to adjourn or recess while no main motion is pending.

Incidental Main Motion

Incidental main motion, in parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...

, is a classification under Robert's rules of order

Robert's Rules of Order

Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...

 for a group of main motion

Main motion

A main motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a motion that brings business before the assembly. Main motions are made while no other motion is pending...

s that are incidental to or related to the business of the assembly, or its past or future action. In contrast, regular main motions are motions that introduce new business. Unlike regular main motions, incidental main motions cannot have objection to the consideration of the question applied to them.

Subsidiary motions

• Limit or extend limits of debate
  Limit or extend limits of debate
  -Explanation and Use:-Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised:The default norm is allowing each member of a deliberative assembly to make two ten-minute speeches, with a requirement that a member wait for other members who have not spoken on the question to speak before making his second speech.-The...
  
  
• Postpone to a certain time
  Postpone to a certain time
  In parliamentary procedure, a postponing to a certain time or postponing to a time certain is an act of the deliberative assembly, generally implemented as a motion...
  
  
• Commit
  Commit (motion)
  The motion to commit , in parliamentary procedure, is used to refer another motion—usually a main motion -- to a committee.-Explanation and Use:...
  
  
• Amend
  Amend (motion)
  -Explanation and Use:-Main Motions:Any main motion and any motion to amend may be amended. However, a motion to amend a motion to amend may not be amended, due to the overly complex parliamentary situation that would frequently result.-Secondary Motions:...
  
  
• Postpone indefinitely
  Postpone indefinitely
  The motion to postpone indefinitely, in parliamentary procedure, is a subsidiary motion used to kill a main motion without taking a direct vote on it.-Explanation and Use:-Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised :...
  
  

Privileged motions

• Recess
  Recess (motion)
  In parliamentary procedure, "recess" refers to legislative bodies—such as parliaments, assemblies, juries—that are released to reassemble at a later time. The members may leave the meeting room, but are expected to remain nearby. A recess may be simply to allow a break or it may be...
  
  
• Adjourn
• Fix the time to which to adjourn

Motions that bring a question again before the assembly

• Rescind, repeal, or annul or amend something previously adopted
• Discharge a committee
  Discharge a committee
  The motion to discharge a committee is used to take a matter out of a committee's hands before the committee has made a final report on it.-Explanation and Use:-Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised :...
  
  (if the subject was referred by a main motion rather than by the subsidiary motion to commit)