What if you want to amend a motion that's been previously adopted? Perhaps your group has decided to put a plaque honoring the past president of the group on the clubhouse wall. Then someone notices that this has not been done in the past. Maybe it's a really good idea, but all past presidents should be honored.

Get It Right!

To amend the motion mentioned above, a member might say, “I move to amend the motion to place a plaque on the clubhouse wall honoring Mildred Smith, the past president of our group, by striking out ‘Mildred Smith’ and inserting the names of all past presidents.” Then another member should second the motion. The chair should ask if there is any discussion on the proposed amendment. Then a vote is in order. The same vote conditions for passage exist as for rescinding — two-thirds vote or a majority of the entire membership.

Leaving Well Enough Alone

There are some motions previously adopted that cannot be amended. Anything that exceeds the scope of the original motion can't be tampered with. Many groups or organizations also have language in their bylaws to ensure that constitutions, bylaws, and other governing instruments can't be changed from meeting to meeting.

If there is not such language, then these items can be changed with the same voting requirements listed above for rescinding/amending something previously adopted. This can mean there's more chance for constant change that might not be in the best interests of any group or organization. Great thought and sometimes legal advice are used in the writing of constitutions and bylaws; changes made by members who might be uninformed about the original purpose of some language could cause problems if they're done in a regular meeting.