Division of the Question (Motion)
Has a question (motion) come on the floor that is so involved you feel that it should be divided up and voted on in separate parts? The longer and more complicated a motion, the better chance that members may not understand it. And if they don't understand it or if parts make them nervous, they may vote down the motion.
The maker of the motion doesn't “own” the motion after the chair has stated it, so you don't need his permission to divide it. Look at the motion and see if it can be broken down into separate motions. If it can, a motion to divide is definitely in order.
FACT
Want to support just one part of a motion? If a member wants to divide a motion so that just one part of it can be voted upon, she can make a motion to that effect.
A member should say, “I move to divide the motion into [number of] parts. The first motion is to [state the motion]. The second motion is to [state the motion]…,” and so on, for as many parts as the motion needs to be divided into. This motion to divide needs to be seconded. It is not debatable. The chair can now put the motion to divide to a vote, or the chair can use general (unanimous) consent and ask the membership, “Is there any objection to dividing the motion into [number of] parts? Hearing none, the motion is divided.” If there are objections, the original motion with all its complexities stands.
