In RR of Order, when a resolution is on the floor for discussion, can it be amended?

Question

The resolution was passed as a motion and seconded, before the call for question, during discussion it was amended. Is this in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order?

Answer 1

Could be. The sequence would be:

Motion made; motion seconded; discussion began.

Motion to amend that first motion made; seconded; discussion; passed.

So if a majority of those present vote to approve the amendment, that original motion has now been amended.

What would follow would be a resumption of the discussion on the amended version of the original motion. That amended motion could either pass or fail, or be tabled, etc.

Note: Often, an informal approach is taken, if during the discussion it is discovered that there was an error in the initial motion: such as they had said "effective March 1, 2006" and they had meant to say "effective March 1, 2007." They sort of pretend that there's a rule that by unanimous consent, or if the person who made the motion and the person who seconded it agree, they just agree to revise the wording of the original motion and proceed to consider it. This doesn't follow the letter of what's specified in Robert's Rules, but if it's a small group and everyone is comfortable with that method, it doesn't really do any harm.

Sometimes if only one person really knows Robert's Rules and tries to get the assembly to follow it exactly, this can lead to problems. It's best if the group has a respected parliamentarian, not an officer and ideally not a member, such as an attorney, who can rule on such matters, but few groups have such luxury.