It also empowers a minority of one-third plus one to defeat motions to limit or close debate, to suspend a rule, or to amend a constitutional provision. 1.5 Conservation of Time For an organization to carry out its purpose, it must make the best possible use of time. For this reason most proposals submitted to an assembly must support by at least two members, that is, that motions must be seconded and can be lost for lack of a second. Without impinging on individual rights, deliberative bodies have the obligation to deal firmly with irrelevant and frivolous discussion. All deliberative proceedings are instituted by motions, which are classified as either main or secondary.
Main motions involve substantive proposals for consideration and action.
To make a motion of any kind a member rises and addresses the chair to request recognition, and, on being recognized, states the motion. The chair determines whether it requires a second. The chair then states the motion and either invites discussion or debate, or, if no debate is required, asks for an immediate vote by the assembly. Main motions are those by which an organization establishes its polices and sets it course of action. These motions therefore should be carefully prepared, usually in written form.