A seating unit, comprising: a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to an underlying surface; a pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) adapted to move the seating unit between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) comprises: (a) a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and configured to support a backrest of the seating unit; (b) a sequence link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link, wherein the sequence link includes a guide slot; (c) a rear pivot link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link and to a sequence element, wherein the sequence element extends into the guide slot, and wherein interaction between the sequence element and the sequence link resists direct adjustment between the closed position and the reclined position; (d) a motor bellcrank having a mid portion located between a first end and a second end, wherein an activator bar is rotatably coupled to the first end of the motor bellcrank; and (e) a front lift link having a front end and a back end, wherein the back end of the front lift link is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link, and wherein the mid portion of the motor bellcrank is rotatably coupled to a section between the front end and the back end of the front lift link; and a linear actuator (320, 330, 340), coupled to the activator bar, that is sequenced into a mutually exclusive first phase and second phase, wherein the first phase moves the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) between the closed position and the extended position, and wherein the second phase moves the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) between the extended position and the reclined position. a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to an underlying surface; a pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) adapted to move the seating unit between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) comprises: (a) a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and configured to support a backrest of the seating unit; (b) a sequence link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link, wherein the sequence link includes a guide slot; (c) a rear pivot link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link and to a sequence element, wherein the sequence element extends into the guide slot, and wherein interaction between the sequence element and the sequence link resists direct adjustment between the closed position and the reclined position; (d) a motor bellcrank having a mid portion located between a first end and a second end, wherein an activator bar is rotatably coupled to the first end of the motor bellcrank; and (e) a front lift link having a front end and a back end, wherein the back end of the front lift link is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link, and wherein the mid portion of the motor bellcrank is rotatably coupled to a section between the front end and the back end of the front lift link; and (a) a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and configured to support a backrest of the seating unit; (b) a sequence link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link, wherein the sequence link includes a guide slot; (c) a rear pivot link rotatably coupled to the back-mounting link and to a sequence element, wherein the sequence element extends into the guide slot, and wherein interaction between the sequence element and the sequence link resists direct adjustment between the closed position and the reclined position; (d) a motor bellcrank having a mid portion located between a first end and a second end, wherein an activator bar is rotatably coupled to the first end of the motor bellcrank; and (e) a front lift link having a front end and a back end, wherein the back end of the front lift link is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link, and wherein the mid portion of the motor bellcrank is rotatably coupled to a section between the front end and the back end of the front lift link; and a linear actuator (320, 330, 340), coupled to the activator bar, that is sequenced into a mutually exclusive first phase and second phase, wherein the first phase moves the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) between the closed position and the extended position, and wherein the second phase moves the linkage mechanisms (100; 1000) between the extended position and the reclined position.