1179:
62:
After a motion is proposed, if the motion requires a second and none is immediately offered, the chair of the body will usually ask, "Is there a second?" If no second is obtained within a few moments of proposing the motion, then the motion is not considered by the assembly, and is treated as though
66:
If a motion which requires a second does not receive one, but is discussed or voted on anyway, it is too late to object to the motion on the grounds that a second was not offered. This is because the purpose of the second has been fulfilled: the assembly is obviously willing to consider the motion.
53:
The seconder may state "I second the motion" or "second" without first being recognized by the chair. They may remain seated but in larger assemblies, except in those where nonmembers may be seated in the hall, the seconder should stand. After hearing a second, the chair then states the question
117:
Ray Keesey states, "Motions need not be seconded. The requirement of a second is largely a waste of time. What member is so destitute of friends that he can't find one willing to second his motion? The traditional justification for requiring a second is that at least two members would support a
44:
The purpose of requiring a second is to prevent time being wasted by the assembly's having to dispose of a motion that only one person wants to see introduced. Hearing a second to a motion is guidance to the chair that they should state the question on the motion, thereby placing it before the
135:
states that "Parliamentary practice in
American governmental bodies does not require seconds to motions, and in Parliament itself, where the practice of seconding motions originated, they have not been required for more than a
480:
107:
states, "The seconder can also withdraw his second after the Chair has stated the question and before it is voted on, if the body permits it either by silent consent, or by majority vote if put to a formal vote."
600:
199:
In the unicameral parliament of
Queensland a seconder is not required in most cases. A seconder is required for any motion or amendment to an Address to the Governor, election of the Speaker or condolence.
211:
In
Queensland the Best Practice Standing Orders for Local Government requires a second for all motions. However, in contrast to NSW, these Standing Orders are not binding on Councils, which may modify them.
150:
While
Jefferson's Manual, which is an authority still used in the US House of Representatives, requires a Second, the House has, by precedent and Standing orders, entirely dispensed with the use of Seconds.
35:
is an indication that there is at least one person besides the mover that is interested in seeing the motion come before the meeting. It does not necessarily indicate that the seconder favors the motion.
126:
advises against the use of seconds, stating, "It would seem that nothing could be more nearly useless and unnecessary than for some identified voice from the midst of the assembly to boom out, 'I second
234:
It has been held judicially that the Common Law does not demand a Second, except when the "custom and practice" of the organisation requires it. Although a contrary opinion has also been stated.
601:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/H.S.E.C.P._%28Henry_Scobell%29%2C_Memorials_of_the_Method_and_Manner_of_Proceedings_in_Parliament_in_Passing_Bills_%283rd_ed%2C_1670%29.pdf
912:
421:
451:
231:
in his Manual. However the importance of a Second is not clear in
Scobell's work, and in any event it has been progressively overturned by legislatures since the 19th Century.
963:
208:
In contrast to the practice in the State
Parliament, the Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Government in New South Wales requires that motions be seconded.
180:, do not require a seconder. Seconds are called for in some special cases, even when moved by a minister, for example condolence motions, when traditionally the
1089:
103:
806:
500:
196:
Seconds are not required in either house of the
Parliament of New South Wales nor in the unicameral Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory.
944:
660:
523:
577:
1153:
1081:
892:
588:
1103:
869:
831:
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118:
motion to justify its consideration. ... There is nothing essentially wrong with the practice of seconding. It is simply unnecessary.
927:
74:
that a motion is not in order for lack of a second can only be made before any discussion or vote has taken place on the motion.
568:"10.1 Unless otherwise specified in this code, a motion or an amendment cannot be debated unless or until it has been seconded."
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A second may be withdrawn if the motion is amended by the maker of the motion before it has been stated by the chair.
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Government, Motions moved by a Minister and, in certain circumstances, the
998:
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https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/44072/best-practice-standing-orders.pdf
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Companion to the
Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory
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https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/assembly/procedures/StandingRules&Orders.pdf
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Motions, other than the motion for the address-in-reply, do not require a seconder.
228:
1182:
882:
531:(2nd ed.). Canberra, ACT: Office of the Legislative Assembly. p. 292.
508:. Sydney: Legislative Council of New South Wales. 20 February 2023. p. 30.
45:
assembly. It does not necessarily indicate that the seconder favors the motion.
1011:
877:
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71:
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it was never offered. Such a motion may be introduced again at any later time.
543:
10.38... (there is no provision for motions to be seconded in the
Assembly)...
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922:
429:(7th ed.). Department of the House of Representatives. p. 300-301.
221:
638:
713:
169:
1159:
633:
Re Adams International Food Traders Pty Ltd (1988) 13 NSWLR 282 at 284.
17:
698:
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Re Horbury Bridge Coal Iron and Waggon Co (1879) 11 Ch D 109 at 118.
488:. Sydney: Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. 20 February 2023.
111:
763:
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816:
753:
16:"Seconded" redirects here. For temporary personnel transfer, see
86:
for motions made by direction of a board or appointed committee.
708:
264:(11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. p. 35.
613:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/HMAN-116/pdf/HMAN-116.pdf
453:
Odgers' Australian Senate practice: As revised by Harry Evans
54:
and the motion is placed before the assembly for discussion.
979:
Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted
450:
Odgers, J.R. (James Rowland) (2016). Laing, Rosemary (ed.).
420:
Elder, D.R. (David); Fowler, P.E., eds. (14 August 2018).
407:
National Conference of State Legislatures (2000).
522:
Skinner, David; Duncan, Tom, eds. (2022). "10. Motions".
220:
An early document attesting to the need for a second is
945:
Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion
184:
will second the motion. Seconds are not used in the
1090:
Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure
913:
Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls
356:
Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure
112:Parliamentary authorities that discourage seconds
77:
1193:
654:
521:
502:Legislative Council Standing Rules and Orders
1082:The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
893:Objection to the consideration of a question
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459:(14th ed.). Department of the Senate.
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1154:Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms
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647:
759:Voting methods in deliberative assemblies
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1104:Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
409:Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
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903:Consideration by paragraph or seriatim
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257:Robert, Henry M.; et al. (2011).
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166:Australian House of Representatives
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1133:Odgers' Australian Senate Practice
684:History of parliamentary procedure
164:Seconds are still required in the
89:once debate has begun on a motion.
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1140:House of Representatives Practice
928:Request to be excused from a duty
423:House of Representatives Practice
319:
278:
243:
1177:
860:Fix the time to which to adjourn
807:Limit or extend limits of debate
372:. Houghton Mifflin. p. 31.
354:Demeter, George (1969).
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83:in a small board or a committee.
953:Request for any other privilege
918:Motions relating to nominations
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370:Modern Parliamentary Procedure
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78:When a second is not necessary
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964:Motions that bring a question
845:Raise a question of privilege
615:Jefferson's Manual Section XX
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802:Postpone to a certain time
227:, which was referenced by
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393:Tilson, John Q. (1948).
182:Leader of the Opposition
1202:Parliamentary procedure
1032:Disciplinary procedures
941:Request for information
670:Parliamentary procedure
368:Keesey, Ray E. (1974).
260:Robert's Rules of Order
999:Legislative procedures
949:Request to read papers
933:Requests and inquiries
898:Division of a question
172:. On the basis that a
97:Withdrawal of a second
58:When no second is made
984:Discharge a committee
937:Parliamentary inquiry
787:Postpone indefinitely
694:Deliberative assembly
499:"Standing Order 79".
178:Chief Government Whip
168:for motions moved by
1022:Recall of Parliament
358:, Blue Book, p. 146
238:Notes and references
1166:ABC of Chairmanship
974:Take from the table
25:deliberative bodies
1126:Lex Parliamentaria
870:Incidental motions
832:Privileged motions
779:Subsidiary motions
160:Federal Parliament
141:Legislative bodies
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1017:Motion to pass on
1007:Call of the house
888:Suspend the rules
812:Previous question
769:Unanimous consent
749:Order of business
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989:Reconsider
216:Common Law
18:secondment
699:Committee
229:Jefferson
222:Scobell's
188:however.
155:Australia
136:century."
49:Procedure
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764:Majority
174:Minister
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1040:Censure
855:Adjourn
817:Cloture
754:Minutes
704:Session
40:Purpose
1119:Manual
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850:Recess
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729:Motion
709:Quorum
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29:second
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792:Amend
719:Floor
714:Chair
529:(PDF)
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486:(PDF)
457:(PDF)
427:(PDF)
127:it'."
603:(21)
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