Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/49

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PRIMARY AMENDMENTS
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the old one would have required if it had not been replaced. If a by-law is substituted for an existing by-law the new by-law takes the place of the old one and therefore requires no further action. But if the by-laws are pending when the motion to substitute is adopted, then the substituted by-law is pending to be voted upon the same as the one had been which it replaced. In like manner, when one resolution is substituted for another which is pending, the substitute takes its place and is the pending question to be voted upon.

An amendment of any pending motion except an amendment is called a primary amendment, or an amendment of the first degree. An amendment of a primary amendment is called a secondary amendment, or an amendment of the second degree. While a primary amendment is pending no other primary amendment of the same motion is in order. After a primary amendment has been voted on another primary amendment is in order, and so on indefinitely.

An amendment of something already adopted, as by-laws or standing rules, is a main motion, not a subsidiary one, as explained, page 11. Therefore an amendment of a proposed amendment to existing by-laws is a primary amendment.

An amendment may be offered to any pending motion except those contained in the list of secondary motions that cannot be amended, page 171. No secondary motion can be amended so as to change it