Two identical resolutions in minutes

Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: At our meeting, a resolution was moved for discussion, and numbered. Then a director moved to table it which was seconded by another director (which I realize is improper parlance). The motion to table failed. The same director then maintained that we had to re-number the resolution to discuss it. So now our minutes reflect two identical resolutions: one which failed, and another which passed. This doesn't seem proper. - Danielle, Dec. 1, 1998

A: The numbering of resolutions is non-standard, so I'm not sure what procedure your organization follows. I see no purpose to renumbering a resolution for which a subsidiary motion has failed. I could understand the subsidiary motion itself being numbered, but that wouldn't change the number of the resolution.

If all motions are to be numbered, then the minutes might look something like:

Director Jones moved the adoption of the resolution, numbered 113, that .... A motion, numbered 114, by Director Smith, that the resolution be tabled (sic), was defeated. After discussion, resolution 113 was adopted.

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