Is motion adopted in previous term still in effect?

Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: When a motion is made and passed on how the organization will run during the present term of office, does this motion carry over to the new officers, or does a new motion have to be made each year should the new officers choose to do something different?

For example: The President of our organization wanted the monies raised from raffles to go to a certain cause. A motion was adopted for the money to go to that cause. Our new president has the same raffle going on, but the members would like the monies to go to a different cause. Is the previous vote still in effect? - Roy Mosely, Nov. 3, 1999

A: Yes, the previous decision is still in effect. A change in officers or the passing from one term to another does not nullify decisions previously made.

If your organization wishes to change the recipient of the monies, it would need to adopt a motion To Amend Something Previously Adopted, which would be worded something like:

"... that the motion relating to raffles, adopted at the February 2, 1999 meeting, be amended by striking out X and inserting Y"

where "X" is the old recipient and "Y" is the new. For adoption, this motion requires

the approval of two-thirds of the votes;
the approval of a majority of the votes, previous notice having been given; or
the approval of a majority of the entire membership.

Alternatively, the organization could Rescind the original motion (same voting requirements as above), then adopt a motion "to hold raffles, with the recipient of the monies to be chosen at the beginning of each term by the organization." The example for the motion To Rescind is:

"... that the motion relating to raffles, adopted at the February 2, 1999 meeting, be rescinded."

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