Step 3 of Making a Motion: What should you do?

Step 3 of Making a Motion: What should you do?

• A. The presiding officer repeats the motion
• B. State the motion, using proper language
• C. Sit down after stating the motion
• D. A second must be stated to confirm

Answer: (B)

The essential action when you’re making a motion is to present the proposal in clear, exact terms. After you’re recognized by the chair, you should say the motion in proper form, starting with “I move that…” and then state the precise action or policy you’re proposing. This exact wording makes it unmistakable what the assembly is being asked to approve and ensures the minutes reflect the correct motion. It also sets the stage for the rest of the proceedings—debate, amendments, and the vote—without ambiguity. The other options don’t fit this step as well. The chair doesn’t repeat the motion as the next step you take; you speak the motion yourself to make it clear what is being proposed. Sitting down after you state the motion isn't the defining action of making the motion, and the step focuses on articulating the proposal, not on posture. While a second is typically needed to bring the motion before the assembly, that occurs after the motion is clearly stated, not as the act of making the motion itself.

The essential action when you’re making a motion is to present the proposal in clear, exact terms. After you’re recognized by the chair, you should say the motion in proper form, starting with “I move that…” and then state the precise action or policy you’re proposing. This exact wording makes it unmistakable what the assembly is being asked to approve and ensures the minutes reflect the correct motion. It also sets the stage for the rest of the proceedings—debate, amendments, and the vote—without ambiguity.

The other options don’t fit this step as well. The chair doesn’t repeat the motion as the next step you take; you speak the motion yourself to make it clear what is being proposed. Sitting down after you state the motion isn't the defining action of making the motion, and the step focuses on articulating the proposal, not on posture. While a second is typically needed to bring the motion before the assembly, that occurs after the motion is clearly stated, not as the act of making the motion itself.