Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/Division of a Question

by Orson B. Felt

Layout 2

DIVISION OF A QUESTION.

128. When a question is composed of two or more propositions, and these propositions are so far independent of each other that if one were adopted and the others rejected it would still be an intelligible expression of the opinion of the assembly, the question may be divided to enable the assembly to vote on each proposition separately.

The division cannot be demanded as the right of any member, but the question may be divided by the chair (subject to an appeal to the assembly) or by a motion regularly made and seconded for the purpose; but each proposition into which it is proposed to divide the question must be distinct and capable of standing upon its own merits if none of the other propositions were adopted. In other words, the division of a question is a form of amendment used to secure a separate vote on different parts of a motion or resolution, and is subject to all rules governing amendments. It may be amended by dividing the question differently, and is debatable if the question it is sought to divide is debatable.

129. When the motions for the division is made the mover should specify in his motion the manner in which he proposes to makes the division by stating the word with which each part ends; but since the last part must end with the last word of the motions or resolution, that ending should be included in the motion to divide. If the vote be in the affirmative each proposition created by the division must be acted upon separately (and in its turn, beginning with the first) and if debatable, each in its turn may be debated.

When the motion for the division has been rejected, and the object of the motion was to accept one proposition and reject another, then the desired object may be accomplished by the motion to strike out (113), or by offering a substitute (141).