Robert's Rules of Order cheat sheet

Updated October 2026By The Meeting Notes Template team

Robert’s Rules of Order is a set of rules for running a meeting where a group makes decisions by vote. Most of what happens comes down to one pattern: someone makes a motion, someone else seconds it, the group discusses it, and the chair takes a vote. The chart below lists the motions you’re most likely to hear, whether each needs a second, whether it can be debated or amended, and what vote it takes to pass.

The chart follows Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition, the current edition. Your bylaws, any state law that applies to your organization and your own standing rules come first. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.

Download the one-page PDF US Letter, landscape. Print it for the secretary and the chair.

How a motion moves, step by step

A member makes the motion. “I move that we approve the streetlight repair on Birch Court, up to $1,200.”
Another member seconds it. “Second.” No second means the motion isn’t taken up, and the chair moves on.
The chair states the motion. “It is moved and seconded that we approve the streetlight repair, up to $1,200. Is there any discussion?” From here, the motion belongs to the group, not to the person who made it.
Members debate. The person who made the motion usually speaks first. Members speak to the motion, not to each other.
The chair puts the question. “All in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no.”
The chair announces the result. “The ayes have it, and the motion is adopted. We will repair the streetlight.” Say what happens next, so the secretary can write it down.

For how to word a motion, change or withdraw it, and how the motion to adjourn works, see how to make a motion.

The chart: common motions

**Bring business to the meeting**Only one main motion can be on the floor at a time.
Motion	Interrupt a speaker?	Needs a second?	Debatable?	Amendable?	Vote to pass
Main motion"I move that we..."Proposes an action or decision.	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority

**Change or set aside the motion on the floor**Listed from lowest to highest rank. A higher one can be made while a lower one is pending.
Motion	Interrupt a speaker?	Needs a second?	Debatable?	Amendable?	Vote to pass
Postpone indefinitely"I move to postpone the motion indefinitely."Drops the motion for this session without a direct vote on it.	No	Yes	Yes	No	Majority
Amend"I move to amend by striking ... and inserting ..."Changes the wording before the vote.	No	Yes	If the motion it changes is debatable	Yes (an amendment to an amendment cannot be amended)	Majority
Refer to a committee"I move to refer this to the ... committee."Sends the motion to a smaller group to study.	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority
Postpone to a certain time"I move to postpone this to the next meeting."Delays the motion to a set time.	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Majority (two-thirds if it makes the item a special order)
Limit or extend debate"I move that each member may speak once, for two minutes."Changes how long or how often people may speak.	No	Yes	No	Yes	Two-thirds
Previous question"I move the previous question." or "I move we vote now."Ends debate and goes straight to the vote.	No	Yes	No	No	Two-thirds
Lay on the table"I move to lay the motion on the table."Sets the motion aside briefly so something urgent can be handled. Not a way to kill it.	No	Yes	No	No	Majority

**Urgent matters about the meeting itself**These outrank everything above.
Motion	Interrupt a speaker?	Needs a second?	Debatable?	Amendable?	Vote to pass
Call for the orders of the day"I call for the orders of the day."Asks the chair to return to the agenda.	Yes	No	No	No	None, the chair must comply (two-thirds to keep going off agenda)
Question of privilege"I rise to a question of privilege."Raises an urgent need such as noise, heat or not being able to hear.	Yes	No	No	No	Chair decides
Recess"I move to recess for ten minutes."Takes a short break.	No	Yes	No	Yes (the length only)	Majority
Adjourn"I move to adjourn."Ends the meeting.	No	Yes	No	No	Majority

**Questions about how the meeting is run**No rank among themselves. They come up as needed.
Motion	Interrupt a speaker?	Needs a second?	Debatable?	Amendable?	Vote to pass
Point of order"Point of order."Says a rule is being broken.	Yes	No	No	No	Chair decides
Appeal from the decision of the chair"I appeal from the decision of the chair."Lets the members overrule the chair on a ruling.	Yes	Yes	Usually	No	Majority against the chair overrules it (a tie keeps the ruling)
Parliamentary inquiry or request for information"Parliamentary inquiry." or "Point of information."Asks a question about procedure or facts.	Yes, if urgent	No	No	No	None, the chair answers
Division of the assembly"Division!"Has an unclear voice vote taken again as a standing vote. A counted vote needs the chair to order it or a majority to require it.	Yes	No	No	No	None, one member can demand it
Objection to the consideration of a question"I object to the consideration of the question."Stops a main motion from being discussed at all. Raise it before debate starts.	Yes	No	No	No	Two-thirds against consideration
Suspend the rules"I move to suspend the rules and ..."Sets aside a rule of order for one specific purpose. Bylaws, the law and rules that protect members' basic rights cannot be suspended.	No	Yes	No	No	Two-thirds (a majority for a standing rule)
Withdraw a motion"I ask permission to withdraw my motion."Removes your own motion after the chair has stated it.	Yes	No	No	No	No objection, or a majority

**Bring a question back**For items already voted on or set aside.
Motion	Interrupt a speaker?	Needs a second?	Debatable?	Amendable?	Vote to pass
Take from the table"I move to take from the table the motion about ..."Brings back a motion that was laid on the table.	No	Yes	No	No	Majority
Reconsider"I move to reconsider the vote on ..."Votes again on something decided at this meeting. Made the same day, or the next meeting day of a multi-day session.	Yes (to make it, not to debate it)	Yes	If the original motion was debatable	No	Majority
Rescind or amend something previously adopted"I move to rescind the motion adopted on ..."Cancels or changes an earlier decision.	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Two-thirds, or a majority with previous notice, or a majority of the entire membership

Votes, in plain terms

Majority vote: more than half of the votes cast. If 9 members vote and 5 say yes, it passes. People who don’t vote, and blank ballots, aren’t counted.
Two-thirds vote: at least two-thirds of the votes cast. With 9 votes cast, that’s 6 yes votes.
General consent: for routine items, the chair can say “If there is no objection, the minutes are approved as corrected.” If anyone objects, take a regular vote.
Tie: a tie is not a majority, so the motion fails.

Your bylaws may require something different, for example a majority of the entire board for spending above a set amount. When they do, they win. To check a count under each rule, and whether you had a quorum, use the quorum and vote calculator.

Two examples

HOA board, open session. A director moves to approve a pool resurfacing bid. Another director moves to amend it to add a cap of $18,000. The amendment is debated and adopted by a majority, then the amended motion is adopted. Owners can comment during the open forum if the agenda has one, but only directors make motions and vote at a board meeting. When the board needs to discuss a delinquency or a legal matter, it goes into executive session and records only that it did, the time and the general reason. More on what to record in the HOA meeting minutes template.

Nonprofit board. The treasurer presents the quarterly financial report, and the chair says it will be filed. A routine report like this needs no motion and no vote. Next, a director moves to adopt a new gift acceptance policy. Debate runs long, so a member moves the previous question. It needs two-thirds, gets it, and the board votes on the policy right away. The nonprofit board meeting minutes template shows how to write each of these as a motion with its result.

Small boards can be less formal

Robert’s Rules relaxes some rules for boards where no more than about a dozen members are present. Motions don’t always need a second, members can speak more than once, and the chair can take part in discussion and vote. Votes and the results still go in the minutes. Check whether your bylaws or standing rules say otherwise.

Common mistakes

Debating before a motion is on the floor. Ask, “Would someone like to make a motion?” first, so the discussion has something to decide.
Using “table” to kill a motion. Laying a motion on the table is for setting it aside briefly. To delay it, postpone it to a set time. To drop it, vote it down or postpone it indefinitely.
Calling the question without a vote. “Question!” from the floor doesn’t end debate. The previous question needs a second and a two-thirds vote.
The chair running the debate and arguing one side. In larger meetings the chair stays neutral. If the chair wants to argue, someone else should preside for that item.
Minutes that record the argument, not the action. Write each motion, who made it, and whether it passed. See how to write meeting minutes.

How to record motions in the minutes

Write the motion exactly as the chair stated it, the name of the member who made it, and the result. You don’t need to name the person who seconded it, and you don’t need a summary of the debate. A typical line:

Motion by Linda Carver to approve the Birch Court streetlight repair, up to $1,200.
Adopted, 4 in favor, 1 opposed.

If a vote is counted or taken by ballot, record the count. If your bylaws require recording how each member voted, do that for every roll call vote. The board meeting minutes template uses this format throughout.

FAQ

Do we have to use Robert’s Rules?

Only if your bylaws or a law that applies to you says so. Many bylaws name Robert’s Rules as the “parliamentary authority,” which means it fills in wherever your bylaws are silent. If your bylaws say nothing, the group can adopt it, or another set of rules, by vote.

Does the chair vote?

In a small board, usually yes. In a larger meeting, the chair often votes only when it would change the result, including whether a two-thirds vote is reached, or when the vote is by ballot. Check your bylaws.

What’s the difference between “postpone” and “table”?

Postponing sets the motion to come back at a specific time, like the next meeting. Laying it on the table sets it aside with no set time, so something urgent can go first, and it stays there until someone moves to take it from the table.

Can someone who missed the meeting change a decision?

They can’t reconsider it. Only someone who voted on the winning side can move to reconsider, and only on the same day, or the next meeting day when a session runs over several days. At a later meeting, any member can move to rescind or amend the decision, which takes the higher vote shown in the chart.

Sources

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th ed. (2020), §29 (Division of the Assembly), §45 (voting procedure) and §48:24 (the treasurer’s report). The book itself is not online; the official Robert’s Rules site has the authors’ answers to common questions and official interpretations.
Robert’s Rules of Order, Frequently Asked Questions, Robert’s Rules Association.