Leadership Letter
August 2025
ASK COUNSELOR TARA
ASCE’s General Counsel Tara Hoke clarifies legal questions facing sections and branches here each month. Ask Tara your question.
Can you clarify the role that ‘seconding’ a motion plays in our meeting?
While much attention under Robert’s Rules is focused on the making of a motion, it is important not to dismiss the critical role of “seconding.”
Seconding is the process by which a chair ensures that the board or committee does not waste time on a motion that only one individual wishes to discuss.
Interestingly, Robert’s Rules makes it very clear that the person who seconds a motion does not necessarily have to support the motion – in fact, Roberts notes, a member may second the motion simply because the member “would like to see the assembly go on record as rejecting the proposal.”
A member who wishes to second does not need to get formal recognition by a chair; in fact, it’s not uncommon (nor is it out of order) for a member to immediately call out “second!” as soon as a motion is made. If no second is put forward, however, the chair should call for a second, and again if no second is made, then the motion fails for lack of a second.
It is worth noting, however, that if a motion is made and then discussion immediately occurs, the need for a second is made immaterial. The chair (or any other member) cannot stop or challenge the debate by calling out the lack of second. In other words, once debate has begun, the motion can be considered, voted upon, and adopted despite the lack of a formal second.
There are also a few types of motion that, per Robert’s Rules, do not need a second. While most of these are fairly uncommon in the ordinary course of business, these include:
a) motions to retake a vote by hand, if the result of a voice vote is unclear.
b) a point of order or parliamentary inquiry, raising questions about compliance with meeting rules.
c) a call for the orders of the day, which is essentially a request to call a meeting back to adherence with the meeting agenda.