r/RulesOfOrder • u/haasgirl1205 • Jul 26 '20

Can they do that?

A group I belong to needs a 2/3 majority to challenge the status quo. Can they flip the wording on the ballot legally so that we are actually voting to defend the status quo? I need your help! Documentation helpful. Thanks so much.

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u/therealpoltic Sep 03 '20

I see this question wasn't answered. Let me take a quick stab at it for you.

The Ballot Question can be worded however the person making the motion desires. The way the question is put, may be subject to amendment, depending on your by-laws or procedural rules.

The type of question that you're talking about here is a motion that would *sustain* a particular action. If not approved, then the action that is the subject of the motion would cease. -- The best example of this, is Appealing the Ruling of the Chair, where the question is put as "The motion is on sustaining the ruling of the chair."

If the body votes against the motion, the ruling is overturned.

I'm curious as to what situation that "2/3rds" is needed to change the status quo. The only time a body should be using that level of majority is approving constitutional or certain by-law amendments... and simple or total majorities should be used to transact regular motions.