An example of a motion is, “I move that our club hold a car wash next Saturday at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot." The motion is seconded and debate begins. Someone wanting to change a part of the motion will obtain recognition from the chairperson and say "I move to amend the motion by .…" There are then three basic ways to amend a motion.
Add something. You might add, "I move to amend the motion by adding the words ‘and bake sale.’" The president asks for a second on the amendment and restates the motion with the proposed new wording. "If passed, the main motion would read “… that our club hold a car wash AND BAKE SALE next Saturday at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot." The president asks for debate on the amendment. When debate ends, the president asks for a vote. If a majority of the membership favor the amendment, the wording of the original motion is changed. More debate on the amended main motion may occur and then a vote is taken.
Make a substitution. "I move to amend the main motion by substituting Friday for Saturday.” If the amendment passes, the motion would read "… that our club hold a car wash next FRIDAY at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot."
Remove something. "I move to strike the words ‘at the Ace Grocery Store parking lot.’" If the amendment passes, the motion would read "… that our club hold a car wash next Saturday."
Tip
Review more on parliamentary procedure in the book "Robert's Rules of Order."
