Stephen Turner
Akash Kumar
Jordan Lee
Taylor Scott
What does it mean to second a motion?
To second a motion is to show that at least one other member wants the group to consider it. Under Robert’s Rules of Order, a motion that needs a second isn’t stated by the chair, debated or voted on until it gets one. A few motions, such as a point of order, need no second.
The short answer
Seconding a motion means a second member wants the group to take it up. The usual words are "I second the motion."
The original 1876 Robert’s Rules of Order explains why the step exists: it prevents a question from being introduced when only one member is in favor of it.
Once a motion is seconded, the chair states it, and the group can debate and vote.
Where the second fits in a motion
Most motions follow the same order. The second comes right after the motion is made:
- A member is recognized by the chair and makes the motion: "I move that we approve the budget."
- Another member seconds it: "I second the motion."
- The chair states the question: "It has been moved and seconded that we approve the budget."
- The group debates, if the motion is debatable, and then votes.
What happens if nobody seconds
The original 1876 Robert’s Rules lists three steps before any subject is open to debate: a motion is made, it is seconded, and the chair states it. Without the second, the chair doesn’t state the question, so it isn’t debated.
In routine business, the chair often skips the formality. When it is clear that many members favor a motion, the chair can assume it is seconded.
Motions that don't need a second
Most motions need a second, but a few don’t:
| Motion or request | Second needed? |
|---|---|
| Main motion, such as approving a contract | Yes |
| Amend a motion | Yes |
| Lay on the table | Yes |
| Close debate (the Previous Question) | Yes |
| Adjourn or recess | Yes |
| Point of order | No |
| Call for the orders of the day | No |
| Division of the assembly | No |
If the motion changes after it is seconded
If the mover changes the wording, the original Robert’s Rules lets the member who seconded withdraw the second. Nobody stays tied to a motion they didn’t agree to bring forward.
Check your own rules first
Many boards, councils and clubs adopt Robert's Rules but add their own rules on top. Your bylaws or standing rules can change how seconds work, so check them before you rely on the general practice.
If you're the chair and unsure, ask "Is there a second?" before stating the question. It costs a few seconds and avoids a later dispute.
Recording a seconded motion in the minutes
Robert’s Rules treats minutes as a record of what was done at a meeting, not what was said. So the minutes record motions and what the group did with them, not the debate.
A recording or transcript helps the secretary get a motion’s exact wording. Bridge saves a speaker-labeled transcript of each meeting it hosts or captures, and you can search it for the motion and who made it.