Member officials are strongly encouraged to review the Policy Platform prior to the MTA Annual Meeting and, if they have questions regarding the purpose or intent of any of the specific policy objectives, to attend the What Changes are Proposed for the MTA Policy Platform session on Wednesday, April 2 from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

The MTA president will present the Policy Platform at the Annual Meeting, focusing discussion and deliberation on the policy objectives in each of the six policy areas. Following discussion, debate and potential amendments, a vote will be taken to adopt a resolution of support for the entire Policy Platform. Amendments may include striking (removing) a policy objective. If a policy objective is removed from the Policy Platform at the Annual Meeting, it will be construed by the MTA Board of Directors that it is the membership’s intent that MTA refrain from engaging in any advocacy regarding that particular objective.

Amendments. Members who desire to amend a policy will be required to do so in a manner consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR, current edition). Amendments are permitted to any policy submitted at the Annual Meeting provided the purpose of the original policy remains unaltered. (MTA Bylaws, Article IV. C.3)
Amendments can take one of three forms:

• Add content. This is accomplished by the following: “I move to amend the proposed policy by adding the words ‘________’ to the policy objective beginning with the words ‘________’ in the section under current consideration.” The president will ask for a second, which is required for the amendment to be discussed, and will restate the policy objective with the new wording. After restating the amendment, the president will ask for debate on the amendment. One secondary amendment, on the new language under consideration only, is in order. Once debate has finished, the president will ask for a vote. If a majority of the membership votes in favor of the amendment, the wording of the original policy objective is changed accordingly.
• Substitute content. This is accomplished by the following: “I move to amend
  the proposed policy by substituting the words ‘________’ for the words ‘___________’ to the policy objective beginning with the words ‘________’ in the section under current consideration.” The same procedures that apply to adding content apply to substituting content.
• Strike content, including eliminating an entire policy objective. This is accomplished by the following: “I move to amend the proposed policy by striking the words ‘________’ to the policy objective beginning with the words ‘________’ in the section under current consideration.” If the intent is to strike the policy objective entirely, the proper amendment would be, “I move to amend the proposed policy by striking the policy objective beginning with the words ‘________’ in the section under current consideration.” The same procedures that apply to adding and substituting content apply to striking content. If an entire policy objective is struck (removed), the Association will not advocate for that objective.

Added and substitute content must be in compliance with the MTA Bylaws, Article IV. C.1 and 2, such that it is germane to the purpose of the original policy and does not constitute a new purpose to the policy.

Robert’s Rules of Order Regarding ‘Tabling’ a Motion (properly referred to as ‘Lay on the Table’)
The motion to “lay on the table” enables the Annual Meeting to lay the pending question aside temporarily, when something else of immediate urgency has arisen. It is in order if the intention is to resume deliberations after the urgent issue has been resolved, but “… is out of order if the evident intent is to kill or avoid dealing with a measure.” (Ibid) It can be applied to a main motion, such as the adoption of the entire Policy Platform, but cannot be applied to a specific policy objective of the Policy Platform. (Ibid) A motion to table must be seconded and is not debatable. If adopted, a motion to take from the table would be in order at any time. (Ibid)

Policies from the Floor. Pursuant to the MTA Bylaws, Article IV. C.2.a-c, policies from the floor shall be submitted to the MTA Headquarters Room not later than 12:00 noon the day prior to the Annual Meeting. The Legislative Policy Platform Committee shall review the wording and legality of such policies. No policy shall be accepted from the floor unless a petition signed by at least one hundred (100) registered delegates to the Conference accompanies the policy. The policy sponsor shall furnish sufficient copies of the policy to be distributed to all delegates at the beginning of the Annual Meeting.

Special Rules. The Board of Directors submits to the Annual Meeting the following special rules, pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR, current edition):

• There is a time limit of three minutes per delegate on debatable issues the first time that a delegate addresses the Annual Meeting membership on an issue, and one-and-a-half minutes the second time that a delegate addresses the Annual Meeting on the same issue.
• The chair shall have discretion in further limiting the time of debate considering the overall limitation of time.