Amendments and Subamendments to Motions

Introduction

The purpose of an amendment is to alter the motion under consideration to make it more acceptable. Once a motion is before the House and is being debated, Members may seek to alter its terms by way of an amendment to delete or insert word s, or to substitute other words for parts of the original motion. An amendment must be relevant to its main motion and may not be a distinct, substantive motion. Amendments can amplify aspects of a motion but cannot expand its scope. Such restrictions apply equally to a subamendment, which, however, is bound by the terms of the amendment that it proposes to amend, not by those of the main motion.