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19 <br />24 <br />Comment: Good leadership depends, to a certain extent, on not <br />taking sides during a debate. On a small board this may not <br />always be feasible or desirable; yet an unfair advantage accrues <br />to the side whose advocate controls access to the floor. This ru <br />is designed to ensure evenhanded treatment to both sides dur- <br />ing a heated debate. Ordinarily the chair should call on the vic <br />chair to preside if he or she finds it necessary to step aside. <br /> The board shall proceed by mo- <br />Rule 13. Action by the Board. <br />tion. Any member, including the chair, may make a motion. If tw <br />or more Commissioners speak at the same time to make a motion <br />(or second), the chair shall determine, for purposes of recordin <br />action for the minutes, which name the clerk shall use. <br />Comment: The chair may make motions, or the chair may <br />invite another member to make a motion by saying ÑThe chair <br />will entertain a motion that...Ò <br /> A motion shall require a second, <br />Rule 14. Second Required. <br />followed by discussion and/or comments and a vote. <br />Comment: The philosophy underlying the requirement of a sec- <br />ond is that if a proposal is not supported by at least two mem- <br />bers, it is not worth the time it would take to consider the mat <br />ter. A second does not necessarily mean that a member agrees <br />with the motion, but that the member wishes the matter open to <br />discussion. A second allows the matter to be discussed further. <br /> A member may make only <br />Rule 15. One Motion at a Time. <br />one motion at a time. <br />A substantive motion is out of <br />Rule 16. Substantive Motion. <br />order while another substantive motion is pending. <br />Comment: This rule sets forth the basic principle of parlia- <br />mentary procedure: distinct issues are considered and dealt <br />with one at a time, so a new proposal may not be put forth <br />until action on the preceding one has been concluded. <br /> does not refer to substantive motions <br />RobertÔs Rules of Order <br />as such; instead it uses such adjectives as ÑmainÒ or Ñprinci- <br />pal.Ò Here, a substantive motion is any motion other than the <br />procedural motions listed in Rule 19. The possible subject <br />matter of a substantive motion coexists with the boardÔs legal <br />powers, duties, and responsibilities. Indeed, since Rule 13 pro- <br />vides that the board shall proceed by motion, the substantive <br />motion is the boardÔs exclusive mode of action. The procedural <br /> <br />