Legal Definitions - first-degree amendment

A first-degree amendment, also known as a primary amendment, is a proposed change that directly modifies the main motion, bill, or resolution currently under consideration. It is the initial layer of modification offered to the original text or proposal. This type of amendment directly alters the substance of the primary item before any further amendments to the amendment itself can be proposed.

• Example 1: Legislative Bill

  Imagine a country's parliament is debating a bill (the main motion) that proposes to increase the national speed limit on highways to 80 miles per hour. A legislator then introduces a first-degree amendment suggesting that the speed limit should instead be increased to 75 miles per hour. This amendment directly modifies the core proposal of the original bill, changing the specific speed limit figure. The parliament would first vote on this 75 mph amendment before considering any other changes to the speed limit proposal itself.

• Example 2: Committee Resolution

  Consider a city council committee discussing a resolution (the main motion) to allocate $50,000 for the renovation of the public library's children's section. During the discussion, a committee member proposes a first-degree amendment to change the allocation amount from $50,000 to $35,000. This amendment directly alters the financial provision of the original resolution. The committee would need to vote on whether to accept the $35,000 figure before moving on to other potential modifications, such as changing what the funds could be used for.

• Example 3: Organizational Bylaw Change

  A professional association is holding its annual meeting, and one item on the agenda is a proposal (the main motion) to amend its bylaws to require all members to attend at least three professional development workshops per year. A member then stands up and proposes a first-degree amendment to change the requirement from "three workshops" to "two workshops." This amendment directly modifies the attendance requirement stated in the original proposal. The association members would vote on whether to adopt the "two workshops" amendment before considering any other changes to the workshop attendance rule.