Legal Definitions - insert

In parliamentary law, the term insert refers to the act of amending a motion by placing new words or phrases within or around the existing text of the motion. This differs from simply "adding" text, which typically appends new wording to the very end of a statement. When you insert, you are strategically placing new language to modify, clarify, or qualify specific parts of the original motion.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Community Garden Committee:

  Imagine a motion proposed in a community garden committee meeting: "The committee will purchase new gardening tools." A member might propose an amendment to insert text to specify the type and source of tools. The amended motion could become: "The committee will purchase durable, ergonomic new gardening tools from a local supplier."

  Explanation: Here, "durable, ergonomic" is inserted before "new gardening tools," and "from a local supplier" is inserted after "new gardening tools," modifying the original statement by adding specific requirements rather than just appending a new sentence.

• Corporate Board Meeting:

  Consider a motion before a corporate board: "The board approves the Q3 financial report." A director might propose an amendment to insert a condition for this approval. The revised motion could read: "The board approves the Q3 financial report after a thorough review by the audit committee."

  Explanation: The phrase "after a thorough review by the audit committee" is inserted directly into the original motion, specifying a prerequisite for the approval without changing the core action of approving the report itself.

• Professional Association Bylaws:

  Suppose a professional association is discussing a bylaw that states: "All members must attend the annual conference." An amendment might be proposed to insert qualifications for this requirement. The amended bylaw could then state: "All members who wish to maintain their certification must attend the annual conference or complete an approved online module."

  Explanation: "Who wish to maintain their certification" is inserted to clarify which members are subject to the rule, and "or complete an approved online module" is inserted to provide an alternative method of compliance, both modifying the original requirement by placing new text within its structure.