Legal Definitions - reconsider

To reconsider means to formally bring a previously decided matter back for discussion and a potential new vote. In structured decision-making bodies, such as legislative assemblies, corporate boards, or committee meetings, a motion to reconsider allows a group to set aside a vote that has already occurred. This action effectively pauses or nullifies the outcome of the initial vote and restores the original proposal to its status immediately before that vote took place. The purpose is to allow for further debate, the introduction of new information, or a change of mind among members, leading to a potential new decision.

• Example 1: Corporate Board Meeting

  Imagine a company's board of directors voted to approve a significant investment in a new product line. A few days later, a board member receives critical market research data that strongly suggests the product line might not be as profitable as initially projected. To address this new information, the board member could make a motion to reconsider the vote on the investment. If this motion passes, the original decision to invest would be temporarily set aside, allowing the board to discuss the new data and potentially vote again, perhaps deciding to delay the investment or allocate funds differently.

• Example 2: Homeowners' Association (HOA) Meeting

  Consider a homeowners' association that voted to implement a new rule prohibiting residents from painting their house exteriors any color other than beige or white. After the vote, several residents express strong dissatisfaction, arguing that the rule stifles personal expression and reduces property values by limiting aesthetic choices. At the next HOA meeting, a resident or board member could move to reconsider the vote on the painting rule. This action would reopen the discussion, allowing the association to hear the residents' concerns and potentially amend or reverse the original decision to better reflect the community's preferences.

• Example 3: University Faculty Senate

  A university's faculty senate voted to adopt a new policy requiring all undergraduate students to complete an internship before graduation. Shortly after the vote, the university's legal counsel advises the senate that the proposed policy might violate certain accreditation standards if not implemented with specific safeguards. To address this legal concern, a senator could propose a motion to reconsider the vote on the internship policy. This would temporarily nullify the previous approval, allowing the senate to discuss the legal implications and either modify the policy to comply with accreditation standards or withdraw it for further revision before a new vote is taken.