What is a Motion to Table?  Article Details   • Written By: Mary
McMahon   • Edited By: O. Wallace   • Last Modified Date: 09
October 2014   • Copyright Protected:     Conjecture Corporation
• Print this Article Free Widgets for your Site/Blog   A motion
to table is a procedural device that can be proposed in a
meeting following the parliamentary procedure to “table” or
retire the topic under discussion without further debate.
Essentially, the motion defeats the topic under discussion,
since it cannot be brought up again, and the motion itself is
not open to debate. Some people feel that using this motion is a
bit of a cheap trick used to deflect discussion about important
issues, and that it is often unfair to the minority.  Many
organizations that meet on a regular basis are governed by
Robert's Rules of Order, a set of rules that are designed to
improve the parliamentary decision-making process. Robert's
Rules are intended to protect the minority from being quashed,
while setting out clear rules for a va