Which statement about subsidiary motions is true?

• A. They are voted on before a main motion
• B. They require unanimous consent only
• C. They cannot affect how a main motion is handled
• D. They are always decisive after the main motion

Answer: (A)

Subsidiary motions steer how a main motion will be treated and are addressed before the main motion is finally acted upon. They have priority in the decision-making process, so members debate and vote on them first to decide whether to amend, postpone, refer, lay on the table, or otherwise affect the main motion. That is why the statement that they are voted on before a main motion is true.

They do not require unanimous consent only; in most cases they are decided by a simple majority (or by a different standard set by bylaws or governing rules). They can and often do change how the main motion is handled, which makes the idea that they cannot affect the main motion incorrect. And they are not inherently decisive after the main motion—indeed, they’re typically resolved before the main motion reaches a final vote, shaping whether and how the main motion proceeds.