Friendly Amendment – April 2011

What is a “friendly amendment”?

How does a “friendly amendment” differ from other methods of modifying or amending a motion?

Opinion:  The “friendly amendment” has yet to be defined in any manual in general use. Nor is it mentioned in other parliamentary books examined by the committee. The following definition depends on the diverse experience of committee members and on reports by other parliamentarians, including the articles which appeared in the Parliamentary Journal (Judy C. Pearson, “Misuse of the ‘Friendly Amendment’,” PJ, July 1980; John E. Baird, “The ‘Friendly Amendment’ Revisited,” PJ, January 1981).

          A “friendly amendment” is a proposed change which becomes a part of a motion upon acceptance by the maker of the motion.

          The definition is loose, for there is no established standard. An organization using the procedure should adopt its own special rule explicitly stating how and when it is to be used, if it is to be limited to minor changes, and whether or not a “friendly amendment” accepted only by the maker of the motion is open fully to amendment as in an original motion. Such a rule is needed not only to authorize the procedure where the parliamentary authority does not, but also for guidance and support, to enable the chair and the assembly to prevent abuses.