Glossary

The plain-language meaning of the procedural terms you'll see across CivicSeat — what a deferral is, how a consent agenda works, the difference between an ordinance and a resolution. These are general civics; the exact rules can vary from one body to the next, so for a specific body also see its methodology and its own rules of order.

Agenda item: One numbered piece of business on a meeting agenda — a proposed resolution, ordinance, appointment, contract, or rezoning. Each item usually carries an official identifier (like R-24-1-101) and is acted on by one or more motions. The same item can appear across several meetings if it is deferred and taken up again.
Motion: A formal proposal put to the body by one of its members — for example, "I move to adopt Resolution R-24-1-101." A motion needs a second before it can be discussed and voted on, and the outcome (adopted, failed, deferred, withdrawn) is the disposition recorded in the minutes.
Second: A statement of support from a second member ("I second that") indicating at least two members want the motion considered. Without a second, a motion typically dies without a vote. A second is not a vote in favor — the seconder is free to vote against the motion afterward.
Ordinance: A local law enacted by the governing body. Ordinances tend to be the more permanent, rule-setting acts (zoning, budgets, regulations) and in many bodies must be passed at two separate meetings ("two readings") before they take effect. Exact procedure is set by each body's own rules and charter.
Resolution: A formal action or statement of position adopted by the body — approving a contract, making an appointment, accepting a grant, or expressing the body's stance on an issue. Resolutions are generally decided in a single vote rather than the multi-reading process an ordinance may require.
First reading: When a body requires an ordinance to be considered at two separate meetings, the first reading is the initial consideration. Passing on first reading advances the ordinance; it does not yet make it law. The exact requirement is set by each body's rules.
Second reading: The second and usually final consideration of an ordinance at a later meeting. A body that requires two readings enacts the ordinance only after it passes on second reading, giving the public time to weigh in between the two votes.
Consent agenda: A bundle of routine, non-controversial items — minor appointments, standard contracts, minutes approvals — grouped so the body can adopt them all in a single motion and vote instead of debating each one. Any member can pull an item off the consent agenda to discuss and vote on it separately. On this site, one such motion can be recorded as disposing of many agenda items at once.
Deferral: A decision to postpone an item to a future meeting rather than approve or reject it. A deferral is not a defeat — the item stays alive and usually returns later. Items can be deferred repeatedly; an item deferred many times, or one that never comes back for a final vote, can effectively die without anyone voting it down.
Amendment: A proposed change to the wording of a pending motion, ordinance, or resolution. The body votes on the amendment first; if it passes, the main item is then voted on as amended. Amendments are how a proposal is edited on the floor before final passage.
Roll-call vote: A vote taken by calling each member's name and recording how they individually voted. Roll-call votes produce the member-by-member record you see on this site. They are typically used for substantive or contested decisions, where knowing who voted which way matters.
Voice vote: A vote taken by asking members to say "aye" or "no" as a group, recording only the outcome — not how each member voted. Because a voice vote leaves no individual record, this site can show the result but not a member-by-member breakdown.
Quorum: The minimum number of members that must be present for the body to conduct business and take binding votes. Without a quorum, the body cannot legally act. The exact number is set by each body's rules and charter.
Abstain: To be recorded as present but casting no vote for or against an item. Members may abstain for various reasons; depending on the body's rules, an abstention can effectively count with the prevailing side or simply not be counted at all.
Recuse: To step aside from discussing or voting on an item because of a personal or financial conflict of interest. A recusal is recorded so the public can see the member removed themselves rather than simply missing the vote.
Unanimous: A result where the item was adopted with at least one "aye" and no "no" or "abstain" votes recorded. On this site the "Unanimous" badge is applied mechanically from the recorded tally — it is not a judgment, just what the numbers show.
Split vote: A result where at least one member voted "aye" and at least one voted "no" — the body was divided. Split votes are often the substantive, worth-watching decisions, which is why this site flags them and always routes them through human review before publishing.
Adopted: The disposition recorded when a motion passes and the item is approved. "Adopted," "passed," "approved," and "carried" all describe the same outcome; this site records it as adopted.
Failed: The disposition recorded when a motion does not get the votes needed to pass. A failed motion is a decision the body actively made, distinct from a deferral (postponed) or a withdrawal (pulled by its sponsor).
Withdrawn: An item taken back by its sponsor before the body votes on it, so no up-or-down decision is recorded. Withdrawal is different from a defeat (failed) and from a postponement (deferred).
Public hearing: A formal portion of a meeting during which members of the public may speak on a specific item — often required before certain zoning changes or ordinances. The hearing is for taking public comment; the body's vote may follow immediately or at a later meeting.

New here? See how to read a meeting — one real meeting, annotated — to see these terms in context.