What are the two degrees of amendment preferably called?

• A. A major amendment and minor amendment
• B. A primary amendment and secondary amendment
• C. A direct amendment and indirect amendment
• D. A basic amendment and advanced amendment

Answer: (B)

Two levels exist for changing a motion through amendments. The first change to the main motion is called a primary amendment. If someone then proposes another change to that first change, that next modification is a secondary amendment, or an amendment to the amendment. This two-tier system keeps debate organized and makes it clear what aspect of the motion is being adjusted at each step. For example, you might first amend a motion to fund a project up to a certain amount (primary amendment). If discussions continue, someone could secondarily amend that by changing the amount again (secondary amendment). The other terms listed aren’t standard for this concept, so they don’t fit as well. Primary and secondary amendments are the correct terms.