Which two items are identified as amendments in the ladder of motions?

• A. Main Motion and Amendment
• B. Primary Amendment and Secondary Amendment
• C. Recess and Adjourn
• D. Call for the Orders of the Day and Lay on the Table

Answer: (B)

In parliamentary procedure, an amendment is a modification proposed to a motion. The ladder of motions introduces two levels of this: a primary amendment, which is an amendment to the main motion itself, and a secondary amendment, which is an amendment to that first amendment (an amendment to the amendment). This structure lets committees refine proposals step by step, and you can even have further levels (tertiary amendments) in theory, though they’re rarely used in practice. Therefore, the two items identified as amendments on the ladder are the primary amendment and the secondary amendment.