College proposal (council and citizen members)

A proposal from the college to the council. The proposal is on the preliminary agenda of the judgment meeting or council meeting. It cannot be withdrawn without the consent of council and citizen members.

Technical questions (council and citizen members)

Technical questions are questions from council and citizen members about facts or for clarification, such as legislative explanations or numerical substantiation. These questions have no political content.
The questions are answered as soon as possible so that the submitters can include the answer in their preparation.

Oral questions (council and citizen members)

Council and citizen members can submit oral questions to the college. There is a set time during the judgment evening and the council meeting: question time. It is designed to get information or a statement from the college on a current topic.

Written questions (council members) 

Council members can submit written questions to the college to get more information on a particular topic. Written questions are brief, clearly worded and accompanied by an explanation. Questions are answered as soon as possible after date of receipt, but in any case within 30 days after the college receives them.

• Summary of Written Questions

Interpellation (council members)

An interpellation allows a council member to request information from the college. An interpellation is a politically more weighty tool than asking written questions or questions during question time.

Intelligence (council members)

The request for information allows a council member to request more background information on a topic from the college. These are questions about a topic that is not on the agenda. Council members submit their request for information in writing to the Registrar. The college provides the requested information as soon as possible, but in any case within 30 days.

Initiative proposal (council members)

An initiative proposal allows a council member to present his or her own proposal to the council and the college. A council member does not need the support of other council members. This makes the council member not only dependent on proposals from the college but also allows him or her to put topics on the agenda themselves.
 

Amendment (council members)

When considering a proposal, the council can still make changes. The council does this by submitting an amendment. An amendment is a proposal to change a draft council decision. If the majority of the council votes in favor of the amendment, the original proposal is modified. An adopted amendment cannot be ignored by the college. Before the vote, the college has an opportunity to comment on an amendment. The council then considers that in its final decision.

• Summary of Motions and Amendments Presented

Motion (odd order of business) (council members)

A motion is a statement by the council on an agenda item. Often motions call on the council to do something. A motion can also express disapproval of something, which the city council does with a motion of grievance, censure or distrust. Before a decision is made on a motion, the college is given an opportunity to respond. An adopted motion is not binding; the college can disregard the motion, but must provide an explanation.

If the motion is about an issue that is not on the council's agenda, it is called a motion strange to the order of the day. This usually involves a topical issue.

• Summary of Motions and Amendments Presented