To get business underway in a meeting, what type of motion is appropriate?

To get business underway in a meeting, the most appropriate type of motion is a main motion. A main motion introduces a specific proposal or agenda item for consideration and is the primary way members can initiate actions or decisions within a meeting. By presenting a main motion, members set the stage for discussions, debates, and eventual voting on the proposed matter, thus allowing the meeting to progress in an organized manner.

Privileged motions, while they may address urgent matters that require immediate attention, do not typically start the formal business of the meeting. Incidental motions deal with procedural issues that arise during the consideration of a main motion, and secondary motions provide options for altering, delaying, or otherwise modifying the handling of a main motion. Therefore, none of these options fulfill the role of formally initiating the agenda or business of the meeting like a main motion does.