Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/The Previous Question

by Orson B. Felt

Layout 2

THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.

97. The term “previous question” is misleading, and is in itself perplexing, as it seems to refer to the question previous to the one under discussion, when in fact it is the name of a motion which is used to bring the matter before the assembly immediately to vote. In other words it is a motion to suppress debate on the question then under discussion, or one subsidiary to it, and to stop further compilation of new amendments or motions by bringing it to vote at once in the form in which it exists. To illustrate—a question before the assembly is being debated, when some member moves the previous question. If this is seconded and there is no objection the question then under consideration will be put to a vote first on the pending question or amendment, if any, and then the main question; or the chairman may say “the previous question has been moved and seconed, the question before you is, Shall the question be now put?” (making this the previous question) and a vote is then taken. This motion requires a two-thirds vote for its adoption; it cannot be debated or amended, or have any other motion applied to it except to lay on the table.

98. The motion for the previous question should not be confounded with the motion to close debate, or that debate be closed at a certain time. If it be moved that debate be now closed or that it be closed at a certain time, or that a certain time be allowed to each speaker, the motion may be amended as to time, or if carried when that time arrives there may be a further motion “to extend the time,” which may refer either to the one speaker whose time has expired, or to the debate in general. Notwithstanding that the motion to close or limit debate requires a two-thirds vote to carry it, it may be amended before adoption by a majority vote.

If it is desired to close debate on any dependent question only, for example, the amendment, or amendment of the amendment, or to commit or to postpone, this limitation must be definitely stated.

99. If the previous question be decided in the affirmative (two-thirds vote)—i. e., that the question shall be now put, all debate or offering of new motions or amendments ceases and the main question is put, beginning with the pending question or amendments, if any. The vote, however, may be further delayed by the raising and decision of a question of privilege, or by a point of order, or by a motion to divide the question, or to read a paper bearing upon the question which is under consideration, or to read a paper bearing upon the question which is under consideration, or to decide upon the method of voting upon the measure. (Any of these questions must be decided without debate). If, however, there is pending a motion to postpone, or to commit, and the mover of the previous question does not specify in his motion that it shall apply to the postponement or commitment, the ordering of the previous question cuts off either or both of these motions. Otherwise the will of the assembly in ordering an immediate vote might be invalidated by the postponement or commitment. The reason for this is that in ordering the previous question the assembly has decided to act upon the question the, instead of at some future time, and in the condition in which then exists, instead of acting upon the report of a committee. It therefore cuts off all the obstructive motions. If the mover of the previous question desires that it shall apply to the postponement or commitment he should definitely so state it. Otherwise the previous question (when unlimited) applies to all pending questions and is not exhausted until a vote has been taken on all the questions then pending.

100. The previous question applies to all debatable motions. It is sometimes moved by the mover of a resolution or motion at the same time the resolution or motion is offered. This is, however, a very unparliamentary proceeding, and the same reasons will apply as in note to Sec. 96. Therefore the chair should not recognize any subsidiary motion when offered with a main motion until the other side has had an opportunity to be heard.

101. The previous question may be moved on a pending amendment or amendments only (if so specified) and when so moved it cuts off debate and further amendment until the questions upon which it is moved have been voted on, when the previous question is exhausted and has no further influence. Or, if several questions are before the assembly the previous question may (if this limitation is specified) be moved on the pending question only, when that is a debatable one, and if it is adopted, debate closes on the pending question only.^[1] After the pending question has been voted on the main question is again open to debate. If, however, it is not so specified in the motion and the previous question is ordered, nothing but an adjournment or one of the questions noted in Sec. 99—upon which debate is barred—can intervene to prevent an immediate vote on all questions to which it applies, together with the main question. “If an adjournment is had after the previous question is ordered, the subject comes up the first thing after the reading of the minutes the next meeting and the previous question still operates, making the main question privileged over all other business whether new or unfinished.”—Reed's rules, Sec. 125. [See also sections 73, 75].

1. Note.—In small societies or meetings there is not much use for the previous question, since the members are generally unwilling to shut off discussion. In such assemblies said motion would be impolitic, as well as unjust to the minority, but in large or legislative assemblies where there is a disposition to use debate, or to fillibuster for the sole purpose of wasting time and preventing action, a due regard for the interest of all often calls for some provision for closing debate, and in such cases the use of the previous question is one of the necessities of orderly business.