Page:Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure Upload 2.pdf/103

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
§ 99
The Previous Question.
99

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,