tion be now put?” and if negatived the question was dismissed, at first only until after the ensuing debate was over, but now, for that day. The motion for the previous question could be debated; when once put to vote, whether decided affirmatively or negatively, it prevented any discussion of the main question, for, if decided affirmatively, the main question was immediately put, and if decided negatively (that is, that the main question be not now put), it was dismissed for the day.
Our Congress has gradually changed the English Previous Question into an entirely ditferent motion, so that, while in England the mover of the previous question votes against it, in this country he votes for it. At first the previous question was debatable, and if it was negatived the main question was dismissed for the day, as in England. Congress, in 1805, made it undebatable, and in 1860 caused the consideration of the subject to be resumed if the previous question was negatived, thus completely changing it from the English motion. At first its effect was to cut off all motions except the main question, upon which a vote was immediately taken. This was changed in 1840 so as to bring the House to a vote first upon pending amendments, and then upon the main question. In 1848 its effect was changed again so as to bring the House to a vote upon the motion to commit if it had been made, then upon amendments reported by a committee, if any, then upon pending amendments, and finally upon the main question. In 1860 Congress decided that the only effect of the previous question, if the motion to postpone were pending, should be to bring the House to a direct vote on the postponement—thus preventing the previous question from cutting off any pending motion, and completing the change this motion had been gradually undergoing. The previous question is now a simple motion to close debate and proceed to voting as described in the above section.
[To prevent the introduction of any improper or
