Chapter XXII: Appendix: D

TABLE OF PARLIAMENTARY RULES

In the following table, the principal questions arising in parliamentary practice are noted. The table should serve at once as an index and summary. The motions are arranged alphabetically; the order of priority is indicated by Roman numerals.

Each can supersede one of lower rank. None, except to amend, can supersede one of higher order. The references (e.g.—C.d.) are to the paragraphs in the chapter on Parliamentary Procedure, page 101, where the rules are discussed.

A motion to

I. Adjourn leaves the main question first in
order at the next meeting, cannot be
(C.d.) amended, debated, laid on the table,
postponed, reconsidered, or
renewed.[1]

XII. Amend can be amended (not an amendment
to an amendment), can be committed
(A.a.) (takes with it the principal
motion), is debatable if the
main question is, can be laid on
the table (in which case it carries
with it to the table the entire
subject), can be postponed (in
which case the main question is
also postponed), is subject to
previous question, can be
reconsidered but cannot be renewed.[2]

IV. Appeal from decision suspends action on main question,
of chair on cannot be amended, committed,
Question of Order debated,[3] postponed or renewed;
it may be laid on the table (which
(B.f.g.) action sustains the chair) or
reconsidered.

XI. Commit, refer, or commits main question and all
recommit subsidiary to it; can be amended,
debated, laid on the table (carrying
(A.c.) the entire subject with it),
reconsidered or renewed, opens
main question to debate, is subject
to previous question but cannot
be committed or postponed.[4]

VII. Lay on the table, tables the main question, and all
take from the table, subsidiary questions with it; cannot
be amended, committed, debated,
(A.f.) postponed; a negative vote
cannot be reconsidered, but an
affirmative vote can; it can be
renewed.[5]

III. Orders of the Day cannot be amended, committed,
debated, laid on the table, postponed,
(C.a.) is not subject to previous
question, cannot be renewed, but
can be reconsidered.[6]

X. To postpone to cannot be committed or postponed;
certain time does not open the main
question to debate; can be
(A.d.) amended or debated as to time
only; is subject to previous question
which does not thereby apply
to the main question; can be laid
on the table, reconsidered or renewed.

XII. To postpone indefinitely removes main question for session;
cannot be amended; can be
(A.b.) committed, debated—as can the
main question—laid on the table,
postponed, reconsidered or renewed;
is subject to the previous
question without affecting the main
question.[7]

IX. Previous Question compels immediate vote on main
question;[8] cannot be amended,
(A.e.) committed, debated, or postponed;
it can be laid on the table (carrying
to the table the entire subject),
reconsidered or renewed.[9]

XIV. Principal Motion can be amended, committed, debated,
laid on the table, postponed,
is subject to previous
question, can be reconsidered or
renewed.

II. Question of Privilege suspends action on main question;
a motion concerning it can be
amended, committed, debated, laid
(C.b.) on the table, postponed, reconsidered
or renewed, is subject to
previous question.

VII. To reconsider cannot be amended, committed,
postponed, or reconsidered; it is
(D.b.) debatable if the main question is,
and opens the main question to
debate if carried; it can be laid
on the table without tabling the
main question; it can be renewed
and is subject to the previous
question, which, however, affects
only reconsideration.[10]

VI. To suspend a rule has no effect on the main question;
it can be amended, committed,
(B.a.) debated, laid on the table,
postponed, reconsidered or renewed;
it is subject to the previous
question.[11]

V. To withdraw motion cannot be amended, committed,
debated, postponed; it can be
(B.b.) reconsidered or renewed.

[1] A quorum is not necessary to adjournment.

[2] A motion to amend is not in order after the previous question, to postpone or to lay on the table, has been ordered.

[3] The appellant and the chair may state the respective ground for appeal and decision.

[4] A motion to commit cannot be made after the previous question has been ordered.

[5] Motions once tabled must be removed by motion to take from table.

[6] An affirmative vote on the Orders of the Day removes the main question from consideration; a negative vote dispenses with the business set for special time.

[7] To postpone indefinitely yields to all subsidiary questions except to amend.

[8] When the previous question is moved on an amendment and adopted, debate is closed on the amendment only.

[9] The previous question applies only to debatable questions.

[10] It must be made by one voting on prevailing side on main question. A motion to reconsider can be applied to every other question except to adjourn and to suspend rules, and affirmative vote to lay on the table.

[11] It cannot suspend the constitution or by-laws.