Rule 11.13. Table of Rules Relating to Motions
The following table of rules relating to motions shall govern:
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Opens Can be Can be In Order
Main Amended Recon- Vote When
Motion Debatable Question by a sidered Required Another
To Substitute (14) (2) Has
Debate Motion (1) Floor
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Adjourn, fixing day and time No No Yes No M No
Amend Yes No No Yes M No
Appeal a call to order or reprimand No (3) No No Yes (4) ME Yes
Appeal, all other cases Yes (3,5) No No Yes (4) ME Yes
Call from the calendar No No No No M No
Call to order No No No Yes M (6) Yes
Call up a bill or resolution without regard
to its numerical order No No Yes Yes ME No
Commit or recommit Yes Yes Yes Yes (8) M No
Extend limits of debate No No Yes Yes M No
Lay on table No No No No (7) M No
Leave to continue speaking after indecorum No No No Yes M No
Limit debate No No Yes Yes M No
Postpone indefinitely Yes Yes No Yes M No
Postpone to a certain day and time No No Yes Yes M No
Previous question No No No Yes M No
Previous question on entire
subject matter (10) No No No Yes M No
Priority of business relating to No No No Yes M No
Privilege, question of Yes No Yes Yes M No
Proceed to executive business No No Yes Yes M No(14)
Reading papers No No No Yes M No
Reconsider a debatable question Yes Yes No No M (11)
Reconsider an undebatable question No No No No M (11)
Refer Yes Yes Yes Yes (8) M No
Return to the calendar, subject to call No No No No M No
Special order, to make a Yes No Yes Yes M No
Suspend the rules No No No No ME No
Take a recess No No Yes No M No
Take up order of the day No No No Yes (9) Yes
Withdrawal of a motion No No No Yes (12) No
EXPLANATION OF TABLE
"Yes" shows that the rule heading the column in which it stands applies to the
motion opposite to which it is placed. "No" shows that the rule does not apply. A figure
shows that the rule only partially applies -- the figure referring to the note showing the
limitation. Take, for example, "Lay on the Table." The table shows that it is undebatable,
does not open main question, cannot be amended, an affirmative vote as shown by note
No. 8 cannot be reconsidered, requires a majority vote, and is not in order when another
has the floor.
NOTES TO TABLE RELATING TO MOTIONS
1. Since motions are never amended in the Senate, this heading is somewhat
misleading. What is meant is that the motion can be altered in some respect by a
substitute motion -- for example, the motion to lay on the table cannot be altered by a
substitute motion, but the motion to fix the time and day to which to adjourn can be
altered by a substitute motion to name another day and/or time.
2. Vote required: M -- Majority of those present and voting; ME -- Majority of
those elected.
3. An appeal is undebatable only when relating (a) to indecorum or (b) to
transgressions of the rules of speaking or (c) to the priority of business or (d) when made
while the previous question is pending. When debatable, only two speeches from each
member are allowed.
4. The vote on a motion to appeal may be reconsidered, but when the subject
matter upon which the appeal was taken has been disposed of, and it is impossible for the
Senate to reverse its action, it is too late to move to reconsider the vote on the motion to
appeal.
5. No member shall speak more than twice unless by leave of the Senate. (See
Senate Rule 6.7; See also Note 3, supra.)
6. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the Senate,
the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call him to order. (Senate Rule 6.3)
7. An affirmative vote on this motion cannot be reconsidered.
8. Cannot be reconsidered when in committee. Senate Rule 13.11 sets forth
procedures to effect a mandatory report by committee or discharge and recommittal.
9. A matter of right; it would require a vote equivalent to a suspension of the rules
to proceed otherwise.
10. The previous question on the entire subject matter, if adopted, cuts off debate
and brings the Senate to a vote on the pending questions in their order until the main
question is reached, which shall be at once disposed of. But its only effect, if a motion
"to postpone" is pending, is to bring the Senate to a vote upon that motion.
11. Can be moved and entered on the record when another has the floor, but cannot
interrupt business then before the Senate; must be made as provided in Senate Rule 11.12.
12. A matter of right, except in the case of the motion to reconsider. (See Senate
Rule 11.2)
13. A rejected motion, although it is of a class that cannot be reconsidered,
nonetheless can be renewed after progress in debate or the transaction of any business, if
the renewal is not dilatory.
14. Not in order more than once during debate on any one bill or resolution except
with unanimous consent of those present and voting.