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 (C.d.) |
leaves the main question first in order at the next meeting, cannot be amended, debated, laid on the table, postponed, reconsidered, or renewed.[1] |
| XII. | Amend (A.a.) |
can be amended (not an amendment to an amendment), can be committed (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 of chair on Question of Order (B.f.g.) |
suspends action on main question, cannot be amended, committed, debated,[3] postponed or renewed; it may be laid on the table (which action sustains the chair) or reconsidered. |
| XI. | Commit, refer, or recommit (A.c.) |
commits main question and all subsidiary to it; can be amended, debated, laid on the table (carrying 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, take from the table, (A.f.) |
tables the main question, and all subsidiary questions with it; cannot be amended, committed, debated, postponed; a negative vote cannot be reconsidered, but an affirmative vote can; it can be renewed.[5] |
| III. | Orders of the Day (C.a.) |
cannot be amended, committed, debated, laid on the table, postponed, is not subject to previous question, cannot be renewed, but can be reconsidered.[6] |
| X. | To postpone to certain time (A.d.) |
cannot be committed or postponed; does not open the main question to debate; can be 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 (A.b.) |
removes main question for session; cannot be amended; can be 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 (A.e.) |
compels immediate vote on main question;[8] cannot be amended, 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 (C.b.) |
suspends action on main question; a motion concerning it can be amended, committed, debated, laid on the table, postponed, reconsidered or renewed, is subject to previous question. |
| VII. | To reconsider (D.b.) |
cannot be amended, committed, postponed, or reconsidered; it is 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 (B.a.) |
has no effect on the main question; it can be amended, committed, debated, laid on the table, postponed, reconsidered or renewed; it is subject to the previous question.[11] |
| V. | To withdraw motion (B.b.) |
cannot be amended, committed, debated, postponed; it can be 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.