Page:Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure Upload 2.pdf/109

§ 105 105. A motion to refer to a standing committee take precedence of, but does not cut off, a motion to refer to a special committee.

This motion is usually made upon the first presentation of a question or resolution and the assembly acts upon the report of the committee; it may, however, be referred after discussion and efforts to amend have shown the need of more careful investigation. The motion to commit may be amended by changing the committee, which amendment may refer to the nature of the committee or the number of members to compose the committee, or by giving instructions to the committee. It is debatable as to the propriety of referring the question to the committee, but such debate should not involve the merits of the main question, as that debate will be in order and the question may be fully debated when the committee reports. If however in the motion to commit, or in an amendment, there be instructions as to the main question, then debate may be had on the merits of the main question, and if the