Page:Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies (1876).djvu/51

§ 20] (c) Suppose, again, that, while an amendment to the question is pending, a motion is made to refer the subject to a committee, and some one moves to amend this last motion by giving the committee instructions: in addition to the main question we have here only the motions to amend and to commit, and therefore the previous question, if ordered, applies to them all as one question. The Chairman immediately puts the question (1) on the committee’s instructions, (2) on the motion to commit, and if this is adopted the subject is referred to the committee and the effect of the previous question is exhausted; but if it fails, next (3) on the amendment, and finally (4) on the main question.

—Much of the confusion heretofore existing in regard to the Previous Question has arisen from the great changes which this motion has undergone. As originally designed, and at present used in the English Parliament, the previous question was not intended to suppress debate, but to suppress the main question, and therefore, in England, it is always moved by the enemies of the measure, who then vote in the negative. It was first used in 1604, and was intended to be applied only to delicate questions; it was put in this form, “Shall the main question be put?” and being negatived, the main question was dismissed for that session. Its form was afterwards changed to this, which is used at present, “Shall the main ques-