Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/67



[The Third Drill, Chapter VIII, should be read in connection with this chapter.]

If a subject requires more investigation or discussion than can be given in the assembly itself, instead of amending it in the assembly, the proper course is to move "to refer the resolution [or the motion] to a committee." The motion may be made in this simple form; or it may state the number or name the members of the committee and state how they are to be appointed, and it may also include instructions to the committee. The motion is also called "to commit." As may be seen by reference to Chart I, it cannot be made if anything is pending except a main motion and its amendments and the motion to postpone indefinitely. If the motion to commit is adopted the main motion and pending amendments go to the committee, and the motion to postpone indefinitely, if pending, is ignored. The motion to commit may be amended, and it is debatable, but the debate must not go into the merits of the main question any further