Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/96

74 motions be limited to one speech of three minutes' length from each member on any question, and that all questions pending at 4 o'clock shall then be put to the assembly"; or "I move that Mr. A's time be extended 5 minutes." When an order is adopted limiting debate, it applies equally to any new amendment or other interrupting motion as long as the order is in force. Therefore it is unnecessary to specify the motions upon which debate is to be limited if nothing is pending except a main motion. An order extending the limits of the debate applies only to the question or speech specified. These motions may be amended by altering the number or length of speeches or the hour when the debate shall close, or the length of the extension. They, like the previous question, are in force only during the session at which they were adopted. They are exhausted under the same conditions as the previous question.

Previous Question. The previous question is the name given to the motion to stop debate and further motions to amend, and to put the question immediately to the assembly. If it is desired to close debate on the immediately pending question only, then the form is simply, "I move the previous question." If it is desired to close debate on more than the immediately pending question, which may be a whole series, it is necessary to specify thus: "I move the previous question on the motion to postpone and its