Previous Questions
63. When any question is before the House, any member being in order and having the floor may move the previous question, but such motion to be put must be sustained by being seconded by ten members. The question being moved, the Speaker shall say, "Is the motion sustained?" and those favoring the motion shall rise. If a sufficient number arise, the previous question shall be thereby seconded, and the question shall then be put in this form, "Shall the main question be now put?" If this question be decided in the affirmative by a majority of the members voting, a quorum being present, it shall have the effect of cutting off all debate and bringing the House to a direct vote upon the immediate question or questions upon which it has been asked and ordered, except when the motion applies to the main question, the member in charge of the measure under consideration shall have five minutes to close the discussion before the vote is taken; and when the motion applies to an amendment, the person proposing the amendment shall have three minutes to close the discussion on the amendment. Should the previous question be decided in the negative, the House shall proceed with the matter before it as though the previous question had not been moved.
When a member moves the previous question, he shall specifically state in his motion whether it shall apply to the main question and the amendments or to the amendment or amendments only.
The previous question shall not be admitted in the Committee of the Whole.