Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/Cannot be Debated

by Orson B. Felt

Layout 2

To fix the time to which to adjourn (when another question is before the assembly).

To adjourn (when unqualified).

A call for the orders of the day.

Suspension of the rules.

To lay on the table.

To take from the table.

The previous question.

Objection to consideration.

Granting leave to read papers.

Questions of order (on an undebatable question).

Questions as to the method of voting.

To go into committee of the whole.

Any matter that interrupts an undebatable question.

All motions limiting or closing debate.

Granting leave to withdraw a motion.

To reconsider (if on an undebatable question).

Granting leave to continue his speech (to one deemed guilty of indecorum in debate).

An appeal, when it relates to indecorum in debate, or to a transgression of the rules, or to priority of business, or if the previous question is pending.

The main question (27) cannot be debated while an amendment (106) is pending, or when an amendment to an amendment (112) is pending the amendment can be debated only so far as is necessary to show the propriety or impropriety of adopting the amendment to the amendment.

The motions to postpone indefinitely (122) and to reconsider (135) if applied to be a debatable question, opens to debate the merits of the question sought to be postponed or reconsidered.

1. Note.—“A level-headed chairman will recognize the difference between discussing the question pure and simple, and making suggestions or asking a question, as business may often by facilitated by allowing such informal remarks, and when such suggestions or questions will assist in determining the question they may be allowed to a limited extent (if no objection is offered) even though the question before the assembly is undebatable.”