Rule 9.14A. Motions table

The following table of rules relating to motions shall govern:

Rule 9.14B. Explanation of Table

         "Yes" shows that the rule heading the column in which it stands applies to the motion opposite to which it is placed. "No" shows that the rule does not apply. A figure shows that the rule only partially applies – the figure referring to the note showing the limitation. Take, for example, "Lay on the Table." The table shows that it is undebatable, does not open main question, cannot be amended, an affirmative vote as shown by note No. 8 cannot be reconsidered, requires a majority vote, and is not in order when another has the floor.

Rule 9.14C. Notes to table relating to motions

            The following notes are applicable to the motions table in Paragraph A above:

            1. Since motions are never amended in the House, this heading is somewhat misleading. What is meant is that the motion can be altered in some respect by a substitute motion – for example, the motion to lay on the table cannot be altered by a substitute motion, but the motion to fix the time and day to which to adjourn can be altered by a substitute motion by naming another day and/or time.

            2. Vote required: M – Majority of those present; ME – Majority of elected members; 2/3 – two-thirds of those present.

            3. An appeal is undebatable only when relating to indecorum or to transgressions of the rules of speaking or to the priority of business or made while the previous question is pending.

            4. An appeal may be reconsidered, but when the subject matter upon which the appeal was taken has been disposed of, and it is impossible for the House to reverse its action, it is too late to move to reconsider the appeal.

            5. A tie vote sustains the ruling of the Chair, regardless of whether the question is put to sustain or overrule the Chair, since a majority is required to overrule. Any sustained ruling of the chair may not be appealed on the same legislative day on the same point of order, except by a 2/3rds vote.

            6. No member shall speak more than once on an appeal unless by leave of the House (House Rule 9.12). See also Note 3, supra.

            7. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the House, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call him to order (House Rule 5.2).

            8. An affirmative vote on this motion cannot be reconsidered.

            9. Cannot be reconsidered when in committee (House Rule 6.13). House Rule 6.13 sets forth procedures to effect a mandatory report by committee or discharge and recommittal.

            10. To take up the Order of the Day is a matter of right; it would require a vote equivalent to a suspension of the rules to proceed otherwise. Generally questions regarding the priority of business are not debatable; however, a motion to suspend House Rule 8.6 regarding the order of business and the placement of a legislative instrument on special order for the succeeding day is debatable.

            11. The previous question on the entire subject matter, if adopted, cuts off debate and brings the House to a vote on the pending questions in their order until the main question is reached, which shall be at once disposed of. But its only effect, if a motion "to postpone" is pending, is to bring the House to a vote upon such motion. Motion for previous question on the entire subject matter is not applicable in the Committee of the Whole.

            12. A matter of right, except in the case of the motion to reconsider (See House Rule 9.2).

            13. A motion which has been reconsidered cannot be reconsidered a second time (House Rule 9.11).

            14. A rejected motion, although it be of a class that cannot be reconsidered, can nonetheless be renewed, after progress in debate or the transaction of any business, provided the renewal is not dilatory.

            15. See House Rule 9.9(B).

            16. Motion to refer to another committee is not in order unless the author and chair of committee of original referral are in the chamber (See House Rule 6.5 and, for prefiled bills, House Rule 7.2).

            17. Motion to recall or discharge an instrument from committee cannot be amended; however, the motion to recommit an instrument to another committee can be amended.

            18. Motion for previous question is not in order when offered by a member who has made a motion subject to debate or by a member at the conclusion of speaking on the motion under debate, nor if members in opposition to the main motion have requested to speak and at least one member in opposition to the main motion has not been recognized to speak (See House Rule 9.10(H)).

            19. Motion to suspend House Rule 6.10(B) regarding rescheduling deferred legislation in committee is a debatable motion.

            20. House Rule 8.15(C) allows certain time limitations and procedural requirements contained in House Rule 8.15(B), relative to a conference committee report on the General Appropriation Bill, to be waived by a majority vote of the elected members (ME).

            21. Motion the effect of which is to reject the recommendation of a committee report on a legislative instrument requires a majority of the elected members, except for a motion to recommit, postpone indefinitely, or withdraw from the files of the House which requires a majority of those present and voting (See House Rule 6.11(D)).

            22. It is not in order to debate the merits of the legislation; debate must be confined strictly to the motion.

            23. Additionally requires the recommendation of placement of the legislative instrument on Special Order by the standing committee which reported the instrument. Changing the order of precedence of legislative instruments on Special Order requires a vote of 2/3rds of those present.

            24. House Rule 8.23 relative to the consideration of conference committee reports requires the question of consideration of a conference committee report to lie over until the next legislative day after the receipt of the conference committee report and provides that a motion to suspend such requirement on the last legislative day of a session requires the favorable vote of a majority of the elected members (ME). A motion to suspend the provisions of House Rule 8.23(B), which includes the requirements that the question of the consideration a conference committee report lie over until the next legislative day after the receipt of the conference committee report and that the Clerk place each conference committee report on the calender in the order in which it is received, is a debatable motion.

            HR 45, 1998, eff. May 20, 1998; HR 4, 2006 2^nd Ex. Sess., eff. Dec. 13, 2006.