Previous question

The first instance of the "previous question" being used in the English Parliament dates back to 25 May 1604.{{Cite web|title = A perpetual disturbance? The history of the previous question|url = https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/a-perpetual-disturbance-the-history-of-the-previous-question/|website = The History of Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-10|date = November 12, 2014|first = Paul|last = Seaward}}{{Cite book|title = Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = Scott, Foresman and Company|year = 1907|location = Chicago|pages = 60–62|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pTs9AAAAYAAJ&q=pocket%20manual%20of%20rules%20of%20order%20for%20deliberative%20assemblies&pg=PA60|edition = "Robert's Rules of Order 3rd"}} At that time, use of this motion was intended not to end debate, but to suppress the main question for the rest of the sitting (similar to an objection to the consideration of a question). It could be debated and when put to a vote, an affirmative vote on the previous question would put the main motion to an immediate vote, while a negative vote on the previous question would end consideration of the main motion altogether for the day.

In the United States House of Representatives, the previous question originally served the same purpose as it did in the English Parliament. In the 1800s, the House of Representatives altered the rules governing the way the previous question could be used: in 1805, it was rendered undebatable, and in 1841, the fraction of votes needed to pass it was lowered from 2/3 to 1/2, allowing for it to be invoked by a simple majority. These changes made it effectively equivalent of a motion of closure.

In 1806, the United States Senate eliminated the previous question motion as part of a rules consolidation suggested by Aaron Burr.

To end debate, a motion for the previous question could be adopted. It is often proposed by a member saying, "I call [for] the question", although the formal wording is, "I move the previous question."{{Cite book|title = Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = Da Capo Press|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-306-82020-5|location = Philadelphia, PA|pages = 207|edition = 11th|display-authors = et al.|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=O8zExFMa0SkC&pg=PA201}} The motion for the "previous question" has nothing to do with the last question previously considered by the assembly.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 198}}

Another use of this motion could be to stop the moving of amendments on any amendable motion.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 197}} It also prevents the making of other subsidiary motions like commit or postpone. {{infobox motion

| name = Previous question (RONR)

| class = S

| inorder = No

| seconded = Yes

| debatable = No

| amendable = No

| voterequired = Two-thirds

| reconsidered = Yes, but if vote was affirmative, only before any vote has been taken under it. A negative vote on this motion can be reconsidered only until such time as progress in business or debate has made it essentially a new question.}}

Under Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (the book used by most organizations in the United States), when a motion for the previous question is made (whether formally or in a nonstandard form such as "calling the question", "close debate", or "calling for a vote"), a two-thirds vote (or unanimous consent) is required to end debate.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|pp = 200–201}} A single member cannot force the end of debate. Also, interrupting someone by yelling out "Question!" or "Call the question!" is not appropriate (it has to be made by obtaining the floor like other motions).{{Cite web|url = http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#11|title = Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 11)|access-date = 2015-11-05|website = The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site|publisher = The Robert's Rules Association}}

This motion is not debatable because having debate on such a motion would defeat its purpose.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 397}}

In ordinary societies, the rationale for a two-thirds vote to end debate and move to a vote on the pending question is to protect the rights of the minority (and it may protect the rights of the majority if only one person was improperly allowed to stop debate).

Most state legislatures in the United States use Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure. This book also provides for the motion of the previous question.{{Cite book|title = Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure|last = Mason|first = Paul|publisher = National Conference of State Legislatures|year = 2010|isbn = 9781580246101|location = Denver, CO|pages = 239|url = http://www.ncsl.org/documents/pubs/2010masonsmanualcontents.pdf}}

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure does not have the "previous question". Instead this book has the motion to "close debate", the motion to "vote immediately", or the motion to "close debate and vote immediately".{{cite book |title = The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure|last = Sturgis|edition = 4th|year = 2001|page = 235|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=clk1qO-dWp4C&q=standard%20code%20of%20parliamentary%20procedure&pg=PP1|first = Alice|others = Revised by the American Institute of Parliamentarians|publisher = McGraw-Hill|location = New York|isbn = 978-0-07-136513-0}} Regardless of the terminology, a two-thirds vote is required to end debate.

{{See also|Cloture}}

The previous question may be used to end debate on the proposal under consideration at the time the motion is made.{{Cite web|title = Glossary (p)|url = https://www.congress.gov/help/legislative-glossary#p|website = www.congress.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08|publisher = Library of Congress|quote = previous question - Non-debatable motion, available in the House and its legislative committees, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote.}} If any Member moves the previous question, the Speaker must immediately put the question on such motion. If a simple majority of Members present and voting votes in favour of the previous question, the main motion is immediately put up to a vote.

Instead of a motion for the previous question, the United States Senate uses a motion to limit debate, called cloture.{{Cite web|title = U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Virtual Reference Desk > Cloture|url = https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Cloture_vrd.htm|website = www.senate.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}} This requires three-fifths of the total number of Senators. It does not immediately end debate on the pending question, but rather imposes strict limitations on debate.

{{See also|Cloture}}

In the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, in the Senate of Australia and in the Parliament of Canada, the previous question is used for its original purpose (that is, to postpone consideration of the question),{{cite web |title=Previous question |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/previous%20question |website=www.merriam-webster.com |publisher=Merriam-Webster, Inc. |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=en |date=28 January 2025}} while motions which have the aim of immediately ending debate are called closure motions.{{cite book |editor1-last=Garner |editor1-first=Bryan A. |title=Black's law dictionary |date=2009 |publisher=West |location=St. Paul, MN |isbn=978-0314199492 |page=290 |edition=9th}}{{Cite web|title = Closure motions - Glossary page|url = http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/closure-motion/|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-08}}{{Cite web|title = Chapter 16 - Previous question|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so094|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}{{Cite web|title = Chapter 31 - Conduct of Senators and rules of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so199|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}{{Cite web|title = Chapter 14 - Control and conduct of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/practice/chapter14#clos|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-10-04|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}{{Cite book|title = The Australian Guide to Chairing Meetings|last = Puregger|first = Marjorie|publisher = University of Queensland Press|year = 1998|isbn = 0-7022-3010-3|location = Queensland, Australia|pages = 58|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=n-1xNhCQvMoC&pg=PA58}}{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - The Previous Question|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_1-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - Closure|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_2-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}

In the House of Commons, the previous question takes the form of a motion "that the Question be not now put"; its adoption results in debate on the main motion being postponed, while its rejection results in the main motion being immediately put up to a vote. A motion "that the question be not now put" is debatable and may be itself subject to a motion of closure.{{Cite web|title = House of Commons - Modernisation of the House of Commons - Fourth Report|url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmmodern/600iv/md0405.htm|website = www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date = 2016-01-08}} The Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons criticized this procedure as "totally incomprehensible", and proposed in its place a simplified motion to "proceed to the next business". As of 2023, the previous question has only been used three times since the end of the second world war.

• Debate (parliamentary procedure)
• Table (parliamentary procedure) – a term that also has different meanings in British and American use

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{{Parliamentary Procedure}}