objection to the consideration of a question
{{Short description|Type of motion in parliamentary procedure}}
{{About|a motion in parliamentary procedure|other uses of "Objection"|Objection (disambiguation){{!}}Objection}}
__NOTOC__
{{infobox motion
| name = Objection to the consideration of a question (RONR)
| class = I
| inorder = When another has been assigned the floor, until debate has begun or a subsidiary motion has been stated by the chair
| seconded = No
| debatable = No
| amendable = No
| voterequired = Two-thirds against consideration sustains objection
| reconsidered = Negative vote (sustaining objection) only
}}
In parliamentary procedure, an objection to the consideration of a question is a motion that is adopted to prevent an original main motion from coming before the assembly. This motion is different from an objection to a unanimous consent request.
Explanation and use
If a member feels that an original main motion should not be considered, an objection to the consideration of a question could be made.{{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 = 267|edition = 11th|display-authors = et al.}} It is often used to prevent an embarrassing question from being introduced and debated in the assembly.
According to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), this motion is not debatable and requires a two-thirds vote against consideration.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 268}} This objection may be applied only to an original main motion, that is, a motion that brings a new substantive issue before the assembly. The objection may be raised only before debate has begun on the motion, as the purpose is to completely suppress debate on the motion.
According to Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, the purpose of the objection to consideration is to bar from discussion or consideration "any matter that is considered irrelevant, contentious or unprofitable, or that, for any reason, is thought not advisable to discuss."{{cite parl|title=MAS|edition=2000|year=2000|pages=218}}
This motion is different from an objection to a unanimous consent request.
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure does not have this motion and provides alternative motions for accomplishing the same purpose.{{cite parl|title=TSC|edition=4th|pages=233–234}}
Improper use of tabling a motion
Using the rules in RONR, a main motion is improperly killed by tabling it. In this case, before debate has begun, it would have been proper to make an objection to the consideration of the question.{{Cite web|url = http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#13|title = Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 13)|date = 2011|access-date = 2016-02-19|website = The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site|publisher = The Robert's Rules Association|last = Robert III|first = Henry M.}}