[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-41]

[Page 249-250]

                    sec. xxxvii--coexisting questions

  It may be <> asked whether the House can be in possession of two motions
or propositions at the same time? so that, one of them being decided,
the other goes to question without being moved anew? The answer must be
special. When a question is interrupted by a vote of adjournment, it is
thereby removed from before the House, and does not stand ipso facto
before them at their next meeting, but must come forward in the usual
way. So, when it is interrupted by the order of the day. Such other
privileged questions also as dispose of the main question (e.g., the
previous question, postponement, or commitment), remove it from before
the House. But it is only suspended by a motion to amend, to withdraw,
to read papers, or by a question of order or privilege, and stands again
before the House when these are decided. None but the class of
privileged questions can be brought forward while there is another
question before the

[[Page 250]]

House, the rule being that when a motion has been made and seconded, no
other can be received except it be a privileged one.

  The principles of this provision must, of course, be viewed in the
light of a more highly perfected order of business than existed in
Jefferson's time (rule XIV). The motion to withdraw is not known in the
practice of the House, not being among the motions enumerated in clause
4 of rule XVI, but a motion before the House may be withdrawn by the
mover thereof before a decision is reached (clause 2 of rule XVI).