Rules of The House of Representatives of The United States
RULE XIX: MOTIONS FOLLOWING THE AMENDMENT STAGE
Previous question
1. (a) There shall be a motion for the
previous question, which, being ordered,
shall have the effect of cutting
off all debate and bringing the House to
a direct vote on the immediate question
or questions on which it has been
ordered. Whenever the previous question
has been ordered on an otherwise
debatable question on which there has
been no debate, it shall be in order to
debate that question for 40 minutes,
equally divided and controlled by a
proponent of the question and an opponent.
The previous question may be
moved and ordered on a single question,
on a series of questions allowable
under the rules, or on an amendment
or amendments, or may embrace all
authorized motions or amendments and
include the bill or resolution to its passage,
adoption, or rejection.
(b) Incidental questions of order arising
during the pendency of a motion
for the previous question shall be decided,
whether on appeal or otherwise,
without debate.
Recommit
2. (a) After the previous question has
been ordered on passage or adoption of
a measure, or pending a motion to that
end, it shall be in order to move that
the House recommit (or commit, as the
case may be) the measure, with or
without instructions, to a standing or
select committee. For such a motion to
recommit, the Speaker shall give preference
in recognition to a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
who is opposed to the measure.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if a motion that the House recommit a bill or joint resolution on which the previous question has been ordered to passage includes instructions, it shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided between the proponent and an opponent.
(c) On demand of the floor manager for the majority, it shall be in order to debate the motion for one hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent.
Reconsideration
3. When a motion has been carried or
lost, it shall be in order on the same or
succeeding day for a Member on the
prevailing side of the question to enter
a motion for the reconsideration thereof.
The entry of such a motion shall
take precedence over all other questions
except the consideration of a conference
report or a motion to adjourn,
and may not be withdrawn after such
succeeding day without the consent of
the House. Once entered, a motion may
be called up for consideration by any
Member. During the last six days of a
session of Congress, such a motion
shall be disposed of when entered.
4. A bill, petition, memorial, or resolution
referred to a committee, or reported
therefrom for printing and recommitment,
may not be brought back
to the House on a motion to reconsider.
Rule XV Rule XVI Rule XVII Rule XVIII Rule XIX Rule XX Rule XXI Rule XXII Rule XXIII Rule XXIV Rule XXV Rule XXVI
Rule XXVII Rule XXVIII