[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 7, Chapters 22 - 25]
[Chapter 23. Motions]
[A. Introductory]
[Â§ 3. Precedence of Motions]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 4536-4537]
 
                               CHAPTER 23
 
                                Motions
 
                             A. INTRODUCTORY
 
Sec. 3. Precedence of Motions

    In general, recognition to offer a motion is at the discretion of 
the Chair, subject to the House rules and precedents pertaining to 
several motions which establish priorities of recognition. These will 
be discussed later in this chapter in the sections that deal with each 
motion.                          -------------------

Priority of Motion of Higher Privilege

Sec. 3.1 A Member having the floor to offer a motion may move the 
    previous question thereon although another claims recognition to 
    offer a motion of higher privilege; but the motion of higher 
    privilege must be put before the previous question.

    On Sept. 13, 1965,(15) Mr. Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, 
interrupted the Clerk's reading of the Journal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. 111 Cong. Rec. 23600, 23601, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Journal be approved as 
    read; and on that I move the previous question.
        Mr. [Durward G.] Hall [of Missouri]: Mr. Speaker, I move that 
    that motion be laid on the table; and I offer an amendment to the 
    Journal.
        The Speaker: (16) The Chair will state that the 
    motion to lay on the table is in order, but the amendment is not in 
    order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        What is the motion of the gentleman from Missouri?
        Mr. Hall: Mr. Speaker, a parliamentary inquiry.
        The Speaker: The gentleman will state it.
        Mr. Hall: Mr. Speaker, during the reading of the Journal, 
    section by section, I asked at what time it might be amended; and 
    if I understood the distinguished Speaker correctly he said that if 
    such an amendment were submitted by the gentleman from Missouri or 
    any other person at any time it would be in order at the end of the 
    reading of the Journal.
        The Speaker: The gentleman from Missouri has a correct 
    recollection of

[[Page 4537]]

    what the Chair said at that time. However, the gentleman from 
    Oklahoma [Mr. Albert] has made a motion that the Journal as read be 
    approved and upon that he has moved the previous question.
        Mr. Hall: Then, Mr. Speaker, I move to table that motion.
        The Speaker: The question is on the motion to lay on the table.