[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 7, Chapters 22 - 25]
[Chapter 23. Motions]
[D. Motions for the Previous Question]
[Â§ 17. Rights of Proponent of Motion]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 4605-4606]
 
                               CHAPTER 23
 
                                Motions
 
                  D. MOTIONS FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
 
Sec. 17. Rights of Proponent of Motion

To Offer Motion to Amend

Sec. 17.1 The manager of a bill, recognized by the Chair in the 
    expectation that he would move the previous question on a motion to 
    recommit offered by the minority, moved instead to amend the 
    motion, and was recognized for that purpose by the Chair.

    On May 8, 1968,(10) the House was considering H.R. 
17023, appropriations for certain independent offices for fiscal 1969. 
Mr. Frank T. Bow, of Ohio, offered a motion to recommit with 
instructions, and the following ensued:
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10. 114 Cong. Rec. 12262, 12263, 90th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        The Speaker: (11) The gentleman from Tennessee is 
    recognized.
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11. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
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        Mr. [Joseph L.] Evins of Tennessee: Mr. Speaker, I have an 
    amendment to the motion to recommit.
        Mr. Bow: Mr. Speaker, a parliamentary inquiry.
        The Speaker: The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
    inquiry.
        Mr. Bow: The motion to recommit being the prerogative of the 
    minority, and the minority having exercised that prerogative, my 
    parliamentary inquiry is as a matter of fact whether or not an 
    amendment is in order, and if it is in order, whether the gentleman 
    making it must indicate that he too is against the bill in its 
    present form?
        The Speaker: In response to the inquiry of the gentleman from 
    Ohio, the Chair will state to the gentleman that the motion to 
    recommit is one with instructions. Since the previous question has 
    not been ordered, it is open for amendment.

Precedence Relative to Question of Personal Privilege

Sec. 17.2 The Chair having recognized a Member in charge of a bill for 
    the motion for the previous question, a Member may not be 
    recognized to rise to a question of personal privilege based on 
    certain remarks in the Record.

    On June 30, 1939,(12) the House was considering the 
conference report on H.R. 3325, relating to the stabilization of the 
alteration of the weight of the dollar. After the Speaker, William B. 
Bankhead, of Alabama, recognized Mr. Andrew L. Somers, of New York, the 
following occurred:
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12. 84 Cong. Rec. 8467, 8468, 76th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. Somers of New York: Mr. Speaker, I move the previous 
    question.
        Mr. [Clare E.] Hoffman [of Michigan]: Mr. Speaker, I rise to a 
    point of order.
        The Speaker: The gentleman will state it.

[[Page 4606]]

        Mr. Hoffman: I rise to a point of personal privilege because of 
    certain remarks contained in the Congressional Record and ask to be 
    allowed to state my question.
        The Speaker: The gentleman from New York has been recognized. 
    The Chair cannot recognize the gentleman from Michigan for that 
    purpose unless the gentleman from New York yields.
        Mr. Somers of New York: Mr. Speaker, I do not yield for that 
    purpose.
        Mr. [Joseph W.] Martin [Jr.] of Massachusetts: Mr. Speaker----
        The Speaker: The Chair will at the proper time under the rules 
    recognize the gentleman. The Chair has recognized the gentleman 
    from New York. The gentleman from New York has moved the previous 
    question on the conference report.
        The question is, Shall the previous question be ordered?