    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 107th Congress]
    [107th Congress]
    [House Document 106-320]
    [Rules of the House of Representatives]
    [Pages 755-769]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                    Rule XIX

    Previous question
                      motions following the amendment stage

    Sec. 994. The 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.

    [[Page 756]]

    was changed to permit ordering the previous question to final passage
    (V, 5443). When the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, it
    consolidated former clause 1 of rule XVII and a provision included in
    former clause 2 of rule XXVII, permitting 40 minutes debate on which the
    previous question has been ordered without there having been debate
    under this clause. The 106th Congress also transferred the provision
    addressing the motion to commit from clause 1 of rule XVII to clause 2
    of this rule (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).
      The House adopted a rule for the previous question in 1789, but did
    not turn it into an instrument for closing debate until 1811. The
    history of the motion for the previous question is discussed in V, 5443,
    5446; VIII, 2661. In 1880 the previous question rule was amended to
    apply to single motions or a series of motions as well as to amendments,
    and the motion to commit pending the motion for the previous question or
    after the previous question is ordered to passage was added (V, 5443).
    From 1880 to 1890, the previous question could only be ordered to the
    engrossment and third reading, and then again ordered on passage, but in
    1890 the rule

    Sec. 995. Effect of previous question on
    debate.

      The  previous question is the only motion used for closing debate
    in the House itself (V, 5456; VIII, 2662). It is not in order in
    Committee of the Whole (IV, 4716; Apr. 25, 1990, p. 8257) but is in
    order in the House as in Committee of the Whole (VI, 639). The motion
    may not include a provision that it shall take effect at a certain time
    (V, 5457). Forty minutes of debate are allowed whenever the previous
    question is ordered on an otherwise debatable proposition on which there
    has been no debate (V, 6821; VIII, 2689; Sept. 13, 1965, p. 23602)
    unless there has been debate, even though brief, before the ordering of
    the previous question (V, 5499-5501). This preliminary debate should be
    on the merits of the question if the 40 minutes of debate are to be
    denied for reason of it (V, 5502). The 40 minutes should be demanded
    before division has begun on the main question (V, 5496). It may not be
    demanded on incidental motions, but is confined to the main question (V,
    5497, 5498; VIII, 2687). It may not be demanded on a proposition that
    has been debated in Committee of the Whole (V, 5505), or on a conference
    report if the subject matter of the report was debated before being sent
    to conference (V, 5506, 5507). When the previous question is ordered
    merely on an amendment that has not been debated, the 40 minutes are
    allowed (V, 5503); but the same liberty of debate is not allowed when
    the question covers both an undebated amendment and the original
    proposition (V, 5504). It was also denied on a resolution to correct an
    error in an enrolled bill (V, 5508). The 40 minutes is divided, one half
    to those favoring and the other half to those opposing (V, 5495).

    [[Page 757]]

    ing consideration ``in the House as in Committee of the Whole'' it may
    be demanded while Members still desire to offer amendments (IV, 4926-
    4929; VI, 639), but it may not be moved on a single section of a bill
    (IV, 4930). When ordered on a resolution with a preamble there is doubt
    of its application to the preamble, unless the motion specifies (V,
    5469, 5470). It may be moved on a series of resolutions, but this does
    not preclude a division of the resolutions on the vote (V, 5468),
    although where two propositions on which the previous question is moved
    are related, as in the case of a special order reported from the
    Committee on Rules and a pending amendment thereto, a division is not in
    order (Sept. 25, 1990, p. 25575). The previous question is often ordered
    on nondebatable propositions to prevent amendment (V, 5473, 5490), but
    may not be moved on a motion that is both nondebatable and unamendable
    (IV, 3077). It applies to questions of privilege as to other questions
    (II, 1256; V, 5459, 5460; VIII, 2672).

    Sec. 996. Application of the previous
    question.

      The  provisions of the rule define the application of the
    previous question with considerable accuracy. It may not be moved on
    more than one bill, or on motions to agree to a conference report while
    also to dispose of differences not included in the report, except by
    unanimous consent (V, 5461-5465). When ordered on a motion to send to
    conference, it applies to that motion alone and does not extend to a
    subsequent motion to instruct conferees (VIII, 2675). It may apply to
    the main question and a pending motion to refer (V, 5466; VI, 373; VIII,
    2678), or to a pending resolution and a pending amendment thereto (Sept.
    25, 1990, p. 25575; July 16, 1998, p. ----). When a bill is reported
    from the Committee of the Whole with the recommendation that the
    enacting words be stricken out, it may be applied to the motion to
    concur without covering further action on the bill (V, 5342). Dur

    [[Page 758]]

    time (Oct. 3, 1989, p. 22842). The previous question may not be demanded
    on a proposition against which a point of order is pending (VIII, 3433).

    Sec. 997. The right to move the previous
    question.

      The  Member in charge of the bill and having the floor may demand
    the previous question although another Member may propose a motion of
    higher privilege (VIII, 2684), but the motion of higher privilege must
    be put first (V, 5480; VIII, 2609, 2684), and if the Member in charge of
    the bill claims the floor in debate another Member may not demand the
    previous question (II, 1458); but having the floor, unless yielded to
    for debate only, any Member may make the motion although the effect may
    be to deprive the Member in charge of the bill (V, 5476; VIII, 2685).
    The Member who has called up a measure in the House has priority of
    recognition to move the previous question thereon, even over the
    chairman of the reporting committee (Oct. 1, 1986, p. 27468). If, after
    debate, the Member in charge of the bill does not move the previous
    question, another Member may (V, 5475); but where a Member intervenes on
    a pending proceeding to make a preferential motion, such as the motion
    to recede from a disagreement with the Senate, he may not move the
    previous question on that motion as against the rights of the Member in
    charge (II, 1459), and the Member in charge is entitled to recognition
    to move the previous question even after he has surrendered the floor in
    debate (VIII, 2682, 3231). Where a Member controlling the time on a bill
    or resolution in the House yields for the purpose of amendment, another
    Member may move the previous question before the Member offering the
    amendment is recognized to debate it (Nov. 8, 1971, p. 39944; July 24,
    1979, p. 20385). Where under a rule of the House debate time on a motion
    or proposition is equally divided and controlled by the majority and the
    minority, or between those in favor and those opposed (see, e.g.,
    clauses 1, 2, and 6 of rule XV), or where a block of time for debate has
    been yielded by the manager, the previous question may not be moved
    until the other side has used or yielded back its time; and the Chair
    may vacate the adoption of the previous question where it was improperly
    moved while the other side was still seeking

    Sec. 998. Relation of the previous question to
    motions.

      The  motion to lay on the table may not be applied to the previous
    question (V, 5410, 5411); and it may not be applied to the main question
    after the previous question has been ordered (V, 5415-5422; VIII, 2655),
    or after the yeas and nays have been ordered on the demand for the
    previous question (V, 5408, 5409).

      The motion to postpone may not be applied to the main question after
    the previous question has been ordered (V, 5319-5321; VIII, 2617). The
    previous question may be applied both to the main question and a pending
    motion to refer (V, 5342; VI, 373).

    Sec. 999. The 40 minutes of debate on undebated
    propositions.

      Although  this clause allows 40 minutes of debate when the
    previous question is ordered on a proposition on which there has been no
    debate (V, 6821; Mar. 22, 1990, p. 4996), any previous debate on the
    merits of the main proposition precludes the 40 minutes (V, 5499-5502).
    The demand for 40 minutes of debate must come before the vote is taken
    on the main question (V, 5496). It is not available: (1) when the
    question on which the previous question is ordered is otherwise
    nondebatable, such as the motion to close debate (VIII, 2555, 2690); (2)
    on an undebated amendment where the motion for the previous question
    covers both the amendment and the original proposition, which has been
    debated (V, 5504); (3) on incidental motions (V, 5497-5498), (4) on
    propositions previously debated in Committee of the Whole (V, 5505); (5)
    on conference reports accompanying measures that were debated before
    being sent to conference (V, 5506-5507), or (6) on ancillary measures,
    such as a concurrent resolution to correct an enrolled bill (V, 5508).
    Debate allowed under this provision is equally divided and controlled
    between the person demanding the time and a Member representing the
    opposition (Sept. 13, 1965, pp. 23602-06; May 8, 1985, p. 11073).
    Priority in recognition for time in opposition is accorded to a Member
    truly opposed (VIII, 2689).

    Sec. 1000. Questions of order pending the motion for the
    previous question.

      (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.

    [[Page 759]]

    inquiry although the previous question may have been demanded (Mar. 27,
    1926, p. 6469).
      This provision was adopted in 1837 to prevent delay by debate on
    points of order after the demand for the previous question (V, 5448).
    Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this
    provision was found in former clause 3 of rule XVII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6,
    1999, p. ----). Under the present practice, since debate on points of
    order is entirely within the control of the Chair, he may recognize and
    respond to a parliamentary

    Recommit
      A question of privilege relating to the integrity of action of the
    House itself has been distinguished from ordinary questions of order and
    has been thrown open to debate after the ordering of the previous
    question (III, 2532).

    Sec. 1001. 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.

    [[Page 760]]

    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 21, 1971, p. 14). That provision was also amended in
    the 99th Congress to provide that on the demand of the majority floor
    manager of a bill or joint resolution, the 10 minutes of debate on a
    motion to recommit with instructions, the previous question having been
    ordered, may be extended to one hour, equally divided and controlled (H.
    Res. 7, Jan. 3, 1985, p. 393). When the House recodified its rules in
    the 106th Congress, it consolidated the last sentence of former clause 1
    of rule XVII and provisions of former clause 4 of rule XVI, addressing
    the motion to recommit, under this clause (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p.
    ----). For a general discussion of the motion to refer see Sec. 916,
    supra.
      The motion to commit or recommit described in paragraph (a) was added
    to the previous question rule (former clause 1 of rule XVII) in 1880 (V,
    5443). The portion of paragraph (a) that gives preference in recognition
    to one opposed to the measure was added to former clause 4 of rule XVI
    in the 61st Congress (Mar. 15, 1909, pp. 22-34). Paragraphs (b) and (c),
    relating to debate on the motion to recommit with instructions were
    added to former clause 4 of rule XVI by section 123 of the Legislative
    Reorganization Act of 1970 and made a part of the standing rules in the
    92d Congress

    Sec. 1002. Application of motion.

      The  motion to commit under
    this rule applies to resolutions of the House alone as well as to bills
    (V, 5572, 5573; VIII, 2742), and to a motion to amend the Journal (V,
    5574). It does not apply to a report from the Committee on Rules
    providing a special order of business (V, 5593-5601; VIII, 2270, 2750),
    or to a pending amendment to a proposition in the House (V, 5573). A
    motion to commit under this clause, with instructions to report
    forthwith with an amendment, has been allowed after the previous
    question has been ordered on a motion to dispose of Senate amendments
    before the stage of disagreement (V, 5575; VIII, 2744, 2745). However, a
    motion to commit under this clause does not apply to a motion disposing
    of Senate amendments after the stage of disagreement where utilized to
    displace a pending preferential motion (Speaker Albert, Sept. 16, 1976,
    p. 30887).

      The motion to commit may be made pending the demand for the previous
    question on passage (or adoption), whether a bill or resolution is under
    consideration (V, 5576). However, when the demand covers all stages of
    the bill to passage, the motion to commit is made only after the third
    reading and is not in order pending the demand or before third reading
    (V, 5578-5581). When separate motions for the previous question are
    made, respectively, on the third reading and on passage of a bill, the
    motion to commit should be made only after the previous question is
    ordered on passage (V, 5577). When the House refuses to order a bill to
    be engrossed and read a third time, the motion to commit may not be made
    (V, 5602, 5603). When the previous question has been ordered on a simple
    resolution (as distinguished from a joint resolution) and a pending
    amendment, the motion to commit should be made after the vote on the
    amendment (V, 5585-5588). A motion to commit has been entertained after
    ordering of the previous question even before the adoption of rules at
    the beginning of a Congress (VIII, 2755; Jan. 5, 1981, p. 111).

    [[Page 761]]

    Congress to further prohibit the Committee on Rules from denying the
    Minority Leader or his designee the right to include proper amendatory
    instructions in a motion to recommit (sec. 210, H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995,
    p. 460). Where a special order providing for consideration of a matter
    in the House provides that the previous question shall be considered as
    ordered thereon without intervening motion and does not simply state
    that the previous question be considered as ordered after debate, the
    previous question is considered as ordered from the beginning of the
    debate, precluding the consideration of any intervening motion (Mar. 12,
    1980, pp. 5387-93).
      When a special order declares that at a certain time the previous
    question shall be considered as ordered on a bill to the final passage,
    it has usually, but not always, been held that a motion to commit is
    precluded (IV, 3207-3209). Under clause 6(c) of rule XIII (former clause
    4(b) of rule XI) the Committee on Rules is prohibited from reporting
    such special order that precludes the motion to recommit in clause 2 of
    rule XIX (VIII, 2260, 2262-2264; see also Sec. 1001, supra). That
    provision was amended in the 104th

      Where a bill is recommitted under this motion the previous question
    being pending but not ordered on final passage and, having been reported
    again, is again amended and subjected to the previous question, another
    motion to commit is in order after the engrossment and third reading (V,
    5591).

    Sec. 1002a. Consideration of motion.

      When  the previous
    question is ordered on a bill to final passage, debate on a straight
    motion to recommit under this clause is no longer in order and only a
    motion to recommit with instructions is debatable for the 10 minutes
    specified in the rule (June 22, 1995, p. 16844). Prior to the amendment
    of this clause in the 92d Congress, no debate was permitted on a motion
    to recommit with instructions after the previous question was ordered
    (V, 5561, 5582-5584; VIII, 2741). The 10 minutes of debate provided
    under this clause on motions to recommit with instructions does not
    apply to a motion to recommit with instructions of a simple or
    concurrent resolution or conference report, since the clause limits its
    applicability to bills and joint resolutions (Nov. 15, 1973, p. 37151;
    Mar. 29, 1976, p. 8444; Speaker O'Neill, June 19, 1986, p. 14698). The
    manager of a bill or joint resolution, if opposed, and not the proponent
    of a motion to recommit with instructions has the right to close
    controlled debate on a motion to recommit (Speaker Wright, Dec. 3, 1987,
    p. 34066). The Member recognized for five minutes in favor of the motion
    may not reserve time (Speaker Wright, June 29, 1988, p. 16510; June 29,
    1989, p. 13938).

    [[Page 762]]

      Although the ordering of the previous question on a bill and all
    amendments to final passage precludes debate (other than that specified
    in clause 2 of rule XIX) on a motion to recommit, it does not exclude
    amendments to such motion (V, 5582; VIII, 2741); and, unless the
    previous question is ordered on a motion to recommit with instructions,
    the motion is open to amendment germane to the bill (see V, 6888; VIII,
    2711). An amendment striking out all of the proposed instructions and
    substituting others cannot be ruled out as interfering with the right of
    the minority to move recommitment (VIII, 2698, 2759). The Member
    offering a motion to recommit a bill with instructions may, at the
    conclusion of the 10 minutes of debate thereon, yield to another Member
    to offer an amendment to the motion if the previous question has not
    been ordered on the motion to recommit (Speaker Albert, July 19, 1973,
    p. 24967).

      The motion may be withdrawn in the House at any time before action or
    decision thereon (VIII, 2764). The motion may not be laid on the table
    after the previous question has been ordered (V, 5412-5414).

    Sec. 1002b. Instructions with motion.

      The  simple motion to
    recommit and the motion to recommit with instructions are of equal
    privilege and have no relative precedence (VIII, 2714, 2758, 2762; Nov.
    25, 1970, p. 38997). It has been a practice to permit a motion to
    recommit with instructions that the committee report ``forthwith,'' in
    which case the chairman makes report at once without awaiting action by
    the committee (V, 5545-5547; VIII, 2730), and the bill is before the
    House for immediate consideration (V, 5550; VIII, 2735).

      It is not in order to propose as instructions anything that might not
    be proposed directly as an amendment such as: (1) to propose an
    amendment that is not germane (V, 5529-5541, 5834, 5889; VIII, 2705,
    2707, 2708); (2) to amend or eliminate an amendment adopted by the House
    (V, 5531; VIII, 2712, 2714, 2715, 2720-2724); (3) to propose an
    amendment in violation of clauses 2, 4, or 5 of rule XXI (V, 5533-5540;
    Sept. 1, 1976, p. 28883; Sept. 19, 1983, p. 24646; Speaker Foley, Aug.
    1, 1989, p. 17159, and Aug. 3, 1989, p. 18546, each time sustained by
    tabling of appeal; July 1, 1992, p. 17294; June 22, 1995, p. 16844); or
    (4) to change the Rules of the House by authorizing a committee to
    report at any time (V, 5543) or directing a committee to report by a
    date certain (V, 5549). However, it has been held in order to reoffer an
    amendment rejected by the House (VIII, 2728).

      Where a special rule providing for the consideration of a bill
    prohibited the offering of amendments to a certain title of the bill (at
    any point during consideration), it was held not in order to offer a
    motion to recommit with instructions to amend the restricted title (Jan.
    11, 1934, pp. 479-83). However, that precedent should be read in light
    of clause 6(c)(2) of rule XIII, which precludes the Rules Committee from
    reporting a rule that would prevent a motion to recommit from including
    amendatory instructions (see Sec. 857, supra).

      In cases where amendatory instructions are not in order, the motion
    has directed a committee to study an issue and to report ``promptly''
    its recommendations (Mar. 29, 1990, p. 1834). Instructions must be
    germane to the bill regardless of whether they directly propose an
    amendment thereto (Sept. 23, 1992, p. 27178). Unlike the case of a
    motion to recommit with instructions to report back ``forthwith'' (the
    adoption of which occasions an immediate report on the floor), the
    adoption of a motion to recommit with instructions to report back
    ``promptly'' sends the bill to committee, whose eventual report (if any)
    would not be immediately before the House (Deschler's Precedents, vol.
    7, ch. 23, sec. 32.25; May 24, 2000, p. ----).

    [[Page 763]]

    to recommit against which a Member has made a point of order under
    section 425(a) of that Act, a proper motion to recommit remains
    available (Mar. 28, 1996, p. 6932).
      Only one motion to commit is in order (V, 5577, 5582, 5585; VIII,
    2763). If one motion to recommit is ruled out, a proper motion is
    admissible (VIII, 2736, 2760, 2761, 2763). Similarly, if the House votes
    pursuant to section 426(b)(3) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
    not to consider a motion

      When a bill is recommitted, it is before the committee as a new
    subject (IV, 4557; V, 5558), but the committee must confine itself to
    the instructions if there be any (IV, 4404; V, 5526). Where the House
    has recommitted a bill to a committee with instructions to report it
    back forthwith with certain amendments, the amendments must be adopted
    by the House after the report by the committee (VIII, 2734).

      The motion to recommit may not be accompanied by preamble or otherwise
    include argument, explanation, or other matter in the nature of debate
    (V, 5589; VIII, 2749). Thus, a motion to recommit a bill to a standing
    committee with recommendations for producing legislation that the
    President could sign was held inadmissible in both form and content
    (Feb. 27, 1992, p. 3778).

    Sec. 1002c. Recognition to offer motion.

      Before  former
    clause 4 of rule XVI was amended in 1909 to give priority in recognition
    for the motion to recommit to an opponent of a bill or joint resolution
    pending final passage, it was held that the opponents of a bill had no
    claim to prior recognition (II, 1456). Although the provision as amended
    in 1909 applied only to bills and joint resolutions, the principle
    embodied in that provision was applied also to motions to recommit
    simple or concurrent resolutions or conference reports under former
    clause 1 of rule XVII (VIII, 2764; Nov. 28, 1979, p. 33914; Procedure,
    ch. 23, sec. 13.1). When the House consolidated the last sentence of
    former clause 1 of rule XVII and provisions of former clause 4 of rule
    XVI, addressing the motion to recommit, under this clause (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----), the sentence conferring prior recognition to the
    opposition was formally applied to all measures. However, precedents
    under former clause 1 of rule XVII still dictate that recognition to
    offer a motion to commit a resolution offered from the floor as a
    privileged matter without having been referred to committee does not
    depend on opposition to the resolution or on party affiliation (Speaker
    Albert, Feb. 19, 1976, p. 3920).

    [[Page 764]]

    (Speaker Garner, Apr. 1, 1932, p. 7327). The Chair does not assess the
    degree of a Member's opposition (Oct. 23, 1991, p. 28258). A Member who
    is opposed to the bill ``in its present form'' (i.e., in the form before
    the House when the motion is made) qualifies to offer the motion
    (Speaker Martin, Apr. 15, 1948, p. 4547; Speaker McCormack, Mar. 12,
    1964, p. 5147). The priority of recognition of a Member of the minority
    who is opposed is not diminished by the fact that the minority party may
    have successfully led the opposition to the previous question on the
    special order governing consideration of the bill and offered a
    ``modified-closed'' rule permitting only minority Members to offer
    perfecting amendments to the majority text (June 26, 1981, p. 14740).
    However, although the motion to recommit is the prerogative of the
    minority if opposed, a Member who in the Speaker's determination led the
    opposition to the previous question on the motion to recommit, such as
    the chairman of the committee reporting the bill, is entitled to offer
    an amendment to the motion to recommit, regardless of party affiliation
    (June 26, 1981, pp. 14791-93). The right to offer a motion to recommit a
    House bill with a Senate amendment belongs to a Member who is opposed to
    the whole bill in preference to a Member who is merely opposed to the
    Senate amendment (VIII, 2772). Where the previous question has been
    ordered on both the pending resolution and its preamble, a Member may
    qualify to offer a motion to recommit on the basis of his opposition to
    the preamble, even though it is not otherwise subject to separate vote
    or amendment (Feb. 12, 1998, p. ----). A Member rising in opposition to
    a motion to recommit must likewise qualify as opposed to the motion
    (Apr. 29, 1999, p. ----).

    Reconsideration
      When applying this rule the Speaker looks first to the Minority Leader
    or his designee (as imputed by the form of former clause 4(b) of rule XI
    adopted in the 104th Congress (current clause 6(c) of rule XIII)). If
    the Minority Leader is not seeking recognition, the Speaker looks to
    minority members of the committee reporting the bill, in order of their
    rank on the committee (Speaker Garner, Jan. 6, 1932, p. 1396; Speaker
    Byrns, July 2, 1935, p. 10638), then to other Members on the minority
    side (Speaker Rayburn, Aug. 16, 1950, p. 12608). Until a qualifying
    minority Member has had his motion read by the Clerk, he is not entitled
    to the floor so as to prevent another, senior qualifying minority member
    from the reporting committee from seeking recognition to offer the
    motion to recommit (Speaker O'Neill, Apr. 24, 1979, p. 8360). If no
    Member of the minority qualifies, a majority Member who is opposed to
    the bill may be recognized

    [[Page 765]]

    sion of Congress, such a motion shall be disposed of when entered.

    Sec. 1003. The motion to reconsider.

      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 ses

      The motion to reconsider used in the Continental Congress and in the
    House of Representatives from its first organization, in 1789, was first
    made the subject of a rule in 1802; and at various times this rule has
    been perfected by amendments (V, 5605). Before the House recodified its
    rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in former clause 1
    of rule XVIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).

      The motion is not used in Committee of the Whole (IV, 4716-4718; VIII,
    2324, 2325), but is in order in the House as in Committee of the Whole
    (VIII, 2793). It is not in order in the House during the absence of a
    quorum when the vote proposed to be reconsidered requires a quorum (V,
    5606). However, on votes incident to a call of the House the motion to
    reconsider may be entertained and also laid on the table, although a
    quorum may not be present (V, 5607, 5608).

    Sec. 1004. Maker of the motion to reconsider.

      The  mover of a
    proposition is entitled to prior recognition to move to reconsider (II,
    1454). A Member may make the motion at any time without thereby
    abandoning a prior motion made by himself and pending (V, 5610). A
    Delegate or the Resident Commissioner may not make the motion in the
    House (rule III; II, 1292; VI, 240). The provision of the rule that the
    motion may be made by any Member of the majority is construed, in case
    of a tie vote, to mean any Member of the prevailing side (V, 5615,
    5616), and the same construction applies in case of a two-thirds vote
    (II, 1656; V, 5617, 5618; VIII, 2778-2780). Where the yeas and nays have
    not been ordered recorded in the Journal, any Member, irrespective of
    whether he voted with the majority or not, may make the motion to
    reconsider (V, 5611-5613, 5689; VIII, 2775, 2785; Sept. 23, 1992, p.
    27196); but a Member who was absent (V, 5619), or who was paired in
    favor of the majority contention and did not vote, may not make the
    motion (V, 5614; VIII, 2774). When proxy voting was permitted in
    committee, it was generally held that a member who was not present at a
    vote, but cast his vote by proxy, did not qualify to make the motion to
    reconsider thereon. Any Member may object to the Chair's statement that
    by unanimous consent the motion to reconsider a vote is laid on the
    table, and the objecting Member need not have voted on the prevailing
    side, but if objection is made, the Chair's statement is ineffective and
    only a Member who voted on the prevailing side may offer the motion to
    reconsider the vote (Aug. 15, 1986, p. 22139). The Chair, having voted
    on the prevailing side, may offer the motion to reconsider by stating
    the pendency of the motion (Oct. 9, 1997, p. ----).

    [[Page 766]]

    tion has been moved on a motion to postpone (V, 5663), and a motion to
    reconsider the vote on the third reading may be made and acted on after
    a motion for the previous question on the passage has been made (V,
    5656). It also takes precedence of the motion to go into Committee of
    the Whole to consider an appropriation bill (VIII, 2785), or even of a
    demand that the House return to committee after the appearance of a
    quorum (IV, 3087). However, in a case wherein the House had passed a
    bill and disposed of a motion to reconsider the vote on its passage, it
    was held to be too late to reconsider the vote sustaining the decision
    of the Chair which brought the bill before the House (V, 5652), and that
    a motion to vacate those proceedings was not in order (Speaker O'Neill,
    Dec. 17, 1985, pp. 37472-74). After a conference has been agreed to and
    the managers for the House appointed, it is too late to move to
    reconsider the vote whereby the House acted on the amendments in
    disagreement (V, 5664). While the motion has high privilege for entry,
    it may not be considered while another question is before the House (V,
    5673-5676; July 2, 1980, p. 18354), or while the House is dividing
    (VIII, 2791). A motion to reconsider a secondary motion to postpone
    which has previously been offered and rejected is highly privileged,
    even after the manager of the main proposition has yielded time to
    another Member and before that Member has begun his remarks (May 29,
    1980, p. 12663). When it relates to a bill belonging to a particular
    class of business, consideration of the motion is in order only when
    that class of business is in order (V, 5677-5681; VIII, 2786). It may
    then be called up at any time; but is not the regular order until called
    up (V, 5682; VIII, 2785, 2786). When once entered it may remain pending
    indefinitely, even until a succeeding session of the same Congress (V,
    5684). The motion to reconsider is subject to the question of
    consideration (VIII, 2437), and may be laid on the table (VIII, 2652,
    2659). The motion to reconsider an action taken on a bill on Tuesday may
    be entered but may not be considered on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 905).
    The motion to reconsider is in order in the procedure of standing
    committees, and may be made on the same day on which the action is taken
    to which it is proposed to be applied, or on the next day thereafter on
    which the committee convenes with a quorum present at a properly
    scheduled meeting at which business of that class is in order (VIII,
    2213).

    Sec. 1005. Precedence of the motion to
    reconsider.

      The  precedence given the motion by the rule permits it to be
    made even after the previous question has been demanded (V, 5656) or
    while it is operating (V, 5657-5662; VIII, 2784). The motion to
    reconsider the vote on the engrossment of a bill may be admitted after
    the previous ques

    [[Page 767]]

    motion is made to reconsider a vote on a bill that has gone to the
    Senate, a motion to recall the bill is privileged (V, 5669-5671). The
    motion to reconsider may be applied once only to a vote ordering the
    previous question (V, 5655; VIII, 2790), and may not be applied to a
    vote ordering the previous question that has been partially executed (V,
    5653, 5654); but a vote agreeing to an order of the House has been
    reconsidered, although the execution of the order had begun (III, 2028;
    V, 5665). The vote ordering the previous question on a special order
    reported from the Committee on Rules may be reconsidered and is not
    dilatory under clause 6(b) of rule XIII (former clause 4(b) of rule XI)
    (Sept. 25, 1990, p. 25575).

    Sec. 1006. Application of the motion to reconsider.

      A  motion
    to reconsider may be entertained, although the bill or resolution to
    which it applies may have gone to the other House or the President (V,
    5666-5668). However, unanimous consent is required to initiate
    reconsideration of a measure passed by both Houses (IV, 3466-3469). The
    Senate may not reconsider the confirmation of a nomination after a
    commission has been issued by the President to a nominee and the latter
    has taken the oath and entered upon the duties of his office (U.S. v.
    Smith, 286 U.S. 6 (1932)). The fact that the House had informed the
    Senate that it had agreed to a Senate amendment to a House bill was held
    not to prevent a motion to reconsider the vote on agreeing (V, 5672).
    When a

    [[Page 768]]

      The motion may not be applied to negative votes on motions to adjourn
    (V, 5620-5622), or for a recess (V, 5625), or to go into Committee of
    the Whole (V, 5641). The motion to reconsider may be applied however to
    an affirmative vote on the motion to resolve into the Committee of the
    Whole while the Speaker is still in the chair (V, 5368; Apr. 20, 1978,
    p. 10990). A motion to reconsider the vote by which the House had
    decided a question of parliamentary procedure was held not to be in
    order (VIII, 2776). Motions to reconsider negative votes on motions to
    fix the day to which the House shall adjourn have been the subject of
    conflicting rulings (V, 5623, 5624). It is in order to reconsider a vote
    postponing a bill to a day certain (V, 5643; May 29, 1980, p. 12663). It
    is not in order to reconsider a negative decision of the question of
    consideration (V, 5626, 5627), although it is in order to reconsider an
    affirmative vote on the question of consideration (Oct. 4, 1994, p.
    27644). It is not in order to reconsider a negative vote on the motion
    to suspend the rules (V, 5645, 5646; VIII, 2781; Sept. 28, 1996, p.
    25796), although it is in order to reconsider an affirmative vote on
    that motion (Sept. 28, 1996, p. 25795). It is not in order to reconsider
    a vote on reconsideration of a bill returned with the objections of the
    President (VIII, 2778). A vote whereby a second is ordered may be
    reconsidered (V, 5642). The motion to reconsider a vote on a proposition
    having been once agreed to, and the said vote having again been taken, a
    second motion to reconsider may not be made unless the nature of the
    proposition has been changed by amendment (V, 5685-5688; VIII, 2788;
    Sept. 20, 1979, p. 25512). After disposition of a conference report and
    amendments reported from conference in disagreement, it is in order on
    the same day to move to reconsider the vote on a motion disposing of one
    of the amendments; but laying on the table a motion to reconsider the
    vote whereby the House has amended a Senate amendment does not preclude
    the House from acting on a subsequent Senate amendment to that House
    amendment, or considering any other proper motion to dispose of an
    amendment that might remain in disagreement after further Senate action
    (Oct. 5, 1983, p. 27323). For a discussion of the application of the
    motion to reconsider in committees, see Sec. 416, supra.

    Sec. 1007. Effect of the motion to reconsider.

      A  bill is not
    considered passed or an amendment agreed to if a motion to reconsider is
    pending, the effect of the motion being to suspend the original
    proposition (V, 5704); and the Speaker declines to sign an enrolled bill
    until a pending motion to reconsider has been disposed of (V, 5705).
    However, when the Congress expires leaving undisposed a motion to
    reconsider the vote whereby a simple resolution of the House has been
    agreed to, it is probable that the resolution would be operative; and
    where a bill has been enrolled, signed by the Speaker, and approved by
    the President, it is undoubtedly a law, even though a motion to
    reconsider may not have been disposed of (V, 5704, note). A Member-elect
    may not take the oath until a motion to reconsider the vote determining
    his title is disposed of (I, 335); but when, in such a case, the motion
    is disposed of, the right to be sworn is complete (I, 622). When the
    motion to reconsider is decided in the affirmative the question
    immediately recurs on the question reconsidered (V, 5703). When a vote
    whereby an amendment has been agreed to is reconsidered the amendment
    becomes simply a pending amendment (V, 5704). When the vote ordering the
    previous question is reconsidered, it is in order to withdraw the motion
    for the previous question, the ``decision'' having been nullified (V,
    5357). When the previous question has been ordered on a series of
    motions and its force has not been exhausted, the reconsideration of the
    vote on one of the motions does not throw it open to debate (V, 5493).
    Under the earlier practice, when a vote taken under the operation of the
    previous question was reconsidered, the main question stood divested of
    the previous question, and was debatable and amendable without
    reconsideration separately of the motion for the previous question (V,
    5491-5492, 5700). However, under the modern practice, where the House
    adopts a motion to reconsider a vote on a question on which the previous
    question has been ordered, the question to be reconsidered is neither
    debatable nor amendable (unless the vote on the previous question is
    separately reconsidered) (July 2, 1980, p. 18355). It is in order to
    move to reconsider the ordering of the yeas and nays on a question
    before the question has been finally decided (V, 5689-5691, 6029; VIII,
    2790; Sept. 24, 1997, p. ----); but where the House had voted to
    reconsider the vote whereby it had rejected a bill but had not
    separately reconsidered the ordering of a recorded vote, the Speaker put
    the question de novo and entertained a new demand for a recorded vote
    (Sept. 20, 1979, p. 25512).

    [[Page 769]]

    Sec. 1008. The vote on the motion to reconsider.

      The  motion
    to reconsider is agreed to by majority vote, even when the vote
    reconsidered requires two-thirds for affirmative action (II, 1656; V,
    5617, 5618; VIII, 2795), or when only one-fifth is required for
    affirmative action, as in votes ordering the yeas and nays (V, 5689-
    5692, 6029; VIII, 2790). However, one motion to reconsider the yeas and
    nays having been acted on, another motion to reconsider is not in order
    (V, 6037).

    Sec. 1009. Relation of the motion to reconsider to the
    motion to lay on the table.

      A  vote on the motion to lay on the table may
    be reconsidered whether the decision be in the affirmative (V, 5628,
    5695, 6288; VIII, 2785) or in the negative (V, 5629). It is in order to
    reconsider the vote laying an appeal on the table (V, 5630), although
    during proceedings under a call of the House this motion was once ruled
    out (V, 5631). The motion to reconsider may not be applied to the vote
    whereby the House has laid another motion to reconsider on the table (V,
    5632-5640; June 20, 1967, p. 16497); and a motion to reconsider may be
    laid on the table only before the Chair has put the question on the
    motion to a vote (Sept. 20, 1979, p. 25512).

    Sec. 1010. Debate on the motion to reconsider.

      A  motion to
    reconsider is debatable only if the motion proposed to be reconsidered
    was debatable (V, 5694-5699; VIII, 2437, 2792; Sept. 13, 1965, p.
    23608); so the motion to reconsider a vote ordering the previous
    question is not debatable (Sept. 25, 1990, p. 25575) and the application
    of the previous question makes a motion to reconsider nondebatable (V,
    5701; VIII, 2792; Sept. 20, 1979, p. 25512; July 2, 1980, p. 18355).
    Where a resolution providing for the order of business was agreed to
    without adoption of the previous question, the Speaker advised that a
    motion to reconsider would be debatable and that the Member moving the
    reconsideration would be recognized to control the one hour of debate
    (Speaker McCormack, Sept. 13, 1965, p. 23608).

    Sec. 1011. Application of motion to reconsider to bills in
    committees.

      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.

      This clause (former clause 2 of rule XVIII) was first adopted in 1860,
    and amended in 1872, to prevent a practice of using the privilege of the
    motion to reconsider to secure consideration of bills otherwise not in
    order (V, 5647). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th
    Congress, this provision was found in former clause 2 of rule XVIII, and
    in recodification a provision requiring written reports was deleted as
    redundant of the requirement contained in clause 2 of rule XIII (H. Res.
    5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). There is a question as to whether or not the
    rule applies to a case wherein the House, after considering a bill,
    recommits it (V, 5648-5650). After a committee has reported a bill it is
    too late to reconsider the vote by which it was referred (V, 5651).