    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress]
    [119th Congress]
    [House Document 118-187]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 268-269]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                        sec. xxxvii--coexisting questions

    Sec. 483. Fundamental principles as to 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 House, the rule being that when a motion has been
    made and seconded, no other can be received except it be a privileged
    one.

    [[Page 269]]

      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    4 of rule XVI, but a motion before the House may be withdrawn by the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).