IHOW TO ADOPT OR DEFElAT RESOL'UTIONS - PARLIkXENTARY ULE,S.            221

subject, or an opportunity to make amendments and changes
rendering it more acceptable, then they may cause its
suppression, at least for a time, by some member moving
that the question lie on the table. If this is seconded, this
question takes precedence of any other before the assembly.
If this motion is decided in the affirmative, the main ques-
tion, and all matters relating to it, is removed from before the
meeting, until such time as it suits the convenience of the as-
sembly to take the matter up.
If decided in the negative, the business relating to the prin.
cipal motion before the house will proceed, as though the mo-
tion to "lie on the table " had not been made.
Previous luestion.
A question may be postponed by moving the previous
question, which is done as follows:
Upon a motion being made to adopt a resolution, it is allow-
able for a member to move that "the question be now put."
This last motion, which is termed moving the previous ques-
tion, becomes the immediate question before the house, and at
once shuts off debate on the main question. When the friends
of a measure are afraid to have the same discussed, it is com-
mon for them to move that "the question be nowput ;" hoping
to have strength enough, if the resolution is not discussed, to
carr* their point. If their motion is carried, then the original
question is put, and immediately disposed of.
It is common, also, for the party anxious to defeat a measure,
being fearful that its discussion will make a favorable impres-
sion on the members, to move "that the question be now put;"
their hope being that the members, being unacquainted with
the resolution, will not consent to its adoption, until it has been
more thoroughly discussed.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE QUESTION.
When it is decided that the question should not then be put,
Sall further discussion of the original question is usually post-
poned for that day. This depends upon the standing rule of
assembly, however. With some state legislatures it is the rule,
if the question is decided in the negative, to resume the debate
and pioceed with the discussion.
Formerly, in the English parliament, when it was decided
that the question be not put, the question could not be brought
up again during the session. At the present time, however, the
decision that the motion shall not be put, effects a postpone-
meat only until the next day.*
"The     Io of a igtive decision Is different In different

Suppression of Ouestions.
When it is desirable to suppress a question, or prevent its
passage, there are several plans resorted to by parliamentarians.
Among these are :
1st. Moving an adjournment, which is immediately in or-
der; and if the hour be late, will oftentimes be passed.
2d. Moving that the question be laid on the table for the
present ; the argument being that, on a subsequent occasion,
the meeting will have more time and better opportunity to
consider the merits of the question, and hence will be better
informed concerning its merits.
3d. To secure, if possible, an indefinite postponement of the
question, which virtually defeats it. If the maker of the mo-
tion for postponement is fearful that the question is so popular
with the assembly that the members will not submit to an in-
defnize postponement, he will
4th. Aim to secure at least a postponement to a certain
time in the future, hoping that it will be subsequently forgotten,
or the pressure of business will be such that it cannot be taken
up at the time appointed.
Or, the member, trusting to the unpopularity of the ques-
tion, or the unwillingness of the meeting to pass a measure
without due consideration, may move the "previous question,"
by
5th. Moving that the question be now put.
The member may suggest indefinite changes in the question,
sufficient to show the importance of some amendment, and
thereupon
6th. Move its reference to a committee having jurisdiction
over that class of questions, or a select committee, as the case
may be. If the question has been once considered in com-
mittee, it may be recommitted. Or the member may
7th. Move an amendment to the question, which will great-
ly change, modify, or weaken the force of the question.
Should all these means fail, and the question be put and
carried, subsequent light on the subject may cause the mera-
bers to change their opinions, in which case
8th. The question may be taken up at the next sitting or
any subsequent meeting, and be reconsidered.
To Secure the Passage of a Question.