The motion to pass on is a dilatory parliamentary motion used in legislative procedure. It is distinct from the motion to table or to postpone to a certain time. The motion delays consideration of a matter for a later time without indicating prejudice with respect to it. According to Mason's Manual, matter passed on in this way remains subject to subsidiary motion. The motion to pass on is not subject to debate, but requires a majority vote.
In the United States House of Representatives, during the call for private bills, this motion is often put as a request for unanimous consent. For example, during consideration of a bill, the following dialogue may occur:
- Member: Mr./Madam Speaker.
- The Speaker (pro tempore): For what purpose does the gentleman/gentlewoman from
rise? - Member: Mr./Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill H.R./S. ____ be passed over without prejudice.
- Speaker (pro tempore): Without objection, the bill is passed over without prejudice.
Famous quotes containing the words motion to, motion and/or pass:
“We must not suppose that, because a man is a rational animal, he will, therefore, always act rationally; or, because he has such or such a predominant passion, that he will act invariably and consequentially in pursuit of it. No, we are complicated machines; and though we have one main spring that gives motion to the whole, we have an infinity of little wheels, which, in their turns, retard, precipitate, and sometime stop that motion.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“A movement is only composed of people moving. To feel its warmth and motion around us is the end as well as the means.”
—Gloria Steinem (b. 1934)
“My trance frightens them,
breaks the dance,
empties the market-place;
if I but pass they fall
back, frantically.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)