Previous Question - Explanation and Use

Explanation and Use

It is often invoked by a member saying, "I call the question." In the House of Commons of the United Kingdom the Chair should respond with "The Question is, That the Question be not now put." The Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons criticized this dialogue as nonsensical.

Under Robert's Rules of Order, when a call for the question is made, a two-thirds vote is required to end debate. The motion for the previous question itself is not debatable.

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure criticizes the "previous question" terminology as being confusing, and instead calls this motion the motion to close debate, the motion to vote immediately, or the motion to close debate and vote immediately. Regardless of the terminology, a two-thirds vote is required to end debate.

The United States Senate refers to the previous question as cloture, and requires three-fifths of the total number of Senators. However, it does not immediately end debate on the pending question, but rather imposes strict limitations on debate. It is therefore more akin to the motion to limit debate found in Robert's Rules, than the motion for the previous question.