Postpone indefinitely

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The motion to postpone indefinitely, in parliamentary procedure, is a subsidiary motion used to kill a main motion without taking a direct vote on it.

[edit] Explanation and Use

Postpone indefinitely (RONR)

Class	Subsidiary motion
In order when another has the floor	No
Second	Yes
Debatable	Yes; debate can go into main question
Amendable	No
Vote Required	Majority
Reconsider	Affirmative vote only

[edit] Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

The effect of the motion, if adopted, is not to "postpone" the main motion, but rather to prevent action on it for the duration of the current session.^[1] The motion to postpone indefinitely is the lowest-ranking of all motions other than the main motion, and therefore it cannot be made while any other subsidiary, privileged or incidental motion is pending.^[2]

Because debate on the motion to postpone indefinitely may go into the merits of the pending main motion, it may provide members of the assembly with additional opportunities to debate the main motion beyond the number of speeches normally permitted by the rules.^[3] It can also be used by opponents of a main motion to test whether they have the votes needed to defeat the main motion, without risking a direct vote.^[4] If the motion to postpone indefinitely is defeated, direct consideration of the main motion is resumed, and opponents of the motion may then determine whether to continue in their effort to defeat the main motion.^[5]

[edit] The Standard Code (TSC)

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure does not recognize this motion, and criticizes it for being outdated, confusing and, under certain circumstances, unfair. The claim of unfairness results from the fact that it gives opponents of a main motion two chances to defeat it, while supporters have only one chance to pass it. The Standard Code instead recommends use of the motion to table, which under these circumstances would require a two-thirds vote.^[6]

[edit] References

v • d • e Parliamentary Procedure Major concepts Deliberative assembly · Motions · Main motion · Quorum · Session Subsidiary motions Postpone indefinitely · Amend · Commit · Postpone to a certain time · Limit or extend limits of debate · Previous question · Lay on the table Privileged motions Call for the orders of the day · Raise a question of privilege · Recess · Adjourn · Fix the time to which to adjourn Incidental motions Point of order · Appeal · Suspend the rules · Objection to the consideration of a question · Division of a question · Consideration by paragraph or seriatim · Division of the assembly · Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls · Motions relating to nominations Incidental motions (Requests and inquiries) Parliamentary inquiry · Point of information · Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion · Request to read papers · Request to be excused from a duty · Request for any other privilege Motions that bring a question again before the assembly Take from the table · Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted · Discharge a committee · Reconsider Legislative procedure Call of the house · Hoist · Pass on Disciplinary procedures Censure · Declare the chair vacant · Impeach Parliamentary authorities Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) · The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC) · Demeter's Manual · Riddick's Rules of Procedure · Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure Other concepts Committee · Committee of the whole · Dilatory motions and tactics · Minutes · Second · History of parliamentary procedure · Principles of parliamentary procedure