Postpone indefinitely

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.

Explanation and Use

**Postpone indefinitely (RONR)**
Class	Subsidiary motion
In order when another has the floor?	No
Requires second?	Yes
Debatable?	Yes; debate can go into main question
May be reconsidered?	Affirmative vote only
Amendable?	No
Vote required:	Majority

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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure does not recognize this motion, and criticizes it for being outdated, confusing and, under certain circumstances, unfair.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.^[4]

References

↑ Robert, Henry M. (2000). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th ed., p. 121 (RONR)
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 RONR, 10th ed., p. 121-122
↑ RONR, 10th ed., p. 123, 124
↑ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th ed.

Parliamentary procedure

Major concepts	Deliberative assembly Motions Main motion Quorum Session Chair Committee Committee of the whole Dilatory motions and tactics Minutes Second History of parliamentary procedure Principles of parliamentary procedure Voting methods in deliberative assemblies Floor

Subsidiary motions	Postpone indefinitely Amend Commit Postpone to a certain time Limit or extend limits of debate Previous question Cloture Lay upon the table Place upon 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 Hastert Rule Hoist Motion to pass on

Disciplinary procedures	Censure Declare the chair vacant Impeach Naming

Parliamentary authorities	Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC or Sturgis) Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure Riddick's Rules of Procedure Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice Bourinot's Rules of Order Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms Morin code