Postpone to a certain time

In parliamentary procedure, a postponing to a certain time or postponing to a time certain is an act of the deliberative assembly, generally implemented as a motion. It delays action on a pending question until a different day, meeting, hour or until after a certain event.

Explanation and Use

**Postpone to a certain time, or definitely (RONR)**
Class	Subsidiary motion
In order when another has the floor?	No
Requires second?	Yes
Debatable?	Yes
May be reconsidered?	Yes
Amendable?	Yes
Vote required:	Majority, unless it makes question a special order

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

A postponed question becomes an order of the day for the time to which it is postponed.^[1] Under Demeter's Manual, if a motion to postpone definitely specifies a time that falls after the next regular meeting, or after a certain event which will not occur until after the next regular meeting, then it is treated as a motion to postpone indefinitely, which is the lowest-ranking of the subsidiary motions.^[2]

A motion to postpone an action or event that was previously scheduled is distinct from the subsidiary motion to postpone indefinitely, and is a type of the motion to amend something previously adopted.^[3]

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC)

**Postpone to a certain time (TSC)**
Class	Subsidiary motion
In order when another has the floor?	No
Requires second?	Yes
Debatable?	Yes
May be reconsidered?	No
Amendable?	Only relating to the new time
Vote required:	Majority, unless it makes question a special order

TSC implements the concept of postponing a motion to a certain time as a subsidiary motion of the same name. Only main motions can be postponed in this way, and they can be made either general or special orders for their target date of consideration.^[4]

Postponing a motion in this way is permitted so long as:

There is a meeting on the date the motion is postponed to. For example, a main motion cannot be postponed to a day where there is no regular meeting or where a special meeting has not been planned yet.
The date to which the main motion is being postponed is not too late for it to be effective. For example, if the main motion proposes that there be a picnic on September 3, the motion cannot be postponed to September 5, because that would be too late for it to be carried out.

Alternatively, a motion can be postponed until after a specific event has occurred, such as after an officer makes a relevant report.

Debate on the motion to postpone to a certain time should be brief and confined only to the reasons for and time of the postponement. Amendments to it may only relate to the desired date that the assembly will resume consideration.

As with Robert's Rules of Order, TSC requires simple majority to postpone a motion as a general order and a vote of two-thirds (2/3) to postpone it as a special order. However, unlike Robert's, TSC does not allow this motion to be reconsidered, as TSC does not allow most motions to be reconsidered.

References

↑ Robert, Henry M. (2000). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th ed., p. 176–178
↑ Demeter, George (1969). Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, Blue Book, p. 89
↑ Robert, Henry M. (2000). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th ed., p. 22 (tinted)
↑ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th ed., p. 58–62

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