If an amendment is pending and Refer to Committee is moved, which motion is voted on first?

If an amendment is pending and Refer to Committee is moved, which motion is voted on first?

• A. Postpone Indefinitely
• B. Amend the motion
• C. Refer to Committee
• D. Move to Close Debate

Answer: (C)

When several subsidiary motions compete, their order of consideration is governed by precedence. A motion to refer the matter to a committee has higher precedence than a simple amendment to the main motion. Therefore, if an amendment is pending and a motion to Refer to Committee is moved, the first vote is on the Refer to Committee motion. If that motion passes, the main motion (and any pending amendment) is referred to the committee and you don’t vote on the amendment now. If the Refer to Committee motion is defeated, you then proceed to consider the pending amendment first, followed by the main motion in its amended form if the amendment is adopted.

When several subsidiary motions compete, their order of consideration is governed by precedence. A motion to refer the matter to a committee has higher precedence than a simple amendment to the main motion. Therefore, if an amendment is pending and a motion to Refer to Committee is moved, the first vote is on the Refer to Committee motion. If that motion passes, the main motion (and any pending amendment) is referred to the committee and you don’t vote on the amendment now. If the Refer to Committee motion is defeated, you then proceed to consider the pending amendment first, followed by the main motion in its amended form if the amendment is adopted.