lows of but limited debate,
which must be confined to the propriety of the postponement to that
time; it can be amended by altering the time, and this amendment allows
of the same debate. The time specified must not be beyond that session
[Sec. 70] of the assembly, except it be the next session, in which case it
comes up with the unfinished business at the next session. This motion
can be made when a motion to amend, or to commit or to postpone
indefinitely, is pending.

(b) Lie on the table. Instead of postponing a question to a particular
time, it may be desired to lay it aside temporarily until some other
question is disposed of, retaining the privilege of resuming its
consideration at any time.* [In Congress this motion is commonly used to
defeat a measure, though it does not prevent a majority from taking it
at any other time. Some societies prohibit a question from being taken
from the table, except by a two-thirds vote. This rule deprives the
society of the advantages of the motion to "lie on the table." because
it would not be safe to lay a question aside temporarily, if one-third
of the assembly were opposed to the measure, as that one-third could
prevent its ever being taken from the table. A bare majority should not
have the power, in ordinary societies, to adopt or reject a question, or
prevent its consideration, without debate. [See note at end of Sec. 35,
Rules of Order, on the principles involved in making questions
undebatable.] The only way to accomplish this, is to move that the
question "lie on the table." This motion

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allowing of neither debate nor amendment, the chairman immediately puts
the question; if carried, the whole matter is laid aside until the
assembly vote to "take it from the table" (which latter motion is
undebatable and possesses no privilege). Sometimes this motion is used
to suppress a measure, as shown in Sec. 59 (c).

58. To Suppress Debate. (a) Previous Question. While as a general
rule free debate is allowed upon every motion,* [Except an "objection to
the consideration of the question" [Sec. 59 (a)]. See note to Sec. 35, Rules
of Order, for a full discussion of this subject of debate.] which, if
adopted, has the effect of adopting the original question or removing it
from before the assembly for the session,--yet, to prevent a minority
from making an improper use of this privilege, it is nec