ARTICLE V: SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS

A. To Commit or Refer

(All the rules in regard to this motion, except where stated to the contrary, apply equally to the motions to Go into Committee of the Whole, to Consider Informally, and to Recommit as it is called when a question is committed a second time.) This motion takes precedence of the motions to amend, and yields to all the other subsidiary motions and to all privileged and incidental motions. It cannot be applied to any subsidiary motion, nor can it be postponed except in connection with the main question. The previous question, and motions to limit or extend the limits of debate, and to amend, may be applied, to it without affecting the main question. It is debatable but only as to the propriety of committing the main question. Pending amendments go with the main motion to the committee.

B. To Amend

A motion yields to all other subsidiary motions and to all privileged and incidental motions, except the motion to divide the question. It can be applied to all motions except those in the List of Motions that Cannot be Amended. It can be amended itself, but this "amendment of an amendment" (an amendment of the second degree) cannot be amended. An amendment of a pending question requires only a majority vote for its adoption, even if the question to be amended requires a two-thirds vote. An amendment must be germane to the subject to be amended -- that is, it must relate to it, as shown further on. An amendment is not in order which is not germane to the question to be amended; or merely makes the affirmative of the amended question equivalent to the negative of the original question; or is identical with a question previously decided by the assembly during that session; or changes one form of amendment to another form; or substitutes one form of motion for another form; or strikes out the word Resolved from a resolution; or strikes out or inserts words which would leave no rational proposition before the assembly; or is frivolous or absurd. An amendment of an amendment must be germane to -- that is, must relate to -- the subject of the amendment as well as the main motion. No independent new question can be introduced under cover of an amendment.

Motions That Cannot Be Amended.
Question of order, and appeal
A request of any kind
To amend an amendment