Works
- Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies, 1876
In Tactics of Organizational Politics
Ideas
The previous question. Section 20 explains that moving the previous question is in effect moving that debate now cease and the assembly immediately vote on the questions before it. The motion is not debatable, cannot be amended, and requires a two-thirds vote; if it fails, discussion continues.
What it explains
Robert's Rules is a parliamentary manual; it is not a work of research. It matters here because formal procedure gives any member legitimate tools to bring a discussion to a decision, and because the two-thirds threshold means a vote to close debate needs broad support.