To Lie on the Table. This motion takes precedence of all other Subsidiary Questions [§ 7], and yields to any Privileged [§ 9] or Incidental [§ 8] Question. It is not debatable, and cannot be amended or have any other subsidiary motion [§ 7] applied to it. It removes the subject from consideration till the assembly vote to take it from the table.
The Form of this motion is, "I move that the question lie on the table," or, "that it be laid on the table," or, "to lay the question on the table." When it is desired to take the question up again, a motion is made, either "to take the question from the table," or "to now consider such and such a question;" which motion is undebatable, and cannot have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
The Object of this motion is to postpone the subject in such a way, that at any time it can be taken up, either at the same or some future meeting, which could not be accomplished by a motion to postpone, either definitely or indefinitely. It is also frequently used to suppress a question [§ 59], which it does, provided a majority vote can never be obtained to take it from the table during that session [§ 42].
The Effect of this motion is in general to place on the table everything that adheres to the subject; so that if an amendment be ordered to lie on the table, the subject which it is proposed to amend, goes there with it. The following cases are exceptional: (a) An appeal [§ 14] being laid on the table, has the effect of sustaining, at least for the time, the decision of the Chair, and does not carry the original subject to the table. (b) So when a motion to reconsider [§ 27] a question is laid on the table, the original question is left where it was before the reconsideration was moved. (c) An amendment to the minutes being laid on the table does not carry the minutes with it.
Even after the ordering of the Previous Question up to the moment of taking the last vote under it, it is in order to lay upon the table the questions still before the assembly.
Original Main Motion: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
Postpone Indefinitely: Requires Second, Debatable, Majority
Amend: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
Refer to Committee: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
Postpone to a Certain Time (Postpone Definitely): Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, Majority
Limit or Extend Limits of Debate: Requires Second, Amendable, 2/3
Previous Question (Close Debate): Requires Second, 2/3
Lay on the Table: Requires Second, Majority
Call for Orders of the Day: Can Interrupt speaker, -
Raise a Question of Privilege: Can Interrupt speaker, -
Take a Recess: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
Adjourn: Requires Second, Majority
Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
Point of Order: Can Interrupt speaker, -
Appeal: Can Interrupt speaker, Requires Second, Debatable, Majority
Questions or Points of Information: Can Interrupt speaker, -
Suspend the Rules: Requires Second, 2/3
Object to Consideration: Can Interrupt speaker, 2/3
Division of a Question: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
Consideration by Paragraph-Seriatim: Requires Second, Amendable, Majority
Division of the Assembly: Can Interrupt speaker, -
Rescind: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, 2/3
Reconsider: Requires Second, Debatable, Amendable, 2/3