| 单词 | previous question |
| 释义 | > as lemmasprevious question previous question n. (in parliamentary or other legislative procedure) a motion on whether the main issue under question should be put to the vote.In the British Parliament, the previous question is moved for the purpose of avoiding the putting of the main question. Its original form was ‘that this question be now put’, and its mover and seconder, with those in favour of shelving the main question, voted in the negative. However, since 1888, to avoid confusion with the closure motion then introduced, the form of the motion in the House of Commons has been ‘that that question be not now put’, so that those who wish to shelve vote in the affirmative; see quot. 1893. (The original form is retained in the House of Lords.) This procedural device is now rarely used.In the House of Representatives and many State legislatures in the United States, the previous question retains the original form, but is used in order to close debate and obtain an immediate vote on the main question, its supporters voting in the affirmative; see quot. 1888.J. Hatsell Precedents & Proc. House of Commons II. (1781) 71 says ‘On the 25th of May, 1604, is the first instance I have found of putting the previous question’: but the entry in Jrnl. House of Commons ((1803) I. 226/1) on that occasion is ‘The Bill much disputed put to Question, and upon Question, dashed without one Yea’. In 1673, according to A. Grey Debates House of Commons (1763) II. 113, Sir T. Littleton said ‘Sir Henry Vane was the first that ever proposed putting a Question, “Whether the Question should be now put”’ and Sir R. Howard, who followed, said ‘The Question is like the image of the inventor, a perpetual disturbance’. The latter is erroneously quoted by Hatsell (ed. 3, 1796) II. vi. 104 as ‘This previous question’; but no example of the phrase before 1700 has yet been pointed out.extracted from previousadj.adv.n.< as lemmas |
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