Point of Order
March 6, 1973
Rule of anticipation
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
Many citations and precedents support the rule that the House may not be asked to vote twice on the same question during the same session. However, the Standing Order that allows non-confidence motions to be moved on opposition days is broadly phrased and the Opposition has wide scope in choosing matters to be proposed. "... the Speaker should not intervene to prevent debate, or a vote, unless the motion is clearly and undoubtedly irregular." When both sides of a procedural question may reasonably be argued, the Chair has a duty to accept the motion and allow the House to decide.
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Holding
"The Chair will not intervene to prevent a vote on an opposition day motion, even if it appears to repeat a question already decided in the same session, as long as its procedural regularity is reasonably arguable."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled that an arguable opposition day motion should proceed to a vote, even if it appears to repeat a previous question, deferring the final decision to the House.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Supply
- Significance
Low
High