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Ch9 Motions / AMENDMENTS TO MOTIONS / Form and content of amendment / Direct negative



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House of Representatives                                Ch 9                                                 p 305

 

Motions / AMENDMENTS TO MOTIONS / Form and content of amendment

 

Direct negative

Although there is no reference in the standing orders to an amendment which is a direct negative of the question before the House, the House has followed the parliamentary rule that such amendments are not in order if they are confined to the mere negation of the terms of a motion. The proper mode of expressing a completely contrary opinion is by voting against a motion without seeking to amend it. 1 Many amendments are moved which seek to reverse completely the thrust of motions. Whilst it may be claimed that such amendments are out of order as direct or expanded negatives, they usually seek to put an alternative proposition to the House and so are in order ( and see below ). A working rule for determining whether an amendment is a direct negative is to ask the question whether the proposed amendment would have the same effect as voting against the motion. If it would, it is a direct negative.



See also statement by Speaker Aston to the House, H.R. Deb. (2.6.70) 2712-16. The precedents recorded with this statement generally indicate that the rule is best interpreted in a very precise way.