Which is the lowest ranking subsidiary motion?

• A. Limit or Extend Debate
• B. Lay on the Table
• C. Previous Question
• D. Postpone Indefinitely

Answer: (D)

In parliamentary procedure, subsidiary motions have a ranking that decides which one can be acted on when more than one is proposed. The higher-ranking motions must be handled before a lower-ranking one.

Postpone indefinitely is the lowest ranking among the common subsidiary motions because its effect is to kill the main motion by postponing consideration without setting a time. It ends up being a last resort to avoid the motion entirely, rather than merely delaying or reframing the debate. Other subsidiary motions—such as delaying the decision to a definite time, delaying debate but keeping the motion alive, or ending debate to proceed to a vote—have stronger effect in guiding how the issue is handled and thus sit higher in the precedence. So postponing indefinitely is the one that sits at the bottom of the ladder.