cloture

(redirected from Programme motion)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.

Cloture

The procedure by which debate is formally ended in a meeting or legislature so that a vote may be taken.

Cloture is a means of terminating a filibuster, which is a prolonged speech on the floor of the Senate designed to forestall legislative action.

cloture

noun abandonment, abeyance, adjournal, adjournment, arrest, break, cease, cessation, check, closure, desistance, discontinuance, discontinuation, halt, interruption, lapse, letup, lull, noncontinuance, recess, standstill, stay, stop, stoppage, suspension, withdrawal

See also: cessation

References in periodicals archive ?

It is possible to get a Bill through the Commons without a timetable, without a programme motion, but that means it will take as long as it takes.

Lords reform bid in disarray as timetable motion shelved; TORY MP CLAIMS MOVE COULD SPARK END OF THE COALITION

Richard Reeves, who is stepping down as director of strategy, stressed the importance of next week's vote on a programme motion that would restrict Commons debate of Lords reform.

Tories hit back in 'blackmail' row; Coalition in further test over Lords

The Government needs to undertake further discussions with interested parties, such as the trade unions, to ensure that members of the public are not adversely affected by this Bill and I therefore voted against the programme motion in order to draw attention to my unease about the Bill.

MP rebels over civil service pay-outs

A hung parliament invites all kinds of procedural ambush and sabotage: Surprise amendments; playing with programme motions (that allocate time for debate); moving "the previous question" (which truncates debate and, confusingly, has nothing to do with questions previously asked); plus other obscure devices that an enterprising MP can find by rummaging in the baroque inlaid box of constitutional tricks.