When an amendment is pending, what can the members not discuss?

When an amendment is pending, members are not allowed to discuss the motion to be amended. This is because the purpose of the amendment is to modify the original motion, and any discussion related to the original motion would be out of order as it could create confusion or derail the discussion specifically focused on the amendment itself.

The intent of parliamentary procedure is to ensure that discussions remain orderly and focused on the current issue at hand—in this case, the amendment. By prohibiting discussion of the motion to be amended, the process helps maintain clarity and allows members to make well-informed decisions about how to alter the original motion before them.

This structure supports an efficient and respectful debate, ensuring that all discussions are relevant to the precise matters being voted on at any given time. Other options, such as discussing the previous motion, new business, or the upcoming agenda, may still occur as they pertain to different aspects of chapter operations or business that are not being directly affected by the pending amendment.