In
parliamentary procedure, the use of
table, as a verb, has two different and contradictory meanings:
- In the United States, to "table" usually means to postpone or suspend consideration of a pending motion.
- In the rest of the English-speaking world, such as in the United Kingdom, to "table" means to begin consideration (or reconsideration) of a proposal.
Motions which use the word "table" have specific meanings and functions, depending on the
parliamentary authority used. The meaning of "table" also depends on the context in which it is used.