In US parliamentary procedure, the previous question (also known as "calling for the question", "calling the question", "close debate", "calling for a vote", "vote now", or other similar forms) is generally used as a motion to end debate on a pending proposal and bring it to an immediate vote. The meaning of this specialized motion has nothing to do with any question previously considered by the assembly.

In the United States Senate and Commonwealth parliaments, a motion for "cloture", or "closure", is used instead to end debate. In those bodies, the "previous question" has a different use and is rarely used or not used at all.

The first instance of the "previous question" being used in the English Parliament dates back to 25 May 1604. At that time, use of this motion was intended not to end debate, but to suppress the main question for the rest of the sitting (similar to an objection to the consideration of a question). It could be debated and when put to a vote, an affirmative vote on the previous question would put the main motion to an immediate vote, while a negative vote on the previous question would end consideration of the main motion altogether for the day.

In the United States House of Representatives, the previous question originally served the same purpose as it did in the English Parliament. In the 1800s, the House of Representatives altered the rules governing the way the previous question could be used: in 1805, it was rendered undebatable, and in 1841, the fraction of votes needed to pass it was lowered from 2/3 to 1/2, allowing for it to be invoked by a simple majority. These changes made it effectively equivalent of a motion of closure.

In 1806, the United States Senate eliminated the previous question motion as part of a rules consolidation suggested by Aaron Burr.

To end debate, a motion for the previous question could be adopted. It is often proposed by a member saying, "I call [for] the question", although the formal wording is, "I move the previous question." The motion for the "previous question" has nothing to do with the last question previously considered by the assembly.

Another use of this motion could be to stop the moving of amendments on any amendable motion. It also prevents the making of other subsidiary motions like commit or postpone.

Under Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (the book used by most organizations in the United States), when a motion for the previous question is made (whether formally or in a nonstandard form such as "calling the question", "close debate", or "calling for a vote"), a two-thirds vote (or unanimous consent) is required to end debate. A single member cannot force the end of debate. Also, interrupting someone by yelling out "Question!" or "Call the question!" is not appropriate (it has to be made by obtaining the floor like other motions).