Final answer:
The motion to reconsider is often debatable, allowing discussion on why a motion should be revisited. Debate typically includes discussion of new evidence or issues not previously considered, providing a comprehensive reflection. Debates on reconsideration cover the merits of the original question to persuade members to revisit the prior decision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your question has three parts regarding the rules and procedures related to legislative bodies such as Congress. Specifically, you're inquiring about the processes of reconsidering motions.
1) Is the motion to reconsider debatable? The answer to this question can vary depending on the rules of the particular legislative body. However, in many cases, such as under Robert's Rules of Order, which are often used as a guideline for parliamentary procedure in the United States, a motion to reconsider is typically debatable. The intent is to allow for the discussion of the reasons why an item should be revisited before taking a vote on whether to actually reconsider the previous action.
2) Explain your answer. The debate over a motion to reconsider oftentimes involves addressing the concerns that have arisen since the initial decision was made or highlighting new information that could potentially alter the outcome of the reconsideration. This creates an opportunity for deeper deliberation and reflection on the decision made previously.
3) Can debate go into the merits of the question whose reconsideration is proposed? Yes, the debate can and often does go into the merits of the question at hand. This is because the members must be convinced of the need to revisit the previous decision, which involves discussing the substantive points of the matter that is up for reconsideration.