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My understanding of committee of the whole is that it should generally be treated as any other committee, specifically in regards to it needing a question referred to it and that it report back to the assembly on that question. I also understand that committees generally may be instructed to investigate or research a specific topic for the (sole?) purpose of providing a recommendation. My questions are this: 1) Does the question referred to CoW need to be pending in the assembly, or am I correct that a single motion can propose both the motion and that it be referred to CoW? 2) Can a general subject be referred to CoW for discussion without any pending motion, for example, "I move to refer the subject of our training practices (otherwise not specified) to a committee of the whole" in order to initiate general discussion on the topic? (While I understand that CoW is a device primarily meant to remove limits of debate, I have some members that want to use it as a means of allowing discussion on a specific subject yet without a pending motion). 3) Can a standing or special committee recommend in their report, and reporting member move, that question referred to them now be referred to CoW?