Put down a motion before the chair? (5)
I believe the answer is:
table
'put down' is the definition.
'table' can be an answer for 'down' (thesaurus). I'm not certain of the 'put' bit.
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for table that I've seen before include "Chart; put forward" , "Put forward for formal discussion" , "Flat-topped piece of furniture" , "Array of data" , "counter" .)