Submitted by Donna Mitchell, PRP
Donna Mitchell, PRP
Interruption is sometimes needed to help facilitate the meeting and ensure the assembly is equipped with the proper information required to make an informed decision. There are certain motions that are in order when another member has the floor. Yes, in fact, some motions may interrupt the member when he or she is speaking because these motions are just that important. Here are the more common motions which fall into this category, and their purposes.
Raise a Question of Privilege – used when the member has an immediate consideration because of its urgency; for example, it’s too cold in the room, noise is preventing them from hearing, etc. RONR (12th ed.) 19:1-17.
Call for the Orders of the Day – used when the chair is not following the order on the agenda. RONR (12th ed.) 18:1-11
Division of the Assembly – used when the member feels that the verification of votes by voice is not accurate and wants to have the assembly to stand so that you can see how many people are actually voting. RONR (12th ed.) 29:1-8
Parliamentary Inquiry – used when the member has a question pertaining to the parliamentary law or the rules of the organization bearing on the matter at hand. RONR (12th ed.) 33:3-5
Request for Information – used when the member is wondering about some of the facts under discussion and has a question about the topic at hand but not relating to parliamentary law. RONR (12th ed.) 33:6-10
Point of Order – used when the member thinks the meeting is not following the proper rules as stated in the bylaws, standing rules, or parliamentary authority. RONR (12th ed.) 23:1-21
To present these motions, the member may rise and address the chair without being recognized. A complete list of the interrupting motions can be found on tinted pages 44-45 of RONR.
