Understanding Robert’s Rules of Order privileged motions is crucial for effective and efficient parliamentary procedures. These privileged motions significantly address issues and prioritize business for all organizations, including homeowners’ associations.
What Are Robert’s Rules of Order Privileged Motions?
In Robert’s Rules of Order, a privileged motion is a type of parliamentary motion that relates to matters of immediate importance and takes precedence over other motions. These motions are considered “privileged” because they concern the rights, privileges, and convenience of the assembly and its members. Privileged motions are not debatable and do not require a second.
Types of Robert’s Rules of Order Privileged Motions
Here are the types of privileged motions as per Robert’s Rules of Order.
1. Call for the Orders of the Day
- Purpose: Ensure that the assembly adheres to the established agenda or order of business, either by initiating discussion on general or specific orders.
- One member has the authority to request the orders of the day.
- No second needed.
- Not amendable.
- Not debatable.
- Unless members decide to suspend the orders of the day, the proceeding will require a two-thirds majority vote.
- The motion is not subject to reconsideration.
- Outcome: Halts ongoing activities, redirecting the meeting’s focus to the scheduled orders of the day.
To bring the meeting back on track or address the delay of a specific motion, a member can request the orders of the day. No second is needed, and the motion is not up for debate. The chair must promptly proceed to the scheduled items or call for a vote to deviate from the agenda. If the chair assumes the motion to deviate from the agenda, a two-thirds vote in the negative is required to adopt it. On the other hand, if a member proposes to deviate from the orders of the day, a two-thirds affirmative vote is necessary for adoption.
To propose setting aside the orders of the day, a member can say, “I move that the time for considering the pending question be extended.” This motion requires a two-thirds affirmative vote for adoption.
2. Raise a Question of Privilege
- Purpose: Allows a member to promptly bring up a request or main motion concerning the assembly’s rights, an individual member’s rights, or urgent matters while other business is ongoing.
- No second is necessary.
- Not debatable.
- The chair makes a ruling on the request.
- Outcome: The chair’s ruling dictates the final decision.
In Robert’s Rules of Order, raising a “Question of Privilege” involves a member urgently bringing up a matter related to the rights and privileges of the assembly or an individual — the chair of the meeting rules on the request. If the chair deems the matter valid, the assembly can promptly address it, skipping the usual formalities.
3. Recess
- Purpose: To take a brief break and then return to the business where it left off.
- Needs a second.
- The duration of the recess is amendable.
- Not debatable.
- Requires a majority vote.
- It can’t be reconsidered, but a member may make the same motion after the meeting progresses a little.
- Outcome: The meeting goes on a short break.
A recess is typically brief. It can last a few hours but never extends beyond a day. Members who wish for a more extended break should consider scheduling an adjourned meeting.
It’s worth noting that a recess can also occur when no business is pending. During this time, the motion to recess becomes an incidental main motion. Recess as an incidental main motion allows for debate, while the previous use of recess as a privileged motion does not.
4. Adjourn
- Purpose: To immediately conclude the meeting.
- Needs a second.
- Not amendable.
- Not debatable.
- Requires a majority vote.
- Can’t be reconsidered, but members may make the same motion after the meeting progresses if the first fails.
- Outcome: It concludes the meeting, pausing business where the members adjourned. If the meeting ends in the middle of a discussion, the motion goes under unfinished business and general orders in the next meeting’s agenda.
The motion to adjourn takes precedence over all other motions except for fixing the time to adjourn. However, one can’t make the motion to adjourn while the assembly is voting, verifying a vote, or before the chair announces the vote result. However, during a ballot vote, one may make a motion to adjourn after the tellers collect all the ballots before announcing the results.
When the motion to adjourn is under consideration, the following actions are permissible:
- Inform the assembly about important business before adjournment
- Make significant announcements
- Propose a motion to reconsider a previous vote
- Suggest a motion to reconsider the vote and record it in the minutes
- Provide advance notice of a motion for the next meeting
- Propose the motion to fix the time for the next adjournment
Members can also make these motions and announcements after the adjournment vote is adopted but before the chair officially ends the meeting.
5. Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn
- Purpose: To postpone the meeting to a later time but before the next regular meeting.
- Needs a second.
- The time and date of the adjourned meeting are amendable.
- Not debatable.
- Requires a majority vote.
- Can be reconsidered.
- Outcome: Establishes the date, time, and venue for the meeting to continue.
This motion is the highest-ranking one. It functions as a legal continuation of the current meeting. When there is no ongoing business, the motion to fix the time for the next adjournment becomes an incidental main motion. An incidental main motion possesses all the features of a main motion, including the right to debate. In comparison, a privileged motion does not.
6. Fix the Time at Which to Adjourn
- Purpose: To fix the time to end the meeting.
- Needs a second.
- The time for adjournment is amendable.
- As an incidental motion, this is debatable.
- Requires a majority.
- Can’t be reconsidered.
- Outcome: The meeting must end at the time set for adjournment, facilitated by the presiding officer. Should members wish to continue the meeting, a motion to suspend the rules in order is necessary.
As an incidental main motion, members propose the motion to fix the time for adjournment when no other business is pending. Despite setting a specific adjournment time, members can move to adjourn at any point during the meeting. If the motion is accepted, the meeting concludes. Fixing the time to adjourn prevents a meeting from extending beyond the assembly’s desired duration.
The Bottom Line
Robert’s Rules of Order privileged motions are vital for maintaining order and facilitating smooth meeting proceedings. From calls for orders of the day to motions for recess and adjournment, each privileged motion carries distinct rules contributing to seamless parliamentary processes. Not all HOA boards know how to navigate the ins and outs of Robert’s Rules.
