Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised by Robert M. Henry

Author:Robert M. Henry
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780306820526
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Taking Up Business Out of Its Proper Order

Any particular item of business can be taken up out of its proper order by adopting a motion to suspend the rules (25) by a two-thirds vote, although this is usually arranged by unanimous consent (pp. 54–56). Hence, an important committee report or an urgent item of new business can be advanced in order to assure its full and unhurried consideration. If desired, before the completion of the advanced question the regular order of business can be returned to by a majority vote—by adopting a motion to lay the pending question on the table (17).

To take up a motion out of its proper order—for example, to introduce an item of new business before that heading is reached—a member who has obtained the floor can say, “I ask unanimous consent to introduce at this time a resolution on financing better schools.” If there is any objection, or the member anticipates that there may be, he can say, “I move to suspend the rules that interfere with the introduction at this time of …” If unanimous consent is given or if this motion is adopted by a two-thirds vote, the member is immediately recognized to introduce the resolution. If only one or two items stand ahead of the item it is desired to reach, it may be just as simple to lay the intervening items on the table individually (17), or to postpone them as they arise (14). It is not in order to lay on the table or postpone a class of questions, like committee reports, or anything but the question that is actually before the assembly. (see pp. 184–85, 211, 215.)

The chair himself cannot depart from the prescribed order of business, which only the assembly can do by at least a two-thirds vote. This is an important protection in cases where some of the members principally involved in a particular question may be unable to be present through an entire meeting. When such a departure from the order of business is justified, however, it is usually easy for the chair to obtain the necessary authorization from the assembly. He can say, for example, “The chair will entertain a motion to suspend the rules, and take up …”; or (for obtaining unanimous consent), “If there is no objection, the chair proposes at this time to proceed to take up …” (see also illustration under the heading Program above).

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