Recess (motion)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In parliamentary procedure, "recess" refers to legislative bodies—such as parliaments, assemblies, juries—that are released to reassemble at a later time. The members may leave the meeting room, but are expected to remain nearby. A recess may be simply to allow a break (e.g. for lunch) or it may be related to the meeting (e.g. to allow time for vote-counting).

[edit] Explanation and Use

Recess (RONR)

Class	Privileged motion
In order when another has the floor	No
Second	Yes
Debatable	No
Amendable	Yes
Vote Required	Majority
Reconsider	No

Sometimes the line between a recess and an adjournment can be fine. A break for lunch can be more in the nature of a recess or an adjournment depending on the time and the extent of dispersion of the members required for them to be served. But at the resumption of business after a recess, there are never any "opening" proceedings such as reading of minutes; business picks up right where it left off. The distinction of whether the assembly recesses or adjourns has implications related to the admissibility of a motion to reconsider and enter on the minutes and the renewability of the motion to suspend the rules.^[1]

[edit] Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

Under the commonly used Robert's Rules of Order, a motion to recess may not be called when another person has the floor, is not reconsiderable, and requires a second and a majority vote.

[edit] Related Motions

Recess is used as an alternative to adjournment.

[edit] References

v • d • e Parliamentary Procedure Major concepts Deliberative assembly · Motions · Main motion · Quorum · Session Subsidiary motions Postpone indefinitely · Amend · Commit · Postpone to a certain time · Limit or extend limits of debate · Previous question · Lay on the table Privileged motions Call for the orders of the day · Raise a question of privilege · Recess · Adjourn · Fix the time to which to adjourn Incidental motions Point of order · Appeal · Suspend the rules · Objection to the consideration of a question · Division of a question · Consideration by paragraph or seriatim · Division of the assembly · Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls · Motions relating to nominations Incidental motions (Requests and inquiries) Parliamentary inquiry · Point of information · Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion · Request to read papers · Request to be excused from a duty · Request for any other privilege Motions that bring a question again before the assembly Take from the table · Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted · Discharge a committee · Reconsider Legislative procedure Call of the house · Hoist · Pass on Disciplinary procedures Censure · Declare the chair vacant · Impeach Parliamentary authorities Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) · The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC) · Demeter's Manual · Riddick's Rules of Procedure · Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure Other concepts Committee · Committee of the whole · Dilatory motions and tactics · Minutes · Second · History of parliamentary procedure · Principles of parliamentary procedure