Discussion without a motion & Privileged Motions

[Guest Jake]

Hi folks,

We had entered a part of our agenda before New Business but after Special/General Orders called Discussion, which is standard practice. In discussion, though there are distinct discussion "items", no motions are passed.

A motion was made to recess. A member asked if the motion could be debated. The Chair ruled that it was privileged and thus could not be debated, though it could be amended.

After recess, a member complained to the Chair (silly, since members have no right to complain unless they appeal) that since there was no motion pending then the motion to recess was not privileged. The Chair replied that since properly speaking no discussion should ever take place without a motion he was perfectly within his rights to rule the motion to recess privileged.

Who is right?

[jstackpo]

It is impossible to answer your "who is right" question since it, apparently, relates to parliamentary procedure during the "Discussion" period of your agenda (or "order of business"). This is not a "standard" portion of RONR's order of business (p. 26), so whatever happen during that time is subject to your rules (if you have any formalized), not RONR's rules.

[George Mervosh]

Whether or not "discussion" is some agenda heading or not, "when no question is pending", a motion to take a recess is a main motion. RONR (11th ed.), p. 230, l. 29 to p. 231, l. 3.