Chair Entering Debate

[Guest Mike Baethke]

What procedures should be followed if the Chair is going to enter the debate?

[Josh Martin]

What procedures should be followed if the Chair is going to enter the debate?

The chair should relinquish the chair to the vice chair. If you don't have a vice chair, or he's already been speaking in debate on the issue, the chair may then appoint a member to act as Chairman Pro Tempore, subject to the assembly's approval. The regular chair doesn't return to presiding until the main question is disposed of.

[Guest Edgar]

What procedures should be followed if the Chair is going to enter the debate?

And this should be an exceedingly rare occurrence.

[Gary Novosielski]

And this should be an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Indeed, unless a presiding officer is extremely sparing in leaving the chair to take part in debate, he may destroy members’ confidence in the impartiality of his approach to the task of presiding.