Question re: Calling a member to order

[Guest Lookng]

In a meeting where members sit and raise hands instead of stand to obtain the floor, if a memebr does not obtain the floor and begins talking anyway, or inturrupts another, or begins cross-talk with another member, or launches a personal attack (or any other thing that is most likely out of order) does the Chair state that the member is out of order and request that the member to stop speaking (as opposed to asking them to sit, since they are already sitting?)

Thanks

[Hieu H. Huynh]

See RONR 11th ed., pp. 645-648 regarding "breaches of order by members in a meeting". Here's the first sentence from that section:

 

"If a member commits only a slight breach of order - such as addressing another member instead of the chair in debate, or, in a single instance, failing to confine his remarks to the merits of the pending question - the chair simply raps lightly, points out the fault, and advises the member to avoid it." (p. 645, ll. 22-27)

[bobby101]

How about responding to the last part of the question posted, " or launches a personal attack" ?

[Gary Novosielski]

How about responding to the last part of the question posted, " or launches a personal attack" ?

 

That would certainly be a more serious breach of decorum, but I think it's safe to say that if the member is already sitting, it would be pointless to ask him to sit.

 

More to the point, it is the duty of the chair to protect a member who has the floor from interruption, so the chair probably should have intervened even before it became clear exactly what the nature of the interrupting member's remarks would devolve into.

[Josh Martin]

In a meeting where members sit and raise hands instead of stand to obtain the floor, if a memebr does not obtain the floor and begins talking anyway, or inturrupts another, or begins cross-talk with another member, or launches a personal attack (or any other thing that is most likely out of order) does the Chair state that the member is out of order and request that the member to stop speaking (as opposed to asking them to sit, since they are already sitting?)

A member who speaks without obtaining the floor or who interrupts another member should be called to order and should not be permitted to continue speaking. A member who has the floor but begins "cross-talk" with another member should be called to order for addressing another member directly, but should generally be permitted to continue speaking (on the first offense, at least). More severe penalties may be appropriate for members who persist in such behavior.

How about responding to the last part of the question posted, " or launches a personal attack" ?

At the very least, the member should be called to order. He may or may not be permitted to continue speaking, depending on the severity of the attack. If the attack is especially severe or if the member has made several such attacks, it may be appropriate to use the disciplinary procedures in Ch. XX.

[Guest Looking]

Thank you everyone, very helpful...