Adjournment
Encyclopedia
An adjournment is a suspension of proceedings to another time or place. To adjourn means to suspend until a later stated time or place.
, to adjourn means to suspend proceedings to another time or place, or to end them.
- bodies that use parliamentary procedure
- adjournment occurs when the assembly is finished with business for the time being or to close a meeting or convention. Under Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised
(RONR), if no time or method has been fixed to reconvene the assembly, adjournment has the effect of dissolving the body.
A motion to adjourn is normally a privileged motion
, unless qualified in any way (such as "adjourn at 10 p.m.") or unless adjournment would dissolve the assembly, in which case it must be a main motion
. If a privileged motion, the motion
yields to a motion to fix the time to which to adjourn, since that matter must be decided first. The privileged motion to adjourn is generally used to end the meeting without completing some of the scheduled business, which is then carried over to either the next regular meeting (as "old business") or to a special (or "adjourned") meeting. When a body has completed the scheduled order of business at a meeting and there is no further business for the assembly to consider at that time, the chair may simply declare the meeting adjourned without a motion having been made. If a main motion, it cannot interrupt pending business, and is amendable and debatable.
Under Robert's Rules, a motion to adjourn is given high privilege even to the point of interrupting the pending question and, on adoption, it immediately closes the meeting. This is because a majority
should not be forced to continue in session substantially longer than it desires and this is also the reason why this motion is not debatable. It cannot be made while another has the floor.
The motion to adjourn can be renewed after "material progress" in business or debate, such as an important decision or speech. If no material progress has been made since the last motion to adjourn such renewed motion may be ruled dilatory
by the chair.
A vote on a motion to lay on the table or recess
does not count as business of a character to justify renewal of a motion to adjourn. Along with the motion to fix the time to which to adjourn, recess
, and take measures to obtain a quorum
, it is one of the only motions allowed in the absence of a quorum. The motion to adjourn is a privileged motion unless it is qualified in some way (as in the case of motion to adjourn at or to a future time), or the time for adjourning is already established, or the adjournment will dissolve the assembly with no provision another meeting.
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
(TSC) treats the motion to adjourn as a privileged motion but under fewer circumstances. Like RONR, TSC considers it a privileged motion (and thus non-debatable) when business is pending. As a privileged motion, however, TSC allows the motion to be amended to a limited extent to establish the time when the interrupted meeting will continue. Unlike under RONR, however, it is considered a main motion (debatable and amendable) when no business is pending.
The motion to fix the time to which to adjourn is used to set the time (and possibly the place) for another meeting to continue business of the session. If it is moved while a question is pending, it is the highest ranking privileged motion
. Otherwise, it is an incidental main motion.
Law
In lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, to adjourn means to suspend proceedings to another time or place, or to end them.
Parliamentary procedure
In deliberative assembliesDeliberative assembly
A deliberative assembly is an organization comprising members who use parliamentary procedure to make decisions. In a speech to the electorate at Bristol in 1774, Edmund Burke described the English Parliament as a "deliberative assembly," and the expression became the basic term for a body of...
- bodies that use parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
- adjournment occurs when the assembly is finished with business for the time being or to close a meeting or convention. Under Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
(RONR), if no time or method has been fixed to reconvene the assembly, adjournment has the effect of dissolving the body.
A motion to adjourn is normally a privileged motion
Privileged motion
A privileged motion is a motion in parliamentary procedure that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency...
, unless qualified in any way (such as "adjourn at 10 p.m.") or unless adjournment would dissolve the assembly, in which case it must be a main motion
Main motion
A main motion, in parliamentary procedure, is a motion that brings business before the assembly. Main motions are made while no other motion is pending...
. If a privileged motion, the motion
Motion (parliamentary procedure)
In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. In a parliament, this is also called a parliamentary motion and includes legislative motions, budgetary motions, supplementary budgetary motions, and petitionary...
yields to a motion to fix the time to which to adjourn, since that matter must be decided first. The privileged motion to adjourn is generally used to end the meeting without completing some of the scheduled business, which is then carried over to either the next regular meeting (as "old business") or to a special (or "adjourned") meeting. When a body has completed the scheduled order of business at a meeting and there is no further business for the assembly to consider at that time, the chair may simply declare the meeting adjourned without a motion having been made. If a main motion, it cannot interrupt pending business, and is amendable and debatable.
Under Robert's Rules, a motion to adjourn is given high privilege even to the point of interrupting the pending question and, on adoption, it immediately closes the meeting. This is because a majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
should not be forced to continue in session substantially longer than it desires and this is also the reason why this motion is not debatable. It cannot be made while another has the floor.
The motion to adjourn can be renewed after "material progress" in business or debate, such as an important decision or speech. If no material progress has been made since the last motion to adjourn such renewed motion may be ruled dilatory
Dilatory motions and tactics
Dilatory tactics or motions, in parliamentary procedure, are those used to delay or obstruct business, annoy the deliberative assembly, or, in legislative procedure, to delay consideration of a subject for other reasons. Some types of motions are suitable only for specific circumstances, and their...
by the chair.
A vote on a motion to lay on the table or recess
Recess (motion)
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 or it may be...
does not count as business of a character to justify renewal of a motion to adjourn. Along with the motion to fix the time to which to adjourn, recess
Recess (motion)
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 or it may be...
, and take measures to obtain a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
, it is one of the only motions allowed in the absence of a quorum. The motion to adjourn is a privileged motion unless it is qualified in some way (as in the case of motion to adjourn at or to a future time), or the time for adjourning is already established, or the adjournment will dissolve the assembly with no provision another meeting.
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure is a book of rules of order. It is the second most popular parliamentary authority in the United States after Robert's Rules of Order. It was first published in 1950...
(TSC) treats the motion to adjourn as a privileged motion but under fewer circumstances. Like RONR, TSC considers it a privileged motion (and thus non-debatable) when business is pending. As a privileged motion, however, TSC allows the motion to be amended to a limited extent to establish the time when the interrupted meeting will continue. Unlike under RONR, however, it is considered a main motion (debatable and amendable) when no business is pending.
The motion to fix the time to which to adjourn is used to set the time (and possibly the place) for another meeting to continue business of the session. If it is moved while a question is pending, it is the highest ranking privileged motion
Privileged motion
A privileged motion is a motion in parliamentary procedure that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency...
. Otherwise, it is an incidental main motion.