Chapter 3. Art. III. Privileged Motions. 16. To Fix the Time to which the Assembly shall Adjourn.

Robert’s Rules of Order Revised > 3. Art. III. Privileged Motions. > 16. To Fix the Time to which the Assembly shall Adjourn.

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Henry M. Robert (1837–1923). Robert’s Rules of Order Revised. 1915.
Art. III. Privileged Motions.
16. To Fix the Time to which the Assembly shall Adjourn.

See 14 for a list and the general characteristics of these motions.	1
8This motion is privileged only when made while another question is pending and in an assembly that has made no provision for another meeting on the same or the next day. The time fixed cannot be beyond the time of the next meeting. If made in an assembly that already has provided for another meeting on the same or the next day, or if made in an assembly when no question is pending, this is a main motion and may be debated and amended and have applied to it the other subsidiary motions, like other main motions. Whenever the motion is referred to in these rules the privileged motion is meant, unless specified to the contrary.	2
This motion when privileged takes precedence of all others, and is in order even after it has been voted to adjourn, provided the chairman has not declared the assembly adjourned. It can be amended, and a vote on it can be reconsidered. When the assembly has no fixed place for its meetings, this motion should include the place as well as the time for the next meeting, and in this case the place is subject to amendment as well as the time. When the assembly meets at the time to which it adjourned, the meeting is a continuation of the previous session. Thus, if the Annual Meeting is adjourned to meet on another day, the adjourned meeting is a legal continuation of the Annual Meeting. [See 63.] The form of this motion is, “I move that when we adjourn, (or stand adjourned) to 2 P. M. tomorrow.”	3

Note 8. In Congress this motion was given the highest rank of all motions, but it was so utilized for filibustering purposes and there was so little need of such a motion in an assembly meeting daily for months, that in the last revision of the rules it was omitted from the list of privileged motions. In ordinary assemblies having short or infrequent sessions its usefulness outweighs the harm that may be done by its improper use. [back]

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