PRIVILEGED MOTION Meaning and
Definition
-
A privileged motion is a type of parliamentary procedure that allows members of a deliberative assembly to propose immediate action on certain matters, interrupting the normal order of business. Privileged motions take precedence over other motions, meaning they can be considered even before the pending business on the agenda.
These motions are regarded as privileged because they address urgent or important issues that require immediate attention by the assembly. They provide a powerful tool for members to express their concerns and take immediate action on matters that cannot wait for the regular order of business.
Common examples of privileged motions include adjournment, recess, question of privilege, call for the orders of the day, and previous question. The adjournment motion allows members to propose ending the meeting, while the recess motion suggests temporarily suspending the proceedings. The question of privilege motion addresses urgent matters affecting the rights or safety of the assembly or its members. Call for the orders of the day motion reminds the assembly to adhere to the agenda, and the previous question motion proposes ending debate and proceeding to a vote.
Privileged motions do not require a second, and they are immediately put to a vote. They provide members with a means to address pressing concerns without going through the usual procedural steps. The use of privileged motions thus allows for efficient decision-making within a deliberative assembly.
Etymology of PRIVILEGED MOTION
The word privileged in the context of privileged motion does not refer to having special advantages or a higher social status. Instead, it comes from the Latin term privilegium, where privi means private and legium means law. Thus, privilege originally referred to a private law or legislation that granted specific rights or exemptions to certain individuals or groups.
In parliamentary procedure, a privileged motion is a type of motion that takes precedence over other motions and can interrupt the regular order of business. The name privileged motion was coined because these motions were originally considered to be special rights or privileges granted to members of a deliberative body to address urgent or important matters.
It's important to note that the etymology of privileged motion focuses on the origin of the word privilege rather than the specific phrase privileged motion.
