Chapter 10 - Debate
Interruption
of speaker
A senator who is speaking in debate
may not be interrupted by another senator except to call attention to:
-
a
point of order
-
a question of
privilege suddenly arising in relation to the proceedings before the Senate
-
the
lack of a quorum (SO 81, 197(1)).
When a question of order or a matter of privilege is raised in this
way, the business before the Senate is suspended until the chair determines the
question (SO 197(3)). This
procedure is seldom invoked in relation to a matter of privilege, and is
usually used to raise a point of order arising out of the remarks of the
senator speaking. When a point of order is raised the senator speaking sits
down. The President may hear argument from senators on the point of order, and
may determine it forthwith or at a later time (SO 197(4), (5); see below,
under Questions of order).
Time taken in
raising and determining a point of order does not come out
of the time for a senator to speak or the time for a debate (SO 197(6)).
For the calling of quorums, see Chapter 8, Conduct of Proceedings,
under Quorum.
The procedures of
the Senate do not allow a motion that a
senator be no longer heard (ruling of President McMullin, SD, 12/11/1959, p. 1475). Such motions are used in the
House of Representatives to “gag” individual speakers even though they have the
call from the chair to speak.
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