Adjourn

Adjourn is a term used in parliamentary procedure to signify the suspension of a meeting or session until a later time or indefinitely. The process of adjourning can be applied in various contexts, including legislative bodies, corporate meetings, and judicial proceedings.

Parliamentary Procedure

In parliamentary procedure, adjourning a meeting is a formal action that requires a motion, second, and majority vote. The motion to adjourn is typically non-debatable and is considered a privileged motion, meaning it takes precedence over most other motions.

Types of Adjournment

There are several types of adjournment:

• Adjournment Sine Die: This Latin term means "without day" and signifies that the meeting is adjourned without setting a date for resumption. It often marks the end of a legislative session.
• Adjournment to a Fixed Time: This type of adjournment specifies a particular time and date when the meeting will resume.
• Adjournment to the Call of the Chair: This type of adjournment allows the chairperson to reconvene the meeting at their discretion.

Legislative Bodies

In legislative bodies such as the United States Congress, adjournment is a routine part of the legislative process. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have specific rules governing adjournment, including the requirement for a quorum and the procedures for calling a special session.

Judicial Proceedings

In the context of judicial proceedings, adjournment refers to the suspension of court sessions. This can occur for various reasons, including the need for additional time to gather evidence, the unavailability of key participants, or procedural delays.

Corporate Meetings

In corporate settings, adjournment is used to suspend board of directors meetings, shareholder meetings, and other formal gatherings. The rules for adjournment in these contexts are typically outlined in the organization's bylaws.

Related Concepts

• Recess (break)
• Quorum
• Motion (parliamentary procedure)
• Session (parliamentary procedure)

See Also

• Parliamentary procedure
• Legislative session
• Judicial process
• Corporate governance