Question Of Privilege.pdf

Chapter 42 of House Practice discusses questions of privilege, which are classified into two types: questions of the privileges of the House and questions of personal privilege. The former pertains to the safety, dignity, and integrity of the House's proceedings, while the latter relates to the rights, reputation, and conduct of individual Members. Questions of privilege take precedence over all questions except the motion to adjourn and are brought before the House in the form of a resolution or raised by a Member from the floor. The privilege of Members from arrest, except for treason, felony, and breach of the peace, is also discussed, as well as the privilege of speech or debate, which precludes judicial inquiry into a Member's speech. Rule IX governs questions of privilege, allowing the Speaker to postpone consideration of certain questions of privilege and restricting the right to bring a question of privilege before the House without notice to the Majority and Minority Leaders. Questions of privilege take precedence over other business, including reading of messages from the President, District of Columbia business, and special orders for the consideration of business.