A Special Order is a particular subject, question, item of business; orders of the day; agenda or program:
When is set for (assigned) a time (hour/minute)
Set by notice, postponement, motion, bylaw...

Taken up during a session, day, meeting, event, the specified time (hour/minute.)
Provided no business having precedence over it interferes.
When an hour/minute is assigned to a particular subject in an agenda, that subject is made a special order.
Usually, it covers those items required to be done on a specific date in bylaws, such as nominations or elections of the officer in the November meeting, for example.

Special Orders can interrupt the meeting when they reach their specified time in the agenda.
Examples: “Call to order,” “recess,” “adjournment,” and particularly important items of business where it is desired to give the members greater assurance that the matter will not be considered before that time. 
Per Bylaws, such as nominations or elections of the officer in a certain meeting (Date)

A special order for a particular hour cannot be considered before that hour except by a two-thirds vote. But when the designated hour arrives, the special order automatically interrupts any business that may be pending Provided no business having precedence over it interferes.

Example of Exceptions:
A motion relating to adjournment or recess. When the hour arrives, interrupts business pending except:
a scheduled adjournment or recess,
a question of privilege,
a special order made before the special order, or
the special order.

Priority of an Special Order: Priority of a special order is based on three things:
the class, special or general, of the order
the ordinal number of the order 1st, 2nd, 3rd
the hour/minute before which the order cannot be considered

Taking up order out of its proper order
Reconsider the vote on the motion to --
    Must have voted on the prevailing side
    Made on the same day vote was taken.
    Called up at the same session.

Suspend the Rules:
    Two-thirds vote
    No negative vote greater than those protected
    Without debate

Lay on The Table:
    Urgent reason
    Postpone to a Certain Time or after an event
    Majority vote
    Without debate

Precedence of Special Orders
When there are several “Special Orders” set for a meeting, and they are in conflict:
Precedence is the order in which made, the ordinal number, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
In the order of the scheduled time, even when special orders are made later are set for earlier hours/minutes.

Several “Special Orders” were made for the same time (hour/minute)
rank in the order listed, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, …
for different times (hours/minutes)
vote is taken when the hour arrives for out of ranks special orders

Special Orders are adopted at different times for different hours/minutes
1st Motion “A” Set for 3:00 p.m.
2nd Motion “B” Set for 2:30 p.m.
3rd Motion “C” Set for 3:30 p.m.

Special Orders are Taken Up at different times for different hours/minutes
At 2:30 p.m. 2nd Motion “B” is Taken Up.
At 3:00 p.m., Motion “B” will be interrupted, and a vote is taken.
At 3:00 p.m.+, 1st Motion “A” is Taken Up and continues until it is completed.
3rd Motion “C” is Taken Up when the 1st Motion “A” is completed.

Several “Special Orders” are Set for the same time
1st Motion “A” Set for 3:00 p.m.
2nd Motion “B” Set for 3:00 p.m.
3rd Motion “C” Set for 3:00 p.m.

Special Orders are Taken Up at different times for the same hours/minutes
At 3:00 p.m., 1st Motion “A” is Taken Up and continues until it is completed and Voted on (e.g., 3:25 p.m.)
2nd Motion, “B,” is Taken Up when the 1st Motion, “A,” is completed and Voted on (e.g., 3:25 p.m.) and continues until it is completed and Voted on (e.g., 4:05 p.m.)
3rd Motion “C” is Taken Up at 4:05 p.m. and continues until it is completed and Voted on (e.g., 4:30 p.m.)
 

Bahman Davani
Phone: 214-457-7055 
Bahman@Parliamentary-Services.org

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