Legal Definitions - call for the orders of the day

The phrase "call for the orders of the day" refers to a procedural motion used in legislative bodies or other formal deliberative assemblies. It is a demand that the group immediately proceed with the business that has been formally scheduled or placed on the agenda for that specific meeting or session. Essentially, it's a way to ensure that the assembly sticks to its pre-determined agenda, preventing digressions, delays, or discussions of matters not officially slated for consideration at that time.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Legislative Session

  Imagine a national parliament is scheduled to debate and vote on a critical budget bill. During the debate, one legislator begins a lengthy speech about a historical event unrelated to the budget, attempting to delay the vote. Another legislator, wishing to keep the proceedings on track, might formally state, "I call for the orders of the day."

  This action would compel the presiding officer to remind the assembly of the scheduled business—the budget bill debate and vote—and direct the discussion back to the relevant topic. It ensures that the parliament addresses the "orders of the day" as planned, rather than getting sidetracked by extraneous matters.

• Example 2: Corporate Board Meeting

  Consider a quarterly board meeting for a large non-profit organization. The agenda for the day includes reviewing the financial audit, discussing a new fundraising strategy, and approving a new executive director. However, during the financial review, one board member starts recounting a detailed personal story about a past fundraising event from a decade ago, which is not relevant to the current audit or agenda items.

  To maintain focus and efficiency, the board chairperson or another board member might interject with, "I call for the orders of the day."

  This serves as a procedural reminder that the meeting must adhere to its pre-established agenda. It would prompt the board to move past the irrelevant anecdote and return to the scheduled "orders of the day," such as completing the financial audit review and moving on to the fundraising strategy discussion.