Privilege Motions

(1) A Motion directly concerning the privileges of the Senate shall take precedence of all other public business. (2) A Senator who wishes to raise a matter which he believes to affect the privileges of the Senate shall do so as soon as possible after the matter comes to his attention. Such Member shall inform the President of his wish, stating the facts to which he wishes to draw attention, at least one hour before the commencement of the sitting at which he wishes to raise the (3) When a Senator is called by the President to raise a matter of privilege he shall briefly state the facts to which he wishes to draw the attention of the Senate and the grounds on which he believes that those facts affect the privileges of the Senate. (4) The President shall then state whether, in his opinion, the matter may or may not affect the privileges of the Senate, provided that if he deems it necessary he may defer his decision until the next sitting of the Senate. Belize Constitution 123 (5) If the opinion of the President is that the matter raised may affect the privileges of the Senate a Member may without notice move a Motion based on that matter of privilege and the Motion shall be debated forthwith. (6) If during a sitting of the Senate a matter suddenly arises which appears to involve the privileges of the Senate and which calls for the immediate intervention of the Senate, the proceedings may be interrupted, save during the progress of a division, by a Motion based on such matter. (7) No Senator moving a Motion under this Standing Order may speak for more than fifteen minutes.