What term describes a motion or action that is in violation of the rules of the organization?

• A. Pending
• B. Parliamentary Inquiry
• C. Parliamentarian
• D. Out of order

Answer: (D)

Out of order describes a motion or action that doesn’t follow the organization’s rules. When something is out of order, the chair will stop it and rule that it cannot proceed as proposed, often requiring the matter to be withdrawn or brought back in proper form. This designation helps keep the meeting on track and ensures proceedings follow the established procedures. Other terms refer to different things: pending means something is awaiting a decision, a parliamentary inquiry is a request for procedural guidance, and a parliamentarian is the person who knows and applies the rules. Understanding this helps you recognize when the rules aren’t being followed and what the proper corrective action should be.