A Member raises a question of the privileges of the House in the form of a resolution. The Member rises on the floor and states, “Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House, and I offer a resolution which I send to the Clerk’s desk.” The text of the resolution is read. If it is the majority leader or the minority leader who offers the resolution, the Speaker immediately rules as to whether it constitutes a valid question of privilege. If the question is raised by any other Member, consideration of it may be deferred until a time and place within the next two legislative days that the Speaker designates in the legislative schedule. When that time arrives, the Speaker then decides whether the resolution raises a valid question of privilege.
If the Speaker determines that the resolution does raise a valid question of privilege, the House proceeds to consider the resolution under the one-hour rule, with the time for debate equally divided between the resolution’s proponent and either the majority leader or the minority leader, as the Speaker determines. The House may agree to order the previous question on the resolution; if so, the House proceeds to vote on the resolution without amendment or further debate. If the previous question is not ordered, debate may continue under the one-hour rule, and the Member controlling the time may propose an amendment to the resolution. Motions to table or refer the resolution, or to postpone its consideration, are also in order.
A Member raises a question of personal privilege simply by stating that he or she is rising on the floor for that purpose. A question of personal privilege is not raised by resolution. The Speaker then asks the Member to explain the grounds on which the question is based. If the Speaker determines that the Member has raised a valid question of privilege, that Member is recognized immediately to speak for one hour. After this hour for debate, the House takes no further action on the matter. No vote occurs, because there is no question for the House to decide.
Questions of Privileges in the House
note: differences between "a question of personal privilege" and "a question of the privileges of the House"