adjournments

An adjournment is the suspension of a meeting, session, or legal proceeding with the intention of resuming later, or the formal ending of a session. In deliberative assemblies, adjournment is typically effected by a motion and requires the consent of the presiding officer or the assembly.

An adjournment can be to a fixed time and date, known as adjournment to a day certain, or to end the session without fixing a reconvening date, called adjournment sine die.

In legislative bodies, adjournments regulate the calendar. Some jurisdictions require a specified date for reconvening; others permit indefinite adjournment at the end of a term, effectively closing the session.

In courts, adjournments delay proceedings for reasons such as the need for more time to prepare, the absence of a participant, or the unavailability of a key witness. A judge or court typically grants or denies the request, and applicable rules govern the length of the delay.

Recess is different from an adjournment. A recess is a temporary interruption within a session, while an adjournment ends a meeting or ends a session for an extended period, potentially altering subsequent deadlines and schedules. The power to grant adjournments rests with the appropriate authority—often the chair in meetings, and the judge or court in legal proceedings—subject to governing rules and procedures.