1. Can the motion to suspend the rules be used in informal discussion to allow the chair to participate in the debate?
2. When the group wishes to go from informal discussion back to parliamentary procedure, how does one make the motion so that the group "rises" to parliamentary procedure?

A:

1. No, that would be an inappropriate application of the motion. I recommend two options:
   • That the chair appoint another member to preside for that issue; or,
   • That the assembly recess, discuss the issue in the absence of parliamentary procedure, then re-convene to vote. Note that the chair will have compromised his image of impariality by doing this, so I do not recommend this option.
2. You may be thinking of the motion to Consider a Question Informally. The "informality" of this motion is that members are not limited in the number of times they may speak. The chair would still refrain from debate. See RONR pp. 533-34.