The Plenum - Motions for the Agenda

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The Plenum - Motions for the Agenda

Motions for the agenda are one of the means by which Knesset Members can place issues on the Knesset agenda. At the beginning of every Knesset year the House Committee determines how many motions for the agenda and how many private Members' bills every Parliamentary Group may table in that year. A Motion for the Agenda requires the approval of the Speaker. Motions that are insulting or judgemental towards a person, motions on issues that are already on the Knesset agenda or have been debated in the plenum in the previous four weeks and there has been no development justifying a renewed debate, or motions on subjects that are sub judice, are not approved. If there is concern that a debate in the plenum will have a negative effect on the security of the state, its foreign relations or secret international economic operations, the Speaker may decide, after consulting the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, that the issue will be raised in the committee.

A Knesset Member may request that his motion be approved as urgent, and the Knesset Presidium will decide whether to approve it as such. A Motion for the Agenda will be approved as urgent if the debate on it is likely to prevent an act or omission which are irreversible, or that the subject of the motion is of urgent public interest. Before a motion comes up for debate the Government announces whether it is interested in expressing an opinion on the issue. After the motion comes up and the minister or deputy minister replies, the plenum decides whether to remove it from its agenda, debate it or it on to a committee for further deliberation.