Brad B.

Thanks for the responses! I ask because I'm trying to determine the vote requirement to amend a "standing rule" that created a committee that has an ongoing responsibility to establish standards for and and provide/arrange for most of the continuing education sessions at regular meetings for members of a professional association. The rule provides very specific guidance on how the committe should go about doing this, but the committee appears to have the authority to fully implement. So, to determine the vote requirement, I need to know if this standing rule is actually a special rule of order in the manner referenced in the first bullet point. This doesn't seem like something in the nature of a special rule of order, but I don't understand situations the first bullet point is attempting to address.

I'm trying to identify parameters for indentifying situations that fall within this category of standing committees that must be created in the bylaws or as a special rule of order. Is there anything out there that expands on this, or a general rule of thumb?

And any rule located only in the parliamentary authority could also be suspended by a majority of the entire membership?

Both bylaws and RONR allow the suspension of that rule for previous notice of amendments, but RONR creates a limitation -- cannot suspend if any member absent. Wouldn't a more specific bylaw suspension authorization be needed here - "Notwithstanding any rule in the parliamentary authority to the contrary, the notice requirement may be suspended at any time." Or, is the blanket suspension authorization sufficient to negate the applicability of the RONR limitation?

More than 90% of the members of a small organization attend each meeting. Bylaws appear to be a combination typical bylaw provisions, special rules of order, and standing rules; and bylaws allow majority of the entire membership to suspend any bylaw provision. It appears that suspension of previous notice for amendments could not occur if any member is absent, but would any other limitation apply? Can an organization actually suspend a rule that is fundamental principle of parliamentary law?

Legislative body reviewing public policy issue.

A committee chairman plans to utilize the expertise of a non-member by allowing such individual to question invited witnesses at a committee hearing. The non-member's participation will be limited to questioning witnesses; he will not participate in debate. Assuming that there is no bylaw provision or special rule of order addressing this topic, could the granting of this privilege for the nonmember be attained pursuant to a Request for Any Other Privilege (299), or is it necessary to suspend the rules?