Suspend the Rules to allow members to appoint a committee

[William Kennedy]

Our bylaws stipulate that the president shall appoint all committees (of the board or the membership) special or standing. Is this provision in the nature of a rule that can be suspended by the membership at its annual general meeting?

[Dan Honemann]

"When the bylaws provide that the president shall appoint all committees, this power does not transfer to the chair if someone else presides. A clause in the bylaws assigning to the president the duty of appointing all committees should therefore contain appropriate provision for its own suspension if necessary (for example, if there is occasion to appoint a special committee during a meeting from which the president is absent)."  (RONR, 11th ed., p. 495.)

[Gary Novosielski]

Our bylaws stipulate that the president shall appoint all committees (of the board or the membership) special or standing. Is this provision in the nature of a rule that can be suspended by the membership at its annual general meeting?

Does it contain a provision for its own suspension?  The language quoted by Mr. Honemann would mean that without that, it is a rule that cannot otherwise be suspended.