Suspend the Rules

[Guest Bdw2003]

In reading In Brief, amending bylaws or adopting/amending special rules of order seems to suggest previous notice and 2/3 vote to pass.

So, if one wants to suspend the rules in a meeting, what are examples of rules that may be suspended in order to allow something to be done?

I am trying to clarify what would/would not be in order to suspend.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Perhaps asking a question about a particular situation may be more helpful.

[Atul Kapur]

"Can be applied to any rule of the assembly except bylaws (or rules contained in a constitution or corporate charter)." RONR (12th ed.) 25:2(2) [but see below]

There are several types of rules that cannot be suspended. They are listed in 25:7-13

The first reference has a footnote 25:2n5 which says that rules in bylaws that are in the nature of a rule of order may be suspended, and that is defined in 2:14, "Such rules relate to the orderly transaction of business in meetings and to the duties of officers in that connection."

So an example would be to suspend the rules to allow members to speak three times on a particular question.

The difference between suspending the rules and amending them is that the suspension only lasts as long as necessary to achieve the purpose of the suspension.

Edited September 24, 2020 at 02:18 PM by Atul Kapur