Policies and procedures vs standing rules

[Guest Deb]

An organization I belong to has a Policies and Procedures manual , bylaws but no standing rules. However the policies and procedures reads like standing rules. Is there a difference in these 2 and does an organization need both?

Thank you

[Richard Brown]

A policies and procedures manual frequently includes standing rules. In fact, many of the policies and procedures set out in such a manual are in the nature of standing rules.  You do not necessarily need a separate set of standing rules.

Edited January 29, 2023 at 05:02 PM by Richard Brown
Added last sentence

[Weldon Merritt]

In my view, any rule, policy, or whatnot that is adopted by an organization and is intended to have ongoing effect until it is amended or rescinded (and is not a bylaw or a special rule of order) is effectively a standing rule regardless of the name given to it by the organization. See "standing rule" definition at RONR 33:5" "rules (1) which are related to the details of the administration of a society rather than to parliamentary procedure, and (2) which can be adopted or changed upon the same conditions as any ordinary act of the society."

[Gary Novosielski]

On 1/29/2023 at 10:16 AM, Guest Deb said:

An organization I belong to has a Policies and Procedures manual , bylaws but no standing rules. However the policies and procedures reads like standing rules. Is there a difference in these 2 and does an organization need both?

Thank you

The major difference between the types of rules you seem to be asking about is whether they are

• Rules of order (which may be:
  • in the parliamentary authority,
  • in the bylaws, or
  • adopted as Special Rules of Order; or
• Standing Rules, which are not related to parliamentary procedure but to other administrative matters regarding how the organization is run.

What they're called, or what book they're in is less important than the nature of the rule itself.  Any motion that is passed which, rather than causing a specific action, is a continuing rule for future action, and remains in force (unless rescinded), is a Standing Rule if it is "in the nature of" a Standing Rule.  This is an application of the walks-like-a-duck standard. 

The practical differences between those two types are what threshold it takes to adopt them, and how and when they may be suspended, rescinded, or amended. 

For a good background discussion of the hierarchy of rules, see RONR (12th ed.) 2:3 ff.

Edited January 29, 2023 at 07:55 PM by Gary Novosielski
clarity

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

In my experience books or manuals such as you describe contain both special rules of order and standing rules.  If they are organized well, the two sections are separate.