Set aside the rules

[Guest need help]

The question is .. can the rules of order be temporarily set aside to conduct business on a time sensitive issue?

[Chris Harrison]

The question is .. can the rules of order be temporarily set aside to conduct business on a time sensitive issue?

No. The rules of order cannot be suspended en masse. However, it may be possible to suspend certain specific rules. What do you have in mind?

[Gary Novosielski]

The question is .. can the rules of order be temporarily set aside to conduct business on a time sensitive issue?

Since the rules of order tend to facilitate business rather than impede it, it's hard to imagine how conducting business in an unruly manner will help with something that is already time-sensitive.

Suspending rules depends on a number of factors, including where the rules are located (Constitution, bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, etc.) and what type of rule it is, what purpose it serves, what minorities (or absentees) it protects, and such.

So the answer is: It depends. A lot.

[J. J.]

The question is .. can the rules of order be temporarily set aside to conduct business on a time sensitive issue?

It would depend what rules are being suspended (set aside). Rules protecting absentees cannot be suspended, for example.

When the motion to suspend the rules and do a certain action is adopted, all rules that interfere with that action are suspended.

[Josh Martin]

Since the rules of order tend to facilitate business rather than impede it, it's hard to imagine how conducting business in an unruly manner will help with something that is already time-sensitive.

Rules of order also protect the rights of minorities, for instance, and suspending such rules certainly speeds up the conduct of business. While there are already some specialized motions for such purposes, the motion to Suspend the Rules could be applied for less common purposes.

Suspending rules depends on a number of factors, including where the rules are located (Constitution, bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, etc.) and what type of rule it is, what purpose it serves, what minorities (or absentees) it protects, and such.

Well, if we accept that the poster is accurate when he says "rules of order" then it doesn't matter where the rule is located. Certainly, however, more information about the desired goal is needed to determine whether a motion to Suspend the Rules is appropriate in this particular situation.

[Gary Novosielski]

Well, if we accept that the poster is accurate when he says "rules of order" then it doesn't matter where the rule is located.

If we accept that, we would be unskeptical indeed.