Suspend the Rules

CA Epsilon 1/14/09
§25 RONR 10th p. 252-258

When an assembly wishes to do something it cannot do without violating its regular

rules, it can adopt to ‘Suspend the Rules’ that interfere with the proposed action. The
proposal must not be in conflict with bylaws/constitution, local/state/national laws, or a
fundamental principle of parliamentary law. This motion cannot be debated or amended.

I. Rules that CAN be suspended with a 2/3 vote:

A. Rules of Order (These relate to Parliamentary Procedure)
B. Special Rules of Order (These relate to Parliamentary Procedure)

II. Rules that CAN be suspended with a majority vote:

A. Standing Rules (not related to Parliamentary Procedure)

III. Rules that CANNOT be suspended even with unanimous consent

(unless they provide for their own suspension):
A. Bylaws/Constitution (unless it is clearly a rule of order, see page 17, line
22-24.) **
B. Federal/State/local law **
C. Fundamental Principles of Parliamentary Law: **
1. Rule that allows one question at a time
2. Rule that allows only members to vote when present in a legal
meeting.
3. Rule that prohibits absentee or cumulative voting.
4. Rule protecting absentees or basic rights of the individual
member.
a. Rule requiring the presence of a quorum.
b. Rule requiring a previous notice.
c. Rule requiring the election of officers by a (secret) ballot.
d. Rule allowing members to attend meetings, make motions,
speak in debate (move Previous Question is not the same as
Suspend the Rules), or vote, except through §61 –
Disciplinary Procedures.
e. Portion or entire order of business (agenda). ‘Proceed to’
and later ‘Return’ is not the same as Suspend the Rules.

** Continuous Breach?

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 Suspend the Rules
CA Epsilon 1/14/09
§25 RONR 10th p. 252-258

Incidental Motion to Suspend the Rules

Form:
“I move to suspend the rule that interferes with listening to the committee’s report.”

Notice that the rule to be suspended is not mentioned. The motion must state its specific
purpose. Under this suspension, the motion allows nothing else to be done.

Drill
a) Make a motion to suspend one of the following rules;
b) Tell us if the rule can be suspended; and
c) If it can be suspended, tell us the necessary vote to suspend the rule,
(HINT: See page 1 and categorize the motion below as to I, II, or III.);
d) Tell us if this suspension could qualify as a continuous breach.

Your intent is the following:

1. To allow a non-member to vote
2. To allow absentee voting
3. To allow smoking in the assembly hall
4. To elect officers by a show of hands
5. To prevent a member from making a motion
6. To allow refreshments during the educational program
7. To dispense with listening to the treasurer’s report
8. To allow delegates to sit wherever they wish
9. To ignore a particular bylaw
10. To allow members in the hall without their funny hats
11. To pay a request for reimbursement in the absence of a receipt
12. To cut off further debate
13. To vote in the absence of a quorum
14. To discharge a standing committee
15. To take up 2 motions at a time
16. To not require a resolution in writing at a convention
17. To allow a speaker to debate an additional 2 minutes

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