Simplified Rules of Order

Incidental Motions

Suspension of the Rules

Sometimes a meeting wants to take an action, but is prevented from doing so by one or more of its rules of procedure. In such cases the meeting may vote (two-thirds majority required) to suspend the rules that are preventing the meeting from taking the action it wants to take.

Such a motion cannot interrupt a speaker, must be seconded, is not debatable, is not amendable, cannot be reconsidered and requires a two-thirds majority.

Please note that only rules of procedure can be suspended. A meeting may not suspend by-laws. After the meeting has taken the action it wants to take, the rules that were suspended come into force again automatically.