In addition to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order, in nearly
every society resolutions of a permanent nature are occasionally
adopted, which are binding on the society until they are rescinded or
modified. These are called Standing Rules, and can be adopted by a
majority vote at any meeting. After they have been adopted, they cannot
be modified at the same session except by a reconsideration [§ 60]. At
any future session they can be suspended, modified or rescinded by a
majority vote. The Standing Rules, then, comprise those rules of a
society which have been adopted like ordinary resolutions, without the
previous notice, etc., required for By-Laws, and consequently, future
sessions of the society are at liberty to terminate them whenever they
please. No Standing Rule (or other resolution) can be adopted which
conflicts with the Constitution, By-Laws or Rules of Order.* [In
practice these various classes of rules are frequently very much mixed.
The Standing Rules of some societies are really By-Laws, as the society
cannot suspend them, nor can they be amended until previous notice is
given. This produces confusion without any corresponding benefit.
Standing Rules should contain only such rules as are subject to the will
of the majority of any meeting, and which it may be expedient to change
at any time, without the delay incident to giving previous notice.
Rules of Order should contain only the rules relating to the orderly
transaction of the business in the meetings of the society. The By-Laws
should contain all the other rules of the society which are of too great
importance to be changed without giving notice to the society of such
change; provided that the most important of these can be placed in a
Constitution instead of in the By-Laws. These latter three should
provide for their amendment. The Rules of Order should provide for
their suspension. The By-Laws sometimes provide for the suspension of
certain articles. None of these three can be suspended without it is