An organization is typically governed by several different types of rules, which form a hierarchy, with higher-ranking classes of rules superseding those of a lower rank.
Common classes of rules, listed from highest- to lowest-ranking, include:
- Federal, state, and local laws
- Articles of Incorporation
- Bylaws
- Special rules of order
- Parliamentary authority
- Standing rules
- Custom
Consult Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised for more information, or find out how to learn more about the rules governing an organization.
