Who has the authority to call a special meeting?

• A. The president alone.
• B. Any member who requests it.
• C. The board of directors only.
• D. Authorized individuals or bodies defined by bylaws.

Answer: (D)

The move to call a special meeting comes from the rules already written in the organization's bylaws. Those bylaws designate exactly who has the authority to initiate such a meeting, which could be a specific officer, a governing body, or another defined group. Because the power is defined by these rules, it ensures that a special meeting is called only by people or bodies that the organization has formally entrusted with that responsibility, keeping proceedings legitimate and orderly. The exact people or bodies allowed to call a meeting will vary by organization, which is why the correct idea is that authority rests with those authorized by the bylaws.