The board of directors at General Motors has been actively involved in steering the company through regular board meetings and weekly conference calls, but the situations surrounding the bridge loans approved late last week by President Bush have led the company to amend its bylaws to make board activity more flexible and responsive.

The restructuring plans ahead at GM will require tough decisions to be made on short notice, and that will necessitate shorter lead times before and between board meetings, especially during negotiations with stakeholders, reports The Detroit News. That's why the bylaw changes have authorized board meetings to be held on less that 24 hours notice.

Rick Wagoner holds both the chairman and president positions at GM, enabling easier coordination between the executive and directorial aspects of the company's management, but the new measures will further develop that closeness. The new changes also affect quorum rules and other technical aspects that will improve the board's ability to respond quickly and fluidly to rapidly developing situations.