Rescinding a motion

[Guest Jean]

Our group voted last year on a slate of officers that included a nominating committee for this year. They voted on all of the officers, including the nominating committee, as one entity. The officers and the nominating committee have been serving for 10 months now. All of a sudden, some people want to nullify the nominating committee because they say that the members were not nominated correctly according to our constitution. Can they rescind the motion to approve the officers, and if so, will that mean that all of the officers will be nullified even though they have been serving all this time? If they can, will we have to re-elect every officer individually, or can we just re-elect the nominating committee? For further reference, there has been no foul play or anything underhanded going on with the nominating committee.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Can they rescind the motion to approve the officers, and if so, will that mean that all of the officers will be nullified even though they have been serving all this time?

If they can, will we have to re-elect every officer individually, or can we just re-elect the nominating committee?

For further reference, there has been no foul play or anything underhanded going on with the nominating committee.

I do not know if you have customized rules involved.

So, speaking generally:

• To add or remove a person from a committee, you make a motion so.

E.g., "I move that we add Miss Scarlet to the [x] committee."

E.g., "I move that we remove Prof. Plum from the [x] committee."

(See RONR's motion, "Amend Something Previously Adopted" for the necessary vote threshold(s).)

To remove a sitting officer, you need CAUSE (a reason, namely a violation of the rules of the organization, or a public crime).

Depending on the wording of the TERM OF OFFICE, you will need to either:

(a.) hold a trial.

(b.) rescind the election.

Your bylaws' language will determine which of the many variables is appropriate. - See "term of office".

[Josh Martin]

Can they rescind the motion to approve the officers, and if so, will that mean that all of the officers will be nullified even though they have been serving all this time?

It's not necessary to rescind the election for all positions just to remove the members of the committee - nor is it possible, as rescinding the elections of officer positions can only be done for disciplinary reasons (and only with certain language in the Bylaws). You may rescind the election of the nominating committee.

If they can, will we have to re-elect every officer individually, or can we just re-elect the nominating committee?

All you can do is rescind the election of the nominating committee and re-elect the nominating committee.