Guest Abc123 Posted February 12, 2017 at 08:54 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 at 08:54 PM If a committee voted down a motion on a topic it has been empowered to decide, can the board make the same motion and pass it, essentially overruling the committee decision? If so, is it through a motion to reconsider or would a standard floor motion work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted February 12, 2017 at 08:56 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 at 08:56 PM Is this committee a committee of the board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Goldsworthy Posted February 12, 2017 at 09:54 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 at 09:54 PM 52 minutes ago, Guest Abc123 said: If a committee voted down a motion on a topic it has been empowered to decide, can the board make the same motion and pass it, essentially overruling the committee decision? If so, is it through a motion to reconsider or would a standard floor motion work? In general: A board may overrule any of its committees, when it comes to making a binding decision on behalf of the whole organization. *** In general: Whatever rule/policy is binding on the organization, that "status quo" must be amended or rescinded, to alter or abolish it. Whatever rule/policy never took effect, that "status quo" is not in place, so no kind of "reconsideration" nor "rescission" is necessary. -- Just adopt a new motion. *** If a committee voted down X, then, in general, a board, or the general membership, (a superior body) is free to take up X and adopt X. A committee does not tie the hands of the organization, unless the superior body empowered the committee(s) to make binding decisions. (E.g., a convention site is typically one kind of "choice" a board may empower its committee to sign contracts regarding, to spend money on, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Who's Coming to Dinner Posted February 12, 2017 at 11:25 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 at 11:25 PM I believe Mr. Huynh alludes to the possibility that this committee is under the authority of the society and not the board. In that case, does its rejection of the motion it was empowered to decide put the proposal beyond the reach of the board, in accordance with RONR (11th ed.), p. 577, ll. 23–28? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Abc123 Posted February 13, 2017 at 12:22 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 at 12:22 AM 3 hours ago, Hieu H. Huynh said: Is this committee a committee of the board? It is a committee of the board. It seems clear that if the committee voted to recommend to approve x to the full board, the board could vote to not approve it. Here, however, the vote is to not approve x, thereby keeping the status quo. it seems to me that when the board is voting to approve the committee's report, a member could make a motion to amend the report to approve x. It may even be cleaner if there is a minority report submitted with respect to x, but I don't think it's necessary. The one complicating factor is that the board approved the committee's charter, making them responsible for decisions with regard to changes to x. Thanks you all so much for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted February 13, 2017 at 12:37 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 at 12:37 AM In this case, the board could simply adopt a motion on the matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted February 13, 2017 at 01:25 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 at 01:25 AM Is the committee empowered to make this decision, or isn't it? Your latest post makes it sound a lot more like the committee makes recommendations rather than having power. If it has power, how did it get it? If from the board, does your board have the authority to delegate its powers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted February 13, 2017 at 04:52 PM Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 at 04:52 PM 16 hours ago, Guest Abc123 said: It is a committee of the board. It seems clear that if the committee voted to recommend to approve x to the full board, the board could vote to not approve it. Here, however, the vote is to not approve x, thereby keeping the status quo. it seems to me that when the board is voting to approve the committee's report, a member could make a motion to amend the report to approve x. It may even be cleaner if there is a minority report submitted with respect to x, but I don't think it's necessary. The one complicating factor is that the board approved the committee's charter, making them responsible for decisions with regard to changes to x. Thanks you all so much for your help! There is a big difference between "empowered to decide" and "recommend to (dis)approve". And you've used both terms, and it's not clear which one is the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary c Tesser Posted February 14, 2017 at 10:19 PM Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 at 10:19 PM On 2/12/2017 at 6:25 PM, Guest Who's Coming to Dinner said: I believe Mr. Huynh alludes to the possibility that this committee is under the authority of the society and not the board. In that case, does its rejection of the motion it was empowered to decide put the proposal beyond the reach of the board, in accordance with RONR (11th ed.), p. 577, ll. 23–28? This question intrigues me, and I'm unsure of the answer. I'd guess yes, but I'd like a more specific citation to back me up (or shoot me down). I hesitate to continue the discussion here, because it would conflate two distinct but possibly confusingly related issues in one discussion thread, and I've had quite enough of that for one month (I'll be wincing any time I hear or read the word "interim," maybe till July). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted February 16, 2017 at 08:32 PM Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 at 08:32 PM No, I have no need to spy on my spouse. Thank you though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted February 18, 2017 at 06:04 PM Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 at 06:04 PM (edited) On 2/16/2017 at 2:32 PM, Godelfan said: No, I have no need to spy on my spouse. Thank you though. LOL!!! (Only those of us who are truly regulars on this forum and were here at a particular time a couple of days ago will understand Godelfan's comment). By way of explanation, I'll just say that a few inappropriate posts got slipped into the forum and were rather promptly deleted. And the poster was presumably blocked. But not before Godelfan responded. Edited February 18, 2017 at 06:07 PM by Richard Brown Added last couple of sentences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted February 18, 2017 at 06:12 PM Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 at 06:12 PM On 2/12/2017 at 6:25 PM, Guest Who's Coming to Dinner said: I believe Mr. Huynh alludes to the possibility that this committee is under the authority of the society and not the board. In that case, does its rejection of the motion it was empowered to decide put the proposal beyond the reach of the board, in accordance with RONR (11th ed.), p. 577, ll. 23–28? I hope the answer is, yes, mostly because "no" would be worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nancy N. Posted February 18, 2017 at 09:48 PM Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 at 09:48 PM 3 hours ago, George Mervosh said: I hope the answer is, yes, mostly because "no" would be worse. Me too. But you got a hands-down citation (or a rationale, which would be worse)? -- 'Cause I don't see any. N.B. I would have preferred "apodictic," not just 'cause I haven't used the word enough this year but also by happenstance it's apropos, although calling the word the mot juste would be stretching a bit, but I said "hands-down" instead because it so tinkles George when I abjure from writing like a college graduate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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