Comstitution and bylaws

[Guest Robert Greening]

Which takes precedence if there is a conflict between the constitution and bypass? Specifically the constitution says proposed amendments must be approved by the board and then presented to the mbership, however the bypass say they may be amended at a general meeting. Which is correct?

[Guest Edgar]

Which takes precedence if there is a conflict between the constitution and bypass? Specifically the constitution says proposed amendments must be approved by the board and then presented to the mbership, however the [bylaws] say they may be amended at a general meeting. Which is correct?

Typically, the constitution is the superior document and supersedes the bylaws. RONR advocates having only a single document (in part to avoid conflicts such as you describe).

But there may not be a conflict here. Could it be that the process for amending your constitution is different from the process for amending your bylaws? If it's not there's really no reason for having two separate documents.

[Gary Novosielski]

Which takes precedence if there is a conflict between the constitution and bypass? Specifically the constitution says proposed amendments must be approved by the board and then presented to the mbership, however the bypass say they may be amended at a general meeting. Which is correct?

Perhaps both of them are correct and there is no contradiction.

The rules for amendment contained in the constitution probably refer to amending the constitution.

The rules for amendment contained in the bylaws probably refer to amending the bylaws.

(I don't know anything about the "bypass".)

You'd have to read your documents carefully to make sure, but that's what I would start off assuming unless you run across something that actually contradicts that assumption.