How to Remove President

[Guest Guest]

President is abusing President's authority outside of Executive Committee meetings by trying to micromanage CEO and appointing friends to every committee with directions for what President wants outcome of committee to be. President and friends have a majority on Executive Committee which has the authority to act for Board of Directors between meetings. President's friends on many committees often meet before the full committee meets and then present other committee members with a faiti accompli.

Constitution says nothing about recalling officers but states that the President serves for 2 years, a fixed term. The Board of over 100 Directors is spread throughout the state and it is difficult to get them to come to meetings. It is not feasible to have 3 meetings as suggested in Roberts Rules to remove the President. Is there any way to remove this President or, if not, to curb this President's power since she is dividing the organization.

[jstackpo]

See FAQ #20

BTW, where did you see the rule you stated: " It is not feasible to have 3 meetings as suggested in Roberts Rules to remove the President."? It isn't in RONR.

[Chris Harrison]

BTW, where did you see the rule you stated: " It is not feasible to have 3 meetings as suggested in Roberts Rules to remove the President."? It isn't in RONR.

RONR doesn't have a "3 meeting rule" but if they were to hold a Chapter XX trial I would think that they would need at least 3 meetings.

Meeting 1: Appointing the Investigating Committee.

Meeting 2: Hearing the Committee's report and preferring charges.

Meeting 3: Holding the trial.

From what the OP says, there is no provision in the bylaws for removal from office (or discipline in general?) and the term of office is a fixed term without any of the qualifying language that would allow the election to be "rescinded". So unless there is something in the bylaws that he or she hasn't told us about it does sound like a full fledged Chapter XX trial would be necessary.

[g40]

Does the President have the authority to make these appointments unilaterally? If not, then perhaps such appointments can be challenged and, perhaps, rescinded. How is the President elected? By full membership, or by the over 100 member "board"? If the 2 year term is nearly up, then the most practical thing might be to support someone else for the job. If the Executive Committee supports the President and his actions, then it seems that the President is not acting in a completely unilateral manner. Perhaps as well, candidates for positions on the Executive Committee might be solicited to run against the incumbents.

[Josh Martin]

It is not feasible to have 3 meetings as suggested in Roberts Rules to remove the President. Is there any way to remove this President or, if not, to curb this President's power since she is dividing the organization.

Based on the facts provided, I don't see many alternative besides waiting for the next regular elections or amending the Bylaws.

It is possible to Suspend the Rules to remove the President from the chair during a meeting, but it doesn't seem like that will be of much help in the circumstances as it's the President's use of his authority outside of meetings that is at issue. Additionally, I concur with g40 that you should check the Bylaws to see if the President has the authority to appoint members to committees to begin with. RONR doesn't grant that authority. It's certainly appropriate to curb powers that the President doesn't actually have.