Board Moves to Order the Chair to perform a certain way in another committee

[Guest Will Taff]

Hi,

 

Quick question, can an Executive Committee pass a Resolution which Orders their Chair to vote a certain way in another government commissioned committee?

 

Can anyone provide me a single section of RONR which states that this is allowed?

 

Thanks,

Will

[Edgar Guest]

Quick question, can an Executive Committee pass a Resolution which Orders their Chair to vote a certain way in another government commissioned committee?

 

In the unlikely event that the executive committee has selected the chair as its delegate to the "other government commissioned committee", yes. But otherwise, no, of course not.

[Guest Will Taff]

Even if he was selected for this committee because he was seen as being representative of this other body?

[Guest Will Taff]

Even if he was selected for this committee because he was seen as being representative of this other body?

[Edgar Guest]

Even if he was selected for this committee because he was seen as being representative of this other body?

 

Representatives are sent to Congress every two years. Once they get there they're free to vote however they choose.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

See RONR 11th ed. page 606.

See "caucuses".

 

[…]
a constituent society or unit can instruct its delegation, although this is not always a good practice in ordinary societies.
Such instructions are binding upon the delegation to the extent that the convention's presiding officer and other officials should enforce instructions of which they have been properly and officially notified.
Such instructions, for example, frequently require a delegation to take a position for or against a measure expected to come before the convention, or to vote for certain candidates.
As stated above, the delegates are free to vote as they see fit except where an instruction has been given;
[…]

[Gary Novosielski]

Hi,

 

Quick question, can an Executive Committee pass a Resolution which Orders their Chair to vote a certain way in another government commissioned committee?

 

 

It depends on whether he was simply elected to serve on that committee as a member, or whether he is technically a "delegate"--one in an assembly of delegates.  In the latter case he can be instructed, but not in the former case.

 

Not knowing the details of the background story, I would simply guess, and tell you that in most cases the answer is No.  And if he were a delegate, a reasonable question would be whether the executive committee would have the authority to instruct him, or whether it would be the general membership that had that power.

 

Your bylaws will be of more help than RONR in determining the answers.