Moving matter to agenda out of normal sequence

[woboot100]

In our situation we have, by our constition, the following process, not unusual, for creating an agenda: our Executive Committee sets the agenda for our meetings. A committee asks the Executive Committee for a space on the agenda to submit a proposal. The Executive Committee has always been active in giving proposals a detailed examination, often resulting in a re-committing the proposal to the original committee or a different committee. Then, once approved, the motion goes to the full assembly.

 

We are faced with a situation where we have an obligation by an outside agency to approve a major structural proposal by December 10th or lose funding for that particular part of our enterprise. The Executive Committee meets on the December 4th. The full assembly meets on December 10th (which is a coincidence, the scheduling is done a year in advance). The Committee that will report out the motion, if they do, December 8th, after the agenda has been created.

 

The motion that pops into my head is to amend the agenda. But 1.) does the assembly have the right to override something that is explicitly stated in the constitution (that is by-passing the Executive Committee); and 2. Are there any other ways to accomplish the same thing besides amending the agenda? This is a doleful precedent to set but our hands may be forced as to making the effort. Thank you.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

In our situation we have, by our constition, the following process, not unusual, for creating an agenda:

 

Our Executive Committee sets the agenda for our meetings.

A committee asks the Executive Committee for a space on the agenda to submit a proposal.

The Executive Committee has always been active in giving proposals a detailed examination, often resulting in a re-committing the proposal to the original committee or a different committee.

Then, once approved, the motion goes to the full assembly.

 

We are faced with a situation where we have an obligation by an outside agency

to approve a major structural proposal by December 10th

or lose funding for that particular part of our enterprise.

 

The Executive Committee meets on the December 4th.

 

The full assembly meets on December 10th (which is a coincidence, the scheduling is done a year in advance).

The Committee that will report out the motion, if they do, December 8th, after the agenda has been created.

 

The motion that pops into my head is

to amend the agenda.

 

1.) Does the assembly have the right to override something that is explicitly stated in the constitution (that is by-passing the Executive Committee);

 

2. Are there any other ways to accomplish the same thing besides amending the agenda?

 

1.) Yes.

Such a rule (to amend one's agenda) is indeed "in the nature of a rule of order."

As such, it is a suspendable rule.

The assembly is free to manipulate this order of business and to add/subtract items underneath each class.

So you may move To Suspend the Rules to accomplish this.

(An "order of business" is a list of classes of business which remains stable from meeting to meetnig, even as the indivdiual items listed under each class necessarily changes per each meeting.)

 

2.) Not really.

Either you explicity add it to the agenda, or you entertain it fresh and clean under the class of business called "new business", if you have such a class of business.

 

One last idea -- Long shot:

Entertain it as a Question of Privilege.

This is a kind of "interupt" procedure to entertain that which normally would wait.

 

(There is no advantage about using a Special Order, as the same hurdles must be jumped.)

[Josh Martin]

1.) Yes.

Such a rule (to amend one's agenda) is indeed "in the nature of a rule of order."

As such, it is a suspendable rule.

The assembly is free to manipulate this order of business and to add/subtract items underneath each class.

So you may move To Suspend the Rules to accomplish this.

(An "order of business" is a list of classes of business which remains stable from meeting to meetnig, even as the indivdiual items listed under each class necessarily changes per each meeting.)

2.) Not really.

Either you explicity add it to the agenda, or you entertain it fresh and clean under the class of business called "new business", if you have such a class of business.

One last idea -- Long shot:

Entertain it as a Question of Privilege.

This is a kind of "interupt" procedure to entertain that which normally would wait.

(There is no advantage about using a Special Order, as the same hurdles must be jumped.)

I'm doubtful that this would be a proper question of privilege, let alone one which would require the assembly's immediate attention.

I concur that it would generally be in order to suspend the rules in order to admit this motion, however, a careful review of the bylaws will be necessary to be sure. It may be that the agenda the Executive Committee approves is sent out in advance and is intended as a form of previous notice.

Another possibility to consider (and it will be necessary to carefully read the assembly's rules on this subject to determine whether it is in order) would be for the Executive Committee to place this item on the agenda, notwithstanding that it will not yet know the actual wording of the recommendation from the committee.