committee nominations

[Guest JerryRig]

If a standing committee makes a motion to start a special comittee of 5 members, can they name the special committee members in the original main motion? Also, must the floor be opened for floor nominations? Thanks.

[jstackpo]

Yes, and yes.

 

Technically, since the proposed committee members are (I gather) listed by name in the motion to form a committee, additional "nominations" would be couched as amendments to the motion.  Filling blanks (p. 162) would probably be the best way the to make the amendment(s).

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Is this a subcommittee of the committee instead of a "special committee"?

[Guest Guest]

No, it is a separate special committee with responsibilities outside the responsibilities of the standing committee.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Is the creation of a special committee being recommended by a standing committee to the assembly? I don't think that a standing committee would have the power to create a special committee.

[Guest Guest]

Yes, it is being recommended using a motion.

But is it correct that a standing committee cannot activate a subcommittee as a special committee?

[jstackpo]

Not true  --  a committee is free to establish a subcommittee, but...

 

(This is a guess, sorta) I would think that any subcommittee would have to be working on a part of whatever the committee is assigned to do.  The sub-com cannot be given a task unrelated to whatever the (parent) committee is supposed to be doing.

[Guest Guest]

To me it makes sense that a standing committee cannot activate a subcommittee that is outside what the standing committee is working on, but where in roberts rules is it not permitted?

[Hieu H. Huynh]

"Generally the term committee implies that, within the area of its assigned responsibilities, the committee has less authority to act independently for the society..." (RONR 11th ed., p. 490, ll. 8-10)

"Thus, if the committee is to do more than report its findings or recommendations to the assembly, it may be empowered to act for the society only on specific instructions..." (ll. 11-14)

 

Also the bylaws should have a section on committees which includes the duties of standing committees and appointment of special committees, if any.

[Guest Guest]

Are the Guest Guests of posts 4, 6, and 8, the same person as Original Poster JerryRig?

[Guest Nancy N.]

(O crap.)

[jstackpo]

To me it makes sense that a standing committee cannot activate a subcommittee that is outside what the standing committee is working on, but where in roberts rules is it not permitted?

 

In so many words, there is no stated prohibition.  But Logic.....

 

P 497, l. 13-15 has a subcommittee reporting back to its parent committee, not the assembly.   But if that subcommittee is dealing with something that is not the business of the parent committee, that parent can't do anything with the information.  A total waste of time on the part of the subcommittee.  A committee can do only what it has been told to do, p. 489.   This suggests that the motion to appoint a subcommittee would be dilatory at best, if not improper - p. 342.

[JerryRig]

Yes, posts 4,6,8 and JerryRig are all the same. Sorry for the confusion.

[Guest Nancy N.]

Yes, posts 4,6,8 and JerryRig are all the same. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Thanks!  I of all people, or figments, get it.

 

You got your answers?  (I mysef think Dr. Stackpole's, of #12, probably pretty much it.) 

[Gary Novosielski]

I think the short answer is still: Yes; a standing committee may move a recommendation to create a special committee, including its recommended membership.

 

There could be problems if the recommendation itself fell outside the responsibilities of the committee, but I would not go so far as to say that the special committee's duties must in some way be related to the charge of the standing committee.  Indeed, if that were the case, a subcommittee would probably be the right way to proceed.  The assembly may not create a (special) committee to handle matters that are the purview of an existing standing committee, presumably even if that motion comes from the standing committee.

 

But it is not hard to imagine a situation where the subject motion would be in order.  The standing committees duties might explicitly include, say, recommending the creation of such committees as may from time to time be judged beneficial to the society as a whole.

[JerryRig]

I believe my questions have been answered. Thanks.

[jstackpo]

Good!  Ask some more, any ol' time.

[Gary c Tesser]

Yeah.  At 29 December, we're dangerously over-budget.