How long are policies created by one board good for?

[Guest George]

This may be a similar question to the one that guest guest has raised.

 

If policies that have been voted on by one board during a leadership term were never adopted by the general membership, do those policies become moot for the next board, or do they in any way bind the new board and membership?

[Chris Harrison]

The Board only has the authority the bylaws give it.  So the question is if the Board has the authority to adopt policies that don't require approval from the General Membership?

[Josh Martin]

If policies that have been voted on by one board during a leadership term were never adopted by the general membership, do those policies become moot for the next board, or do they in any way bind the new board and membership?

If the board has the authority to adopt the policies in question, they are binding until rescinded or amended. Policies, whether adopted by the board or membership, do not have an "expiration date" in RONR.

[Guest George]

It doesn't appear that there is anything in the bylaws that states that the board can create or adopt policy.

[jstackpo]

There may be a more general statement saying what the board can do, but not explicitly mentioning "policy".  See RONR (in the Bylaws chapter) for examples of board authorization.

[Edgar Guest]

If policies that have been voted on by one board during a leadership term were never adopted by the general membership, do those policies become moot for the next board, or do they in any way bind the new board and membership?

 

On this forum we're fond of saying that one shouldn't think of an "old board" and a "new board" but simply "the board" (whose membership may change from time to time).

 

Your question then becomes: is the board bound by a previous decision of the board and Mr. Martin has answered that question.

 

Just out of curiosity, what's a "leadership term".

[Guest George]

The term is one year. There is a provision for the board to make motions, but once approved must be ratified by the membership.

Thank you.

[Josh Martin]

There is a provision for the board to make motions, but once approved must be ratified by the membership.

Ah, well, that changes everything. If the membership has not ratified these motions, they are not binding on the board or the membership.

I'm not entirely sure what the point is in having a board if everything needs to be ratified by the membership, but perhaps that's a topic for another day.