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Amendment to Bylaws vs Bylaw revisions


mecharm

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Hi, Does the wording here seem unclear:

 

Section 2.  Any amendment of the constitution bylaws must be submitted in writing signed by

                  two (2) members in good standing, presented to the Secretary to be read at the

                  regular (general) meeting of the Circle, and must be read at three (3) consecutive

                  meetings. All members must be notified of this intent of change of the bylaws in

                  three consecutive monthly bulletins.

 

After reading up on the isolated changes vs general revisions in RONR, it seems this section is missing the direction of how to handle a complete Bylaw revision by commttiee.

 

I read up on the section in RONR of how it is up to the assembly to interpet it's own bylaws but only when not clearly stated or ambiguous.We may have gotten ourselves stuck in with it stated this way in our bylaws. To read a complete bylaw revision at 3 consecutive meetings would take up so much time in that the meeting would go into many hours. Our organanization's bylawys are out dated and this section is included in the revisions but if this is the grey area we need to clarify it's intend as an assembly, then we must do so.

 

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The way this is written is it clear in the relation to both one amendment as well as an entire rewrite. I'm not sure if both scenarios needs to be explicate.

In my opinion, the rule clearly applies to any type of amendment, including a revision. If it is desired to exempt a revision from the requirement, this must be clearly stated. I would also note, however, that the rules could be suspended so that the revision is not read, although this would require unanimous consent.

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In my opinion, the rule clearly applies to any type of amendment, including a revision. If it is desired to exempt a revision from the requirement, this must be clearly stated. I would also note, however, that the rules could be suspended so that the revision is not read, although this would require unanimous consent.

 

Why would it require unanimous consent rather than a 2/3 vote?

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Why would it require unanimous consent rather than a 2/3 vote?

 

In my opinion, the rule protects the rights of individual members. A rule may not be suspended in the face of opposition from a minority at least as large as that which the rule is intended to protect.

 

Even if I'm wrong about how this rule works, unanimous consent will certainly be required at the third meeting, because RONR clearly provides that an individual member has a right to have a motion be read when that motion is actually pending, even if the motion is printed and distributed in advance. (RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 38-39)

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