Guest Rochelle Posted February 15, 2018 at 02:46 AM Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 at 02:46 AM I belong to an national/parent organization that has a constitution and fifty chapters around the country I was under the assumption that all fifty chapters would adhere to the parent organization's constitution and have their own chapter bylaws. We currently have chapter bylaws but a group wants to establish a chapter constitution (I know I can contact the national office for a decision). But, I wanted to know if there's language in Roberts Rule that addresses this issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted February 15, 2018 at 05:54 AM Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 at 05:54 AM (edited) Only in the sense that it is permissible for an organization to have just a constitution, just by laws, or a constitution and by-laws. At one time, it was rather common for organizations to have both a constitution and by-laws. However, the trend in recent years has been to just have a single instrument entitled bylaws. Edited February 15, 2018 at 05:55 AM by Richard Brown Edited first sentence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted February 15, 2018 at 11:39 AM Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 at 11:39 AM 8 hours ago, Guest Rochelle said: I belong to an national/parent organization that has a constitution and fifty chapters around the country I was under the assumption that all fifty chapters would adhere to the parent organization's constitution and have their own chapter bylaws. We currently have chapter bylaws but a group wants to establish a chapter constitution (I know I can contact the national office for a decision). But, I wanted to know if there's language in Roberts Rule that addresses this issue? I think whether you could have a separate chapter constitution would depend on the requirements of the parent organization and its constitution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted February 15, 2018 at 03:14 PM Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 at 03:14 PM I agree with Hieu that you need to follow whatever is required by your parent organization's bylaws. Do those bylaws prohibit having a separate Constitution and bylaws? My earlier answer was based on the rules in RONR. The rules in your parent organization's by-laws would supersede RONR . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted February 15, 2018 at 07:34 PM Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 at 07:34 PM 16 hours ago, Guest Rochelle said: I belong to an national/parent organization that has a constitution and fifty chapters around the country I was under the assumption that all fifty chapters would adhere to the parent organization's constitution and have their own chapter bylaws. We currently have chapter bylaws but a group wants to establish a chapter constitution (I know I can contact the national office for a decision). But, I wanted to know if there's language in Roberts Rule that addresses this issue? I concur with my colleagues and would add that establishing a constitution in this instance will require the same procedure and vote as amending the bylaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts