Eligibility to be nominated

[Guest KenS]

I oversee an intermediate body, organizationally sandwiched between our local chapters and our national organization. The intermediate body meets annually, and is more of a retreat conference than it is a participant or guide in policy-making for either our local chapters or national organization. Local chapters designate delegates to attend the intermediate body's conference. It is commonly assumed that to be eligible to run for and hold office in the intermediate body, one must be a delegate. However, the intermediate body's bylaws are completely silent as to eligibility to run for and hold office in the intermediate body. There are provisions in the bylaws specifying that the sitting president and secretary-treasurer are to complete their terms regardless of their delegate status. There are also provisions that specify that the four vice presidents retain their positions in the intermediate body unless and until their locals change delegates, at which time an affected vice president would no longer hold his or her position. But there are literally no words in the bylaws that require an individual to be a delegate in order to run for an hold office.

Although this issue may seems obvious, my questions are (1) in the absence of clear guiding language, is this a matter subject to a ruling of the chair and/or an impromptu vote of the body at the time of nominations; (2) other than a ruling of the chair or body, does Robert's Rules provide any tangible direction with respect to eligibility to run for and hold office?

Thank you.

[Josh Martin]

8 minutes ago, Guest KenS said:

Although this issue may seems obvious, my questions are (1) in the absence of clear guiding language, is this a matter subject to a ruling of the chair and/or an impromptu vote of the body at the time of nominations;

Yes, this is subject to a ruling of the chair and an appeal of that ruling.

8 minutes ago, Guest KenS said:

(2) other than a ruling of the chair or body, does Robert's Rules provide any tangible direction with respect to eligibility to run for and hold office?

Yes. RONR is quite clear that, unless the organization’s bylaws provide otherwise, an assembly may elect whoever it wants as officers, whether or not they are members of the assembly.

“In most societies it is usual to elect the officers from among the members; but in all except secret societies, unless the bylaws provide otherwise, it is possible for an organization to choose its officers from outside its membership. In many legislative bodies the presiding officer is not a member of the body. A large society with complex financial affairs may wish to employ a professional as treasurer.” (RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 447-448)