user Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:14 AM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:14 AM Our bylaws require us to allow members to attend executive committee meetings. However, my question is, to what extent are they allowed to participate? Can they make motions? Can they participate in debate/discussion? Can they vote on motions (pretty sure this should be no)? Anything else? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atul Kapur Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:24 AM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:24 AM (edited) Your bylaws say they can attend. They can attend. Unless your bylaws give them any other rights at the executive committee meetings, they have no other rights as they are not members of the body that is meeting. The executive committee can adopt a motion to allow non-members (that is,people who are not members of the executive committee) to speak at the meeting or, by a 2/3 vote, suspend the rules and allow them to participate in debate. Page 263 states that the rules may not be suspended to allow non-members to vote, as this would breach a fundamental principle of parliamentary law. Edited January 12, 2019 at 05:31 AM by Atul Kapur Expanded last sentence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
user Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:28 AM Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:28 AM 3 minutes ago, Atul Kapur said: Your bylaws say they can attend. They can attend. Unless your bylaws give them any other rights at the executive committee meetings, they have no other rights as they are not members of the body that is meeting. The executive committee can adopt a motion to allow non-members (that is,people who are not members of the executive committee) to speak at the meeting or, by a 2/3 vote, allow them to participate in debate. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
user Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:34 AM Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 05:34 AM 9 minutes ago, Atul Kapur said: Your bylaws say they can attend. They can attend. Unless your bylaws give them any other rights at the executive committee meetings, they have no other rights as they are not members of the body that is meeting. The executive committee can adopt a motion to allow non-members (that is,people who are not members of the executive committee) to speak at the meeting or, by a 2/3 vote, suspend the rules and allow them to participate in debate. Page 263 states that the rules may not be suspended to allow non-members to vote, as this would breach a fundamental principle of parliamentary law. Thank you for your edit also. Very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 12, 2019 at 12:03 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 12:03 PM Something for you, Mr or Ms User, to worry about is whether the bylaw "allowing" rule would prevent the execomm from excluding general member at all. I'm thinking of Executive Sessions (page 95) where sensitive matters might be discussed that belong exclusively in the Execomm. Best to amend the bylaws and remove the "right to attend" rule -- the execomm can still then allow members to attend, but only on an individual basis, and can kick them out when appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:02 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:02 PM Agreeing with Dr. Stackpole, at least to an extent, a common bylaw provision is that members may attend board meetings or executive committee meetings "except when in executive session". NAP has such a bylaw provision. (NAP - National Association of Parliamentarians). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:09 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:09 PM 2 minutes ago, Richard Brown said: "except when in executive session". NAP has such a bylaw provision. Seems to me that rule swings the pendulum too far the other way. I am sure (if it wasn't so early in the morning) I could think of a situation where the Board, or Execom, would want a non-member to show up at an Executive Session -- to give testimony, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:11 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:11 PM (edited) 6 minutes ago, jstackpo said: I could think of a situation where the Board, or Execom, would want a non-member to show up at an Executive Session -- to give testimony, for example. Non-board members may always be invited or granted special permission to attend. That is different from having the right to attend. Edited to add: See pages 95 - 96 of RONR. Edited January 12, 2019 at 01:17 PM by Richard Brown Added last paragraph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:42 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 01:42 PM I would think (following in the footsteps of my English teacher dad) that a rule that read "May attend ... except [special situation]" means that someone may NOT attend when the special situation applies. Otherwise what is the meaning of "exception"? Here's the exact quote from the NAP Bylaws, Article VII, Section 3.C: Observers. With the exception of executive sessions, members of NAP may attend meetings of the NAP Board of Directors as observers. I don't see how a majority vote to allow a non board-member in (or even a 2/3 suspend-the-rules vote) could override a bylaw provision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atul Kapur Posted January 12, 2019 at 04:00 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 04:00 PM Well, they couldn't attend as observers, but I don't see any reason they could not attend as invitees. Presumably, the board would not be inviting them to just watch the Executive Session proceedings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted January 12, 2019 at 04:15 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 04:15 PM 2 hours ago, jstackpo said: I would think (following in the footsteps of my English teacher dad) that a rule that read "May attend ... except [special situation]" means that someone may NOT attend when the special situation applies. Otherwise what is the meaning of "exception"? And perhaps also using the general principles of bylaw interpretation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 12, 2019 at 08:18 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 08:18 PM 7 hours ago, jstackpo said: Seems to me that rule swings the pendulum too far the other way. I am sure (if it wasn't so early in the morning) I could think of a situation where the Board, or Execom, would want a non-member to show up at an Executive Session -- to give testimony, for example. That rule would not prevent their attendance if the Board desired it. It only removes their ability to attend an executive session as a matter of right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted January 12, 2019 at 08:20 PM Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 at 08:20 PM 1 minute ago, Gary Novosielski said: That rule would not prevent their attendance if the Board desired it. It only removes their ability to attend an executive session as a matter of right. That is my understanding as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmuel Gerber Posted January 13, 2019 at 08:38 PM Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 at 08:38 PM On 1/12/2019 at 7:03 AM, jstackpo said: the execomm can still then allow members to attend I hope we won't be seeing much more of this hideous abbreviation. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 13, 2019 at 09:23 PM Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 at 09:23 PM You mean the silly smiling moon, I presume. 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ben Posted August 4, 2021 at 03:17 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 at 03:17 PM The comments are interesting and informative. Nothing wrong with the abbreviation in my opinion but have no idea how it is pronounced. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted August 4, 2021 at 04:06 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 at 04:06 PM On 1/13/2019 at 3:38 PM, Shmuel Gerber said: I hope we won't be seeing much more of this hideous abbreviation. 🙂 You are, of course, free to hope. The hideous abbreviation for the Communications Committee is left as an exercise for the reader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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