Rules of Decorum: Always in effect?

[BabbsJohnson]

Are the Rules of Decorum always in effect, during a meeting?

Are there any situations where they are in effect outside a meeting as well, or would that be (possibly) covered under a separate document, like a Code of Conduct?

[George Mervosh]

14 minutes ago, Nosey said:

Are the Rules of Decorum always in effect, during a meeting?

Yes.

14 minutes ago, Nosey said:

Are there any situations where they are in effect outside a meeting as well, or would that be (possibly) covered under a separate document, like a Code of Conduct?

RONR doesn't define any such situations nor does it make mention of any code of conduct or similar document.  It only notes that if disciplinary action is desired for improper conduct outside of a meeting a trial must be held.  

[BabbsJohnson]

8 minutes ago, George Mervosh said:

Yes.

RONR doesn't define any such situations nor does it make mention of any code of conduct or similar document.  It only notes that if disciplinary action is desired for improper conduct outside of a meeting a trial must be held.  

Thank you

[Josh Martin]

3 hours ago, Nosey said:

Are the Rules of Decorum always in effect, during a meeting?

Are there any situations where they are in effect outside a meeting as well, or would that be (possibly) covered under a separate document, like a Code of Conduct?

They are always in effect during a meeting to the extent that they are applicable. They are written primarily for debate, but certain rules of decorum will be applicable at other times. Based on your previous threads, my understanding is the particular rule you are concerned with is the rule regarding personal attacks against members, and this is clearly improper at any time during a meeting.

The rules of decorum are not in effect outside of meetings. RONR is a book about rules for meetings. Indeed, the rules of decorum are written specifically with meetings in mind and often have no meaningful application outside of meetings (there is, for instance, no pending question, no chair, and no assembly outside of meetings) and/or would be extremely awkward outside of meetings (such as the rule to avoid referring to members by name). See RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 391-394 for a full review of the rules of decorum.

RONR has the following to say regard improper conduct generally. “If there is an article on discipline in the bylaws (p. 583, ll. 6–11), it may specify a number of offenses outside meetings for which these penalties can be imposed on a member of the organization. Frequently, such an article provides for their imposition on any member found guilty of conduct described, for example, as "tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work." In any society, behavior of this nature is a serious offense properly subject to disciplinary action, whether the bylaws make mention of it or not.” (RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 643-644)

A society may well decide that personal attacks against another member is conduct of the nature described in this citation. If the behavior occurs outside of a meeting, however, formal disciplinary procedures as defined in Ch. XX are necessary, unless the society has its own rules for discipline in its bylaws.

Edited March 7, 2019 at 12:42 AM by Josh Martin

[BabbsJohnson]

Thank you Josh.

Is there a place in RONR that talks in detail about all the ways  Decorum can be breached ?

 

 

[Josh Martin]

38 minutes ago, Nosey said:

Thank you Josh.

Is there a place in RONR that talks in detail about all the ways  Decorum can be breached ?

As I have just noted, the rules of decorum are detailed in RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 391-394.

[BabbsJohnson]

1 hour ago, Josh Martin said:

As I have just noted, the rules of decorum are detailed in RONR, 11th ed., pgs. 391-394.

Thank you, I must have missed it before.