When does a resolution die?

[Grand Officer]

I was at a convention this month, the organization follows Robert's rules of order. The organization meets once a year and goes over resolutions and elects new grand officers. This year a number of resolutions never got heard on the floor. Instead they were referred to executive committee, which normally handles business in between conventions. I was told any business, including resolutions, not handled during convention dies at the end of convention. So when does a resolution die?

[jstackpo]

If an resolution (that was never formally made in the first place, even though listed in a planning agenda) is not somehow disposed of (by adoption, defeat, referral to a committee, &c.) it is indeed "dead".  You could say it was never even born.

The ones referred to the ExecComm are alive and well and awaiting action by the committee.

[Grand Officer]

Thank you jstackpo, so you are saying the ExecComm may act on resolutions in between yearly conventions? My reason for clarification. Organization that has several charters (local camps) meet annually. Bring resolutions to Grand Officers for action and direction of the organization as a whole. Has 30 resolutions but only address 20 on the floor during convention. Prior to closing of convention, the membership (local camps) vote to have the remaining resolutions be addressed at ExecComm, motion caries. This gives the ExecComm to act on behalf of the whole, without the local camps input on resolutions even if they disagree in the end?

[jstackpo]

To give a definitive answer as to just what the ExecComm can do, one would have to read your bylaws with care (to see how much authority to act the ExecComm actually has) and the exact text of the motion to refer (to see if that was consistent with the bylaws, &c.).

Both of these tasks are something a professional parliamentarian can undertake.  If the association doesn't have one handy, you could contact the National Association of Parliamentarians or the American Institute of Parliamentarians (Google can help with  that task) for a referral.

[Josh Martin]

7 hours ago, Grand Officer said:

Thank you jstackpo, so you are saying the ExecComm may act on resolutions in between yearly conventions? My reason for clarification. Organization that has several charters (local camps) meet annually. Bring resolutions to Grand Officers for action and direction of the organization as a whole. Has 30 resolutions but only address 20 on the floor during convention. Prior to closing of convention, the membership (local camps) vote to have the remaining resolutions be addressed at ExecComm, motion caries. This gives the ExecComm to act on behalf of the whole, without the local camps input on resolutions even if they disagree in the end?

Well, the Executive Committee is obviously supposed to do something with the resolutions that were referred to it, but what exactly that is will depend on the exact wording of the motion, and possibly also the wording of bylaw provisions regarding the authority of the Executive Committee. It may be that the Executive Committee was merely expected to bring forth recommendations regarding these resolutions at the next convention, or it may be that it is expected and authorized to act on these motions.

In any event, the member the resolutions which were referred to the Executive Committee are certainly not “dead.” You say that you have been told that “any business, including resolutions, not handled during convention dies at the end of convention.” I think this statement is correct, but it is not applicable here, because the Convention did “handle” these resolutions by referring them to the Executive Committee.

Edited October 31, 2019 at 12:31 AM by Josh Martin