Guest Puzzling Posted February 11, 2021 at 05:16 PM Report Posted February 11, 2021 at 05:16 PM How far can a board go with it's own special rules of order? By 49:15 boards may adopt its own special rules of order, but they are also bound by the society's parliamentary authority. (RONR) How much room does this leaves for boards to adopt their own special rules of order? For example: RONR forbids straw polls - can a board allow them? RONR forbids cumulative voting - can a board allow them? RONR fixes the 0rder of business - may the board adopt an other one? (Give another example here yourself) I am not saying these are good ideas, but how far can a board go? Quote
Josh Martin Posted February 11, 2021 at 07:09 PM Report Posted February 11, 2021 at 07:09 PM (edited) 1 hour ago, Guest Puzzling said: How far can a board go with it's own special rules of order? ... How much room does this leaves for boards to adopt their own special rules of order? ... I am not saying these are good ideas, but how far can a board go? Presuming this question relates to a board which is subordinate to a larger society (which appears to be the case), not very far, and not very much room. "The executive board of an organized society operates under the society’s bylaws, the society’s parliamentary authority, and any special rules of order or standing rules of the society which may be applicable to it. Such a board may adopt its own special rules of order or standing rules only to the extent that such rules do not conflict with any of the rules of the society listed above." RONR (12th ed.) 49:15 An example of a rule such a board could adopt would be one which relates to the number of times a member may speak in debate, since the rule in question specifically permits an assembly to adopt its own rules on that subject. A board could also adopt rules on subjects not addressed in RONR. "In a nonlegislative body or organization that has no special rule relating to the length of speeches (2), a member, having obtained the floor while a debatable motion is immediately pending, can speak no longer than ten minutes unless he obtains the consent of the assembly." RONR (12th ed.) 43:8 If the board desires greater flexibility in this regard, it could recommend to the society that the society adopt a particular rule, or recommend that the society adopt a rule granting the board the authority to adopt special rules of order which permit the board to adopt rules conflicting with the parliamentary authority (but not with the society's other rules). 1 hour ago, Guest Puzzling said: RONR forbids straw polls - can a board allow them? No. 1 hour ago, Guest Puzzling said: RONR forbids cumulative voting - can a board allow them? No. I would add that cumulative voting cannot be authorized by a special rule of order in any event. A rule in the bylaws would be necessary. "For ballot or roll-call elections of boards, committees, delegates, or other positions held by more than one individual, the bylaws may provide for cumulative voting. In this form of voting, each member is entitled to cast one vote for each position, so that if, for example, three directors are to be elected, each member may cast three votes." RONR (12th ed.) 46:43, emphasis added 1 hour ago, Guest Puzzling said: RONR fixes the 0rder of business - may the board adopt an other one? If the board meets at least quarterly, no, I do not think the board could adopt a special order of business for its meetings generally, as this would be the adoption of a special rule of order which conflicts with the applicable rule in RONR. If the standard order of business is not suitable for a particular board meeting, the board could adopt an agenda for that meeting, although this would require a 2/3 vote if the agenda conflicted with the standard order of business. I suppose it may also be possible to adopt a special order of business which does not conflict with the standard order of business. The standard order of business includes a number of optional headings, and a special order of business might specify which of those headings shall be included. "In organizations that have adopted this book as parliamentary authority and that have not adopted a special order of business, this series of headings is the prescribed order of business for regular meetings, unless the periods intervening between consecutive regular meetings are usually more than a quarterly time interval (see 9:7)." RONR (12th ed.) 41:6 "In addition to the standard order of business as just described, regular meetings of organizations sometimes include proceedings in the categories listed below, which may be regarded as optional in the order of business prescribed by this book." RONR (12th ed.) 41:28 "It is customary to adopt an agenda or program for each session in organizations that do not hold frequent regular meetings, and at conventions and other sessions that may last for several days (see 59). This is also frequently done when, for any reason, neither the standard order of business nor a special order of business established by rule of the organization is practical or applicable." RONR (12th ed.) 41:60 "At a session that already has an order of business, an agenda can be adopted by a majority vote only if it does not create any special orders and does not conflict with the existing order of business; otherwise, a two-thirds vote is required (see also 25:12)." RONR (12th ed.) 41:61 Edited February 11, 2021 at 07:13 PM by Josh Martin Quote
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