How to Make an Executive Board Meeting Conform to the Requirements in the Organization's Consitution?

[FRS]

I am on the Executive Board of an organization. The Board is comprised of about 30 members. The organization also has an Executive Committee comprised of the organization's president and officers. At a recent Board meeting we were informed that the Executive Board's function was to mostly listen to what the President and officers had to report and relay that to the membership. That custom was for the Executive Board to not conduct much business and be there to listen to the Executive Committee. As a result, the Executive Board has almost no voice in the affairs of the organization. I tried to tell the president at the last meeting that this was a violation of the organization's constitution which says:

"The Executive Board shall formulate policy, approve the annual NCCFT budget,oversee the operation of the Organization, serve as a forum for ideas and provide a communication channel within the Organization.The Executive Board may reverse an action of the Executive Committee only by a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Board."

The president is denying the Board's function. When the President made her comment regarding the Board's function I tried to raise a Point of Order to state this was a violation of the consitution but the Parliamentarian the Executive Committee has appointed ruled me out of order. I asked the proper way to raise the issue and he would not say- just kept repeating I was out of order (he has no training as a parliamentarian) .  My questions:

1) Is it proper for the president to deny the Executive Board its constitutional role?

2) If it is not proper, how do I properly raise this point at a meeting? What sections of RORN do I raise?

Thank you!

Edited February 17, 2021 at 07:13 PM by FRS
I want to follow it

[Richard Brown]

2 hours ago, FRS said:

I am on the Executive Board of an organization. The Board is comprised of about 30 members. The organization also has an Executive Committee comprised of the organization's president and officers. At a recent Board meeting we were informed that the Executive Board's function was to mostly listen to what the President and officers had to report and relay that to the membership. That custom was for the Executive Board to not conduct much business and be there to listen to the Executive Committee. As a result, the Executive Board has almost no voice in the affairs of the organization. I tried to tell the president at the last meeting that this was a violation of the organization's constitution which says:

"The Executive Board shall formulate policy, approve the annual NCCFT budget,oversee the operation of the Organization, serve as a forum for ideas and provide a communication channel within the Organization.The Executive Board may reverse an action of the Executive Committee only by a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Board."

The president is denying the Board's function. When the President made her comment regarding the Board's function I tried to raise a Point of Order to state this was a violation of the consitution but the Parliamentarian the Executive Committee has appointed ruled me out of order. I asked the proper way to raise the issue and he would not say- just kept repeating I was out of order (he has no training as a parliamentarian) .  My questions:

1) Is it proper for the president to deny the Executive Board its constitutional role?

2) If it is not proper, how do I properly raise this point at a meeting? What sections of RORN do I raise?

Thank you!

As to question # 1, the answer is no, it is not proper.

As to question # 2, when there is an issue of whether the executive board can take action or overrule a decision of the executive committee, if the chair says the executive board lacks the power to do whatever it is that is being moved, you raise a point of order that the bylaws clearly provide that the executive board shall oversee, or be in charge of, the operation of the organization (or that the executive board can overrule the executive committee).  Insist that the chair rule on your point of order.  It is the chair's duty to make rulings.  The parliamentarian's role is purely advisory.  The parliamentarian does not make rulings.

If the chair rules against you, you can appeal his ruling to the assembly (the executive board) as long as you have soneone to second your appeal.  The appeal is debatable, but each member only gets to speak once, except for the chair, who can speak first and last.  It requires a majority vote to overturn the ruling of the chair.  The chair's ruling is sustained on a tie vote.

Do your homework, have some other board members on your side, and have a copy (or several copies) of the pertinent bylaw provision for the chair, the parliamentarian and possibly for other members.

Points of order are covered in Section 23 of RONR (12th edition).  Appeals are covered in Section 24.

Edited to add:  The role of the parliamentarian is discussed in Sections 47:46 - 47:56.

Edited February 17, 2021 at 09:26 PM by Richard Brown
Addded last paragraph

[FRS]

Thank you!