Editorial Board, how should it be classified?

[Clyde Waggoner]

Our bylaws delineate standing committees in a separate chapter and list chairs, members, ex officio, etc.  The president appoints all committee members that are not ex officio.  

We have an editorial board which has it's own chapter in the bylaws and is not included in our society committees section.

The members of our editorial board are all ex officio members consisting of our two editors for our two publications and the treasurer.  The two editors report to the BOD.  The president wants to appoint additional members to the editoral board for additional oversight.  However, the editors both say they are not a committee and therefore, the president can not appoint additional members to the board without an amendment to the bylaws.  

Additionally, the president states that he will then appoint an ad hoc committee with with the charge of approving all articles and publications of both publications.  The editors say they have editoral freedom from such oversight.  

So my question is, how is the editoral board classified?  There is nothing additional in the bylaws to assist in answering this question.

Thank you!

Clyde

 

Edited June 20, 2021 at 08:44 PM by Clyde Waggoner

[Dan Honemann]

25 minutes ago, Clyde Waggoner said:

Our bylaws delineate standing committees in a separate chapter and list chairs, members, ex officio, etc.  The president appoints all committee members that are not ex officio.  

We have an editorial board which has it's own chapter in the bylaws and is not included in our society committees section.

The members of our editorial board are all ex officio members consisting of our two editors for our two publications and the treasurer.  The two editors report to the BOD.  The president wants to appoint additional members to the editoral board for additional oversight.  However, the editors both say they are not a committee and therefore, the president can not appoint additional members to the board without an amendment to the bylaws.  

Additionally, the president states that he will then appoint an ad hoc committee with with the charge of approving all articles and publications of both publications.  The editors say they have editoral freedom from such oversight.  

So my question is, how is the editoral board classified?  There is nothing additional in the bylaws to assist in answering this question.

Thank you!

Clyde

 

The powers of your president in this regard will be found in your bylaws, not in Robert's Rules.  If your bylaws are ambiguous in this regard, perhaps the principles of interpretation found in RONR, 12th ed., 56:68, may be of assistance. 

 

[Dan Honemann]

You may wish to take note of the following:

"A special committee may not be appointed to perform a task that falls within the assigned function of an existing standing committee."  RONR, 12th ed., 50:10

If your bylaws provide that your editorial board is in charge of approving all articles and publications in both of your publications, then I think what is said in 50:10 would be relevant, even although this is a board and not a standing committee. 

 

[Clyde Waggoner]

Thank you for your helpful replies Mr. Honemann.  They are very appreciated.  Clyde Waggoner

[Dan Honemann]

Another quote from RONR that you may find relevant is this one:

"Whenever it is stated in the bylaws (with or without the proper exceptions just noted) that the president 'shall appoint all committees,' this means that the president shall select the persons to serve on such committees as the bylaws prescribe to be established or the assembly may direct to be appointed; it does not mean that the president can himself decide to appoint and assign a task to a group and thereby give it the status of a committee of the society."   RONR, 12th ed., 50:13(d) 

[Clyde Waggoner]

Thank you Mr. Honemann for your reply.  They are very helpful.

Clyde Waggoner