Multi-Part Motion

[Catharine Littlefield]

I know main motions should be on one topic.  But can that topic have parts? 

For instance, we want to move to create a Rules and Bylaws Committee.  We want it to be chaired by a sitting voting member who does not currently hold another office, and name the person we prefer; we want to let him choose the members by searching for people with knowledge of Rules (including RONR) or willingness to learn them and who do not currently hold an office; and the Chairman may have a seat on the committee with a vote. 

Can all that be rolled into one motion, or should it be a series of single motions?

[Josh Martin]

On 9/20/2023 at 4:20 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

But can that topic have parts? 

Yes.

On 9/20/2023 at 4:20 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

For instance, we want to move to create a Rules and Bylaws Committee.  We want it to be chaired by a sitting voting member who does not currently hold another office, and name the person we prefer; we want to let him choose the members by searching for people with knowledge of Rules (including RONR) or willingness to learn them and who do not currently hold an office; and the Chairman may have a seat on the committee with a vote. 

Can all that be rolled into one motion, or should it be a series of single motions?

In my view, this all can (and should) be rolled into one motion.

[Weldon Merritt]

Do you intend for this to be a studding standing committee or a special committee? If it is a standing committee, and the standing committees are listed in the bylaws, you will need to amend the bylaws to add a new committee, unless the bylaws authorize anther means of creating a new standing committee. And even if it is to be a special committee, the bylaws may very well specify how the chair and members are selected. So you should check the bylaws to make sure that what you want to do is allowed.

Assuming nothing in the bylaws would preclude it, I agree with Mr. Martin's response, whish he posted before I completed my response.

Edited September 20, 2023 at 11:19 PM by Weldon Merritt
Corrected a typo.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 9/20/2023 at 5:37 PM, Weldon Merritt said:

Do you intend for this to be a studding committee or a special committee? If it is a standing committee, and the standing committees are listed in the bylaws, you will need to amend the bylaws to add a new committee, unless the bylaws authorize anther means of creating a new standing committee. And even if it is to be a special committee, the bylaws may very well specify how the chair and members are selected. So you should check the bylaws to make sure that what you want to do is allowed.

Assuming nothing in the bylaws would preclude it, I agree with Mr. Martin's response, whish he posted before I completed my response.

Surely you meant a stunning committee.

[Catharine Littlefield]

Standing Committee.  This group has no bylaws.  And there are none of our Rules that specify a method for forming a Committee.  Since the primary problem with this group is with the Chairman/Officers not knowing the rules, we want to carefully craft the motion to assure the committee is chaired by someone who understands the necessity of the rules.  We will give the Chairman a voting seat, as we want him to learn the rules and understand that the people he is working with are not in opposition to him.

At some point we want this committee to establish bylaws for the group and make this committee part of that.

[Weldon Merritt]

On 9/20/2023 at 4:41 PM, Gary Novosielski said:

Surely you meant a stunning committee.

Oops! My bad. I should have proofread better. 

[Weldon Merritt]

On 9/20/2023 at 4:54 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

This group has no bylaws. 

Then how was the groups group established? And how do you know what officers you have? Or anything else about its structure?

Edited September 21, 2023 at 02:09 AM by Weldon Merritt
Corrected a typo.

[Josh Martin]

On 9/20/2023 at 5:54 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

This group has no bylaws.

What?

Do you have perhaps some other document that is the equivalent of bylaws and defines such matters as the organization's:

• Name and purpose
• Members
• Meetings
• Officers, boards, and committees

On 9/20/2023 at 5:54 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

This group has no bylaws.  And there are none of our Rules that specify a method for forming a Committee.  Since the primary problem with this group is with the Chairman/Officers not knowing the rules, we want to carefully craft the motion to assure the committee is chaired by someone who understands the necessity of the rules.  We will give the Chairman a voting seat, as we want him to learn the rules and understand that the people he is working with are not in opposition to him.

At some point we want this committee to establish bylaws for the group and make this committee part of that.

Strictly speaking, if your organization has no bylaws (or equivalent) your organization does not exist so far as RONR is concerned, and has no members, officers, and so forth.

Certainly, this should be remedied as soon as possible. Rules concerning the establishment of a new organization, including the adoption of initial bylaws are found in RONR (12th ed.) Section 54.

[Catharine Littlefield]

On 9/20/2023 at 7:22 PM, Weldon Merritt said:

Then how was the groups established? And how do you know what officers you have? Or anything else about its structure?

This is a county political party.  Governing documents are Election Law, State Party Rules and any area not governed by those is governed by RONR.  Most County Parties do have bylaws, but those who don't just go by State Party Rules.  They are actually great rules.  This is a structure that has been in place for two hundred years for Dems and GOP.  It is like a pyramid with Precincts at bottom, County, State and then National.  Grassroots up.

Our problem as a small rural county is that (against Election Law) a small group of very close friends has run our county party as they pleased.  "Old Guard." State did not much care because we were so small.  When they were finally forced to organize precincts this year (which they did not want to do)  they have been trying to top-down control the precincts, which is contrary to the rules.

So right now it is a power  struggle, with Rules favoring the precincts.  "Old Guard" not pleased.

[Josh Martin]

On 9/20/2023 at 9:16 PM, Catharine Littlefield said:

This is a county political party.  Governing documents are Election Law, State Party Rules and any area not governed by those is governed by RONR.  Most County Parties do have bylaws, but those who don't just go by State Party Rules.  They are actually great rules.  This is a structure that has been in place for two hundred years for Dems and GOP.  It is like a pyramid with Precincts at bottom, County, State and then National.  Grassroots up.

Thank you. This is somewhat unusual - most organizations (even political parties) which are a local chapter of a state or national organization still have (and need to have) their own bylaws. But I understand you to be saying that in your particular case, the rules of the state party are so comprehensive in this regard that a county party conceivably could operate without its own bylaws, and some do so.

[Catharine Littlefield]

On 9/21/2023 at 6:56 AM, Josh Martin said:

Thank you. This is somewhat unusual - most organizations (even political parties) which are a local chapter of a state or national organization still have (and need to have) their own bylaws. But I understand you to be saying that in your particular case, the rules of the state party are so comprehensive in this regard that a county party conceivably could operate without its own bylaws, and some do so.

The state rules recommend each county party have their own bylaws, but does not require it.  In absence of county bylaws, state Rules and Roberts rules, rule the day. Not having bylaws is a real detriment, imo, as it causes a lot of lost time when every two years a "new administration" comes in and they have to start from scratch, reinventing the wheel, as it were, in establishing new operating procedures.  Like, six months have passed and no agreement has been reached on regular date for monthly member meetings.

So, no monthly member meetings.

[puzzling]

What exactly do the state party rules state on the county party?

Sometimes they are as extensive as normal bylaws.

Or ask advice of the state party, maybe they have model county party and prescinct rules. That can function as bylaws. (And can sometimes even mandated as the bylaws if the county doesn't have its own.)