Unanimous Vote

[rlperry]

I motion was made to approve funds to change/update the Bylaws of our Association. Does it take a unanimous decision or can it be done with a majority of the board?

[Mr. J!]

I motion was made to approve funds to change/update the Bylaws of our Association. Does it take a unanimous decision or can it be done with a majority of the board?

It probably has neither of those requirements. See your bylaws. You must follow the requirements there for amending them.

[rlperry]

It probably has neither of those requirements. See your bylaws. You must follow the requirements there for amending them.

The Bylaws have already been re-written and will go to the members to vote on in July. My question has to do with approving funds to host an event. Does the board need a unanimous vote or can it be a simple majority vote.

[rlperry]

It probably has neither of those requirements. See your bylaws. You must follow the requirements there for amending them.

The Bylaws have already been re-written and will go to the members to vote on in July. My question has to do with approving funds to host an event. Does the board need a unanimous vote or can it be a simple majority vote.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

I motion was made to approve funds to change/update the Bylaws of our Association. Does it take a unanimous decision or can it be done with a majority of the board?

By default, boards cannot do anything. Boards are powerless. -- The exception would be in your bylaws, namely, where the powers and duties of the board are spelled out.

Q. What powers and duties does your particular board have?

If your bylaws do empower the board to do what you describe ("to approve funds" for some purpose X), then, all decisions of "ordinary acts of the society" take a majority vote.

Administrative stuff, like photocopying, printing, postage, etc., are pretty low-level acts. As such, a majority vote is sufficient. No high falutin' rules are invoked for office-level maintenance stuff.

Put another way:

There is no rule in Robert's Rules which implies, "If boards spend money, then it takes unanimity." -- That's one idea that came flying out of left field.

[rlperry]

By default, boards cannot do anything. Boards are powerless. -- The exception would be in your bylaws, namely, where the powers and duties of the board are spelled out.

Q. What powers and duties does your particular board have?

If your bylaws do empower the board to do what you describe ("to approve funds" for some purpose X), then, all decisions of "ordinary acts of the society" take a majority vote.

Administrative stuff, like photocopying, printing, postage, etc., are pretty low-level acts. As such, a majority vote is sufficient. No high falutin' rules are invoked for office-level maintenance stuff.

Put another way:

There is no rule in Robert's Rules which implies, "If boards spend money, then it takes unanimity." -- That's one idea that came flying out of left field.

This is an Homeowner Association Board. Powers are spelled out in the Bylaws. The budget for a Bylaw Committee couldn't be passed because it was unanimous. This is a meeting between regular board meetings. Would that makes a difference?

[jstackpo]

It is starting to sound as though you are raising questions about the content of your HOA Bylaws. We can't help with that - we're only RONR-Geeks here.

If you anticipate that you might

have continuing parliamentary

difficulties, problems or help interpreting your bylaws, you

might want to get in touch with

a real live professional

parliamentarian in your area

(not virtual ones like us)

for consultations.

Contact either (or both) the ...

National Association of Parliamentarians

213 South Main St.

Independence, MO 64050-3850

Phone: 888-627-2929

Fax: 816-833-3893;

e-mail: hq@NAP2.org

<<www.parliamentarians.org>>

or

American Institute of Parliamentarians

550M Ritchie Highway #271

Severna Park, MD 21146

Phone: 888-664-0428

Fax: 410-544-4640

e-mail: aip@aipparl.org

<<www.aipparl.org>>

for a reference or information.

[Guest H AROLD]

WHEN VOTING ON A MOTION. IF THERE ARE YES VOTES BUT NEITHER NO VOTES AGAINST OR ABSTENTIONS CAN THE VOTE BE CONSIDERED UNANIMOUS. HAL

[hmtcastle]

WHEN VOTING ON A MOTION. IF THERE ARE YES VOTES BUT NEITHER NO VOTES AGAINST OR ABSTENTIONS CAN THE VOTE BE CONSIDERED UNANIMOUS. HAL

Firstly, please avoid typing in ALL CAPS. It's difficult to read and is considered "shouting" online. [if you're visually impaired, you can increase the size of the text.]

Secondly, this forum works best if you ask your new question as a new topic. That said, a unanimous vote is one in which everyone who voted voted the same way. But, as it's often assumed to mean that everyone voted the same way, the term should be avoided.

In other words, at a meeting with ten members present, a vote of 1-0, with nine members abstaining, would be considered a unanimous vote. But many would assume that a unanimous vote would have meant a vote of 10-0.

[David A Foulkes]

WHEN VOTING ON A MOTION. IF THERE ARE YES VOTES BUT NEITHER NO VOTES AGAINST OR ABSTENTIONS CAN THE VOTE BE CONSIDERED UNANIMOUS. HAL

And if no one voted no nor abstained, how would anyone who did not vote yes vote? Sure sounds unanimous to me. And yet.........