Convention Rules Time - Ask You Questions
Have a Question about Robert's Rules?
Wondering what to have in your BPOU or CD convention rules?
Always wondered what a Point of Order is?
Ask away in the Comments and I will do my best to Answer.
posted by Savage Republican at 8:49 AM permalink
7 Comments:
Please check your Robert's Rules; doesn't the organization Secretary issue the meeting notification?
Answer: This is a common misunderstanding. People confuse an organizations meeting with a convention. Similar confusion exists with Secretary of the organization and the secretary of the convention.
The Secretary of an organization is responsible for maintaining the list of members and also the list of delegate to a convention. For a convention, there is actually no secretary until one is elected at the convention.
The usual comes into question when people ask about who is responsible for calling and sending notice for the convention. The notice for a convention is sent by the authority that has the power to call the convention (at most BPOUs this is the executive committee).
The Secretary would be responsible for providing the list of names eligible member delegates. The notice must indicate time, location and business of the convention. The notice does not need to be signed or endorsed by anyone, though by custom the chair of the body that called the convention usually signs.
More Info: For those who are real Rule's nerds: While the Secretary has the duty to maintain the list of delegate members, it is actually the credentials committee that maintains the list of members for the convention.
I am going to my first BPOU Convention. I managed to get on he GOP slate but others I know didnt. What should I expect there. When can I find out the rules so I am ready. I am in Rochester MN
Rochester - For most BPOUs, the rules would be made available when you arrive at the convention.
If you are ever unsure about what is happening or what to do, always feel free to ask the chair what you need to do? Just get the floor and say "Mr. Chair I would like to do x, what would I need to do?" and they will assist.
I also suggest get there early and talking to lots of people. Find out who knows what they are doing and sit near them.
Unless you know what you are doing, do not make points of order - most are not valid and tend to get the group against you.
Also remember the convention body has the right to do what it wants. If it want to have short debates, it can do it. If it wants to allow slates of candidates to run, it can do it. It is a representative body and while rules are designed to protect the rights of members, they are also there to protect the majority from the tyranny of the minority.
I also suggest buying a copy of "Robert's Rules of Order - In Brief", should be about $7.
It will give you a good guide.
If the endorsing convention(s) have a motion for a unanimous endorsement for a candidate and the vote is that the majority agree with the motion yet there is dissent to the motion does it still pass and the candidate is unanimously endorsed?
A motion to state the candidate was unanimously endorsed, yes, only requires a majority.
This is not to be confused with Unanimous Consent which requires actual unanimity.
After the candidates has passed whatever constitutional requirements for endorsement (usually 60% vote), then the motion to "unanimously endorse" is simply a statement of convention sentiment.
If could have just as easily been a motion to "happily endorse", "excitedly endorse" even "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious endorse". All just statement with adjectives that have whatever meaning the body wants to apply and require only a simple majority.
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