Page 20 - CFBPW - BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING and PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE - BURBANK 23-24 FEBRUARY 2024

B Y L A W S

What are they?

Bylaws is a document that relates to the basic rules for an organization to its structure
and manner of operation. Bylaws are an organization’s highest authority and take prec-
edence over the parliamentary authority whenever there is a conflict and which are al-
ways stated in the organization’s bylaws. For the California Federation of Business and
Professional Women’s Clubs the parliamentary authority is Robert‘s Rules of Order New-
ly Revised (latest edition). An organization may not have in their bylaws anything which
conflicts with a law of a higher organization. Bylaws can never be suspended!

Why do we need them?

It tells the members of the organization their rights and responsibilities and how to con-
duct themselves at meetings. Every person who joins an organization should be given
right away a copy of that organization’s bylaws – along with any other rules that organi-
zation has adopted.

What’s in them?
At least the Name of the organization, their Object, Members, Officers, Meetings, Execu-
tive Committee, Board, Committees, Parliamentary Authority and Amendments. In
mnemonics it’s NO MOM E CPA. These are the minimum that shall be listed in bylaws,
an organization may wish to add others/topics. If your organization has a Board of Di-
rectors add an article to it after the article on Executive Board/Committee.

Briefly what each of the above items should contain.
Name the full, exact name of the organization.

Object of the organization expressed in a single sentence.
Members who can join, classes of membership, dues, when due.

Officers name of officers, term, how elected or appointed.
Meetings when meet, the annual meeting special meetings, and the quorum of each.

Executive Committee bylaws should state what the Executive Committee consists of,
its powers, duties, quorum, and other duties. If a Board of Directors is desired a sepa-
rate Article is listed.
Board of Directors would also indicate who it consists of, its powers, duties, and
quorum.
Committees:
Standing Committees first, their name, composition, election and duties.
Special committees should be a separate Article. …/...

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