Parliamentary Procedure Quick Start

Who ever reads the bylaws of the organizations they belong to? Most likely very few members. Yet, if you realize bylaws contain the most important rules of an organization and they are essentially the organization's contract with its members, you might feel differently about it.

Even at a minimal level, bylaws will tell you who can be a member and what the conditions of membership are. They will tell you about financial matters such as dues -- when they are due and what happens if you don't pay them. Honestly, your association or group does not make these things up as they go along. They have to follow the rules the members voted on when the bylaws were adopted.

Bylaws are voted upon by the membership. Usually it takes two-thirds of those present and voting (as long as a quorum is present) after previous notice has been given, to make changes to the bylaws. They are expected to be permanent and somewhat stable; therefore extra steps are required to amend them.  In fact, your bylaws will tell you exactly how they can be amended.

Anything that is in the bylaws has to be followed. No one has the right to waive any provisions of the bylaws. So if your bylaws say your membership will be suspended if dues aren't paid by a certain date, don't ask for a waiver -- no one can grant it. If your bylaws state that election of officers shall be by ballot, you have to vote by ballot even if there is only one candidate for each office.  That rule cannot be set aside even by a unanimous vote. The only way to set aside bylaws is to do it through the process mentioned above.

The next time you question what your organization is doing and how they are doing it, read your bylaws first.  The answer may well be in the bylaws.