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Bylaws
Bylaws are one of the most confusing features of a voluntary organization. Few people like to read bylaws, and many folks are intimidated by them. But bylaws are essential to any organization.
Bylaws are basically a record of the things that the members have agreed to, in order to run their organization the way they like. This article gives a light-hearted example:
Good bylaws function like a road map, directing the organization along the path of its activities and away from diversions and dead ends. But you can only benefit from a map if you pay attention to what it tells you.
In addition, bylaws have legal standing. If a dispute arises about something the organization did or failed to do, lawyers will read the bylaws first of all. Bylaws impose obligations on the leaders and members of the organization. It is important to know what those obligations are. We discuss interpreting bylaws in this article:
We strongly recommend that bylaws be written in language that everyone can understand. If you hire an attorney to write your bylaws, make sure that they are not filled with "legalese." Jurassic Parliament offers consulting services in this arena. We can assist with writing, reviewing, or interpreting your bylaws from a procedural perspective.
Post your questions about organization bylaws to our blog, Robert's Rules in Real Life.
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