Bylaws Revision: VOTING[4]

[Nils Lohner]

[ Some more changes:
- cleared up removal of board members
- cleared up who may put resolutions before the BOD and how
- first attempt at defining a quorum 


--Nils.]


VOTING
------

- The voting procedures should be similar to a company and its stockholders 
or to a cooperative and its members
- each member shall have exactly one vote
- the system needs to relatively be fast and reactive, but needs checks and 
balances to ensure the wishes of the membership are carried out by the board
- non contributing members should not be able to vote
- There are too many members to ask them to vote every time an issue is 
raised, therefore the board acts on behalf of its members
- The board of directors together with the committees run the organization.
- the board of directors (and its committees) represent the membership and 
acts in accordance with its wishes.
- from time to time the board of directors will pose questions to the 
members when it is not clear how the membership feels about an issue

General
-------
- the quorum for a vote by the membership shall be set at 35% of eligible 
voters
- all votes (unless otherwise stated) are approved by a majority (>50%)

Resolutions
-----------
- resolutions are voted on by the board of directors
- Members may vote to put resolutions before the board of directors 
- Committees may put resolutions before the board of directors 
- Members have the power to override decisions made by the board of 
directors by a 2/3 majority vote.  



Board appointments
------------------
[this will go into the 'board' section of the bylaws, but its important to 
keep an eye on in the voting section]
- the board members will (together with the membership committee) recommend 
candidates for the board of directors
- the members will approve the appointments on the board of directors
- removal of board members shall occur by a 2/3 vote of the members or a 3/4 
vote of the board of directors
[should this be higher for a BOD vote?]

-- 
Nils Lohner                         Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
E-Mail: lohner at spi-inc.org          PO Box 1326 
Board Of Directors <board at spi-inc.org> Boston, Ma. 02117 USA