Quote:
Originally Posted by emb021
First off, a little FYI. Using separate constitution and bylaw documents is no longer standard parliamentary practice and hasn't been since the 1960s or so. Organizations are recommended to have a single document called bylaws. There would still be your articles of association/incorporation, and your standing rules. As someone said "countries have constitutions, organizations have bylaws".
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Who makes this recommendation? I can tell you that no organization of any size that I am connected with follows has bylaws only. While I see your point on "countries have constitutions, organizations have bylaws," I don't know that I agree with it. (Especially since, as I said, every organization I am connected with has both.
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A constitution and bylaws serve two different functions. A constitution "constitues" the organization -- it essentially creates it and provides the framework with which it will function. A constitution provides rules of general application. Bylaws, by definition, are "laws" of limited application to deal with nuts and bolts.
Articles of Incorporation are a whole 'nother animal together. They simply confer legal status as an entity and describe what is necessary for the legal status to be maintained. Though many organizations have them, they are not required to have them.
So what is the suggested benefit of having bylaws only?