Bylaws Revision: VOTING[4]

[ 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(dot)org PO Box 1326
Board Of Directors <board(at)spi-inc(dot)org> Boston, Ma. 02117 USA