3.2.2 Bylaws

return to Governance

The Communities of Interest (CoIs) Bylaws (or Articles of Organization) are the primary Legal Documents providing governance for the group. The Bylaws are originally created during the initial steps establishing the CoI (i.e., Ecosphere). 1) Nonprofit Bylaws Made Easy: Tips and Best Practices, dnorbox.org, Acccessed 21 May 2020, https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-bylaws-made-easy/

Bylaws are supplemental to the rules already defined by the granting government entities (i.e., states, counties or cities in the US) code and rules of how the CoI is run. Bylaws provide governance covering actions and decisions made by the board. The Bylaws should help prevent or resolve conflicts and disagreements, and protect the COI from potential problems by clearly outlining rules around authority levels, rights, and expectations.

Note If the Board of Directors fails to follow the adopted COI Bylaws, it can be held liable for breaching their duty to the COI.

Common Provisions in Bylaws

Name and PurposeElection, roles, and terms of officers and board membersMembership Issues (categories, responsibilities)Meeting Guidelines (Frequency and Quorum)Board Structure and SizeCompensation and indemnification of board membersRole of Chief ExecutiveConflict of Interest PolicyAmendment of Bylaws PolicyDissolution of the organization

Standards

The Bylaws are made specifically for the CoI (i.e., Ecosphere).

Tools

Section 7. Writing Bylaws, Community Tool Box, Accessed 21 May 2020, https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/organizational-structure/write-bylaws/mainForm of Bylaws - California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, Public Coucil Org, Accessed 21 May 2020, http://www.publiccounsel.org/tools/publications/files/Annotated_Bylaws.pdfSample Bylaws, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Accessed 21 May 2020, https://www.uschamber.com/your-chamber-commerce-guide-starting-and-growing-chamber-commerce/sample-bylaws

References