The community of interest (CoI) bylaws (or articles of organization) are the primary legal documents providing governance for the group. The bylaws are originally created during the initial steps of establishing the CoI (i.e., ecosphere). 1)
Bylaws are supplemental to the rules already defined by the granting government entity's (e.g., states, counties, or cities in the US) code and rules for how the CoI must run. Bylaws specify the rules and regulations governing 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 concerning authority levels, rights, and expectations.