These bylaws state the purpose and objectives of a board or council, and specify how the organizations may, for instance:
Board and council members should familiarize themselves with their organization’s bylaws and, perhaps, revise them from time to time in accordance with changing circumstances and objectives. It is highly recommended that legal counsel be obtained before creating or updating bylaws to ensure that any alteration is in line with local, state and federal law. Bylaws of aging-service boards and councils will often be more specific than the Older Americans Act regarding the composition of advisory councils. The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, for example, mandates in its bylaws that 51 percent of the 12 to 15 council members be “over the age of 60.”
That same organization’s bylaws for its board of directors/trustees, though, are much less specific, stating only that “board membership shall be broadly representative of the senior population in each of the five counties of the service area.” Since boards tend to put more emphasis on the professional backgrounds of their members, demographic requirements may be more prevalent on advisory councils.
Regarding bylaws and protocol for conducting meetings, many boards and councils use Roberts Rules of Order (1),a reliable guide to getting down to business in meeting rooms across America for over a century. This thorough manual covers everything from opening a meeting, to initiating, amending and passing a motion, to establishing a quorum to disciplining those found out of order.
(1) Robert’s Rules of Order: http://www.robertsrules.org