Special Presidential Task Force on
Membership Meeting Quorum
Task Force Report
Background Basics
Issues / Pros and Cons
Background History: Council and Membership Relationships
Proposed Constitutional and Bylaw Changes: 1990 - 2001
List of Membership Meetings
ALA Policies
Task Force Members
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AND BYLAW CHANGES: 1990 - 2001
Index of Changes by Year:
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1990
Constitution, Article XI, Bylaw Article I, Section 2. Dues, Rights, and Privileges.
Yes 5,714
No 5,980
NOT APPROVED
1991 & 1992
No Constitution or Bylaw Amendments on Ballot
1993
Constitution, Article XI, Bylaw Article I, Section 2. Dues, Rights, and Privileges.
Yes 9,654
No 1,670
APPROVED
Constitution, Article XI, Bylaw Article III, Section 6(c). Nominations and Elections.
Yes 9,328
No 228
APPROVED
1994
TO ENSURE GREATER REPRESENTATION OF MEMBERSHIP TO SPEAK TO ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE ASSOCIATION: Amend Bylaw Article II, Section 6, Quorum. [Two hundred members shall constitute a quorum at membership meetings.] One percent (1%) of ALA personal members shall constitute a quorum at membership meetings.
Yes 8,635
No 1,814
APPROVED
TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AS A STANDING COMMITTEE: Amend Bylaw Article VIII, Section 4(b), Special Committees; and Section 3(b), Standing Committees.
Yes 8,771
No 788
APPROVED
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY NAME CHANGES: Amend Bylaw Article I, Section A(3), Foreign Librarians; and Section 2 A.3, Foreign Librarians.
Yes 8,962
No 779
APPROVED
Amend Bylaw Article I, Section 1 D, Special Members.
Yes 7,664
No 863
APPROVED
TO SIMPLIFY PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES: Amend Bylaw Article XI, Parliamentary Authority, Section 1.
Yes 8,862
No 210
APPROVED
1995
ITEM #1: BYLAWS AMENDMENT REGARDING RATIFICATION OF DUES STRUCTURE BY MEMBERSHIP (Bylaws, Article I, Section 2.A).
[RATIONALE: To clarify that all proposed changes to dues structure for any membership category must be voted upon by the Membership].
Yes 11,042
No 1,001
APPROVED
ITEM #2: BYLAWS AMENDMENT REGARDING MEMBERSHIP DUES STRUCTURE (Bylaws, Article I, Section 2.A).
[RATIONALE: Voting "yes" for this proposed Bylaws change, which will implement a dues increase, will not only allow ALA to increase its presence in Washington by expanding the Washington Office but will also provide funding to support the establishment of the much-needed Office for Information Technology Policy. Additional details about this important dues increase are described in the enclosed insert].
Yes 7,619
No 4,346
APPROVED
ITEM #3: BYLAWS AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH THE MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVE PROCESS (Bylaws, Article II, Section 5).
[RATIONALE: The ALA Organizational Self-Study Committee recommended and Council approved the recommendation that members be given the power of initiative, i.e., the right to submit proposals directly to the entire membership for vote by mail with or without approval by Council or the Executive Board upon the petition of one percent of the total personal membership as certified by the Executive Director. If passed, the proposed Bylaws change would reformat the existing language in Article II, Section 5, and in addition, would also add one new paragraph (paragraph (a) below) to that section].
Yes 9,745
No 1,774
APPROVED
1996
ITEM #1: To define authority and responsibility of the Executive Board (Constitutional Amendment to Article VII, Section 3, Executive Board).
Yes 10,780
No 548
APPROVED
ITEM #2: [To bring the Constitution into conformity with Bylaws change regarding the number required to establish membership quorum and place a membership referendum on the ALA Ballot]. (Constitutional Amendment to Article VI, Section 4, Council).
Yes 10,879
No 511
APPROVED
ITEM #3: [Change in budget review process]. (Bylaws Amendment to Article IX, Finances, Section 1).
Yes 10,255
No 579
APPROVED
ITEM #4: [Raising limit of income to qualify for the "Other Members" category reduced dues]. (Bylaws Amendment to Article I. Membership, Section 1.A.5).
Yes 9,993
No 1,489
APPROVED
ITEM #5: [Update and redefining of section which specifies the different types of committees and their structure]. (Bylaws Amendment to Article VIII. Committee, Section 1-4).
Yes 10,414
No 592
APPROVED
1997
ITEM #1: Student Members Identification (Proposed Amendment to Article I. Membership. Section 1.A.4).
Yes 11,121
No 741
APPROVED
ITEM #2: Student Members Eligibility (Proposed Amendment to Article I. Membership. Section 2.A.4).
Yes 10,649
No 1,209
APPROVED
1998
ITEM #1: Filling Vacancy in Office of Treasurer (Constitution Article VIII. Officers and Committees. Section 2). [Includes PROS and CONS].
Yes 6,564
No 3,227
ADOPTED
ITEM #2: Term Length Reduction for Council and Executive Board Members (Bylaws Article III. Nominations and Elections. Section 1(c), Section 6(c), Bylaws Article IV. Council. Section 2(b), Section 2(c), Section 2(d), and Section 3). [Includes PROS and CONS].
Yes 6,967
No 2,847
ADOPTED
ITEM #3: Addition of Round Table Members to ALA Council Membership (Bylaws Article III. Nominations and Elections. Section 6(c), Bylaws Article IV. Council. Section 2 and Section 6). [Includes PROS and CONS].
Yes 6,714
No 3,083
ADOPTED
1999
No Constitution or Bylaw Amendments on Ballot
2000
Amendment to the Bylaws. Round Table Councilors. (Bylaw, Article IV. Council. Sec. 2(d)).
Yes 5,761
No 3,175
ADOPTED
2001
No Constitution or Bylaw Amendments on Ballot
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