Constitution and Scope of Board Committees, Board Committees Charter

19/10/2022 1 By indiafreenotes

Committees are generally formed to perform some expertise work. -Members of the committee are expected to have expertise in the specified field.  Committees are usually formed as a means of improving board effectiveness and efficiency, in areas where more focused, specialized and technical discussions are required.

Board Committees: A board committee is a small working group identified by the board, consisting of board members, for the purpose of supporting the board’s work.

The board has specific fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience to the law. As a group they are in charge of:

  • Establishing a clear organizational mission
  • Forming the strategic plan to accomplish the mission
  • Overseeing and evaluating the plan’s success
  • Providing general support to the executive director and the president
  • Functioning as an incubator and feedback mechanism for board, committee, and member proposals
  • Establishing and maintaining a board culture that is open, inclusive and promotes generative thinking
  • Hiring a competent executive director
  • Reviewing and updating the executive director succession plan
  • Providing adequate supervision to the executive director.

Type of Committee and Area of the Program

The committee charter should state whether this is a standing or ad hoc committee. If you are creating a standing committee, it should also indicate the areas of focus for the committee.

Membership

The committee charter should include information about the election and rotation requirements for board members. It should also state whether a quorum is required for a meeting.

This section should describe the process for selecting members on the committee. It should include information on how to nominate a member and whether it’s mandatory to select an even number of members.

Chairmanship

The committee charter should specify the duties of the chair. It should also state whether there are any special requirements for serving as the chairperson.

This section of the committee charter should include information about the Chairman, 1st Vice-Chair, and 2nd Vice-Chair, as well as a provision for how these positions are elected.

Authority

This section of the committee charter should outline the authority and scope of the committee as well as how decisions will be made and how any disputes will be resolved. It should include information on what operations can be delegated to this committee and whether the committee has decision-making power.

This section should state how often members need to attend meetings, and list any meetings that require a physical presence at a specific time and location.

Responsibilities

This section should outline the specific duties and responsibilities of each committee member. It’s a good idea to include details on who will be responsible for chairing important meetings and what information you expect to be reported to the board.

This section should contain information about how you expect this committee to fulfill its duties. You may want to describe how often members need to report, who will host or facilitate meetings, and what types of materials are expected from members.

Standard Committee Procedures

Standard procedures should make it clear which committee members are responsible for specific tasks. It should also specify how materials will be submitted, shared, and reviewed by the individual members and the full committee.

Termination of Membership

This section should clarify whether a member can be removed from the committee as well as who can initiate this process. It may also indicate whether there’s an appeal process if a member feels they’ve been unjustly removed from the committee.

Board Committee Charter Template

Board committee charters should be as detailed and clear as possible. This will help everyone understand the role of each board member, as well as the communication process among members. Here’s a sample template of a board committee charter:

Purpose of Committee

The committee will assist the board in making decisions that will help the organization achieve its annual goals and initiatives. This committee is designed to allow board members who do not have the time to attend all the board meetings to be involved in major decisions.

Membership

The committee will consist of five members who will pair up according to their areas of expertise or interest and rotate positions, so every two months, a new member takes over as chairperson for two weeks.

Authority

This committee only makes recommendations to the board, and it will report to the board at the end of each month. The committee meets at least three times a year in order to reach recommendations that the entire board can put to a vote.

Responsibilities

The chairperson will be responsible for implementing all decisions this committee makes, and will also keep members up-to-date on any decision-making required by the organization.

The board committee charter enables you to effectively organize the roles and responsibilities of the board members, as well as the meeting times, locations, and attendance requirements.

  • Be creative. Board meetings may need to be revised or relocated in order to be more efficient. Creativity is key to achieving this goal and will help you consider new ideas.
  • Be flexible. It’s important to be open to changes in your own organization that may require you to change your board committee structure. For example, if a new member joins the board, it will be easier for him or her to get up-to-speed if established standing committees already exist.
  • Be consistent. Committees are responsible for reviewing policies and recommending changes to policy. Be sure your committee follows the same guidelines the board follows when making these changes.
  • Be transparent. When distributing information about new board committees or reporting on the progress of current committees, be sure to use a transparent procedure so everyone can clearly see what’s required of them and when.
  • Be specific. While it’s important to provide a general outline of your expectations, it’s also essential to outline the specific tasks that each member needs to fulfill.