§ 58-24-10. Representative form of government.
§58‑24‑10. Representative form of government.
A society has a representativeform of government when:
(a)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â It has a supremegoverning body constituted in one of the following ways:
(1)       Assembly. – Thesupreme governing body is an assembly composed of delegates elected directly bythe members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or theirrepresentatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in thesociety's laws. A society may provide for election of delegates by mail. Theelected delegates shall constitute a majority in number and shall not have lessthan two‑thirds of the votes and not less than the number of votesrequired to amend the society's laws. The assembly shall be elected and shallmeet at least once every four years and shall elect a board of directors toconduct the business of the society between meetings of the assembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in themanner prescribed by the society's laws.
(2)       Direct Election. –The supreme governing body is a board composed of persons elected by themembers, either directly or by their representatives in intermediateassemblies, and any other persons prescribed in the society's laws. A societymay provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board member maynot exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections may be filledin the manner prescribed by the society's laws. Those persons elected to theboard shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the number ofvotes required to amend the society's laws. A person filling the unexpiredterm of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected member. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society.
(b)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The officers of thesociety are elected either by the supreme governing body or by the board ofdirectors;
(c)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Only benefitmembers are eligible for election to the supreme governing body, the board ofdirectors or any intermediate assembly; and
(d)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Each voting membershall have one vote; no vote may be cast by proxy. (1987, c. 483, s. 2; 1989, c.364, s. 1.)