Montana Code 33-7-107. Representative form of government
33-7-107. Representative form of government. (1) A society has a representative form of government if it has a supreme governing body organized as provided in subsection (2) or (3).
Terms Used In Montana Code 33-7-107
- Laws: means the society's articles of incorporation, charter, constitution, and bylaws. See Montana Code 33-7-108
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Society: means a fraternal benefit society described in 33-7-105. See Montana Code 33-7-108
(2)(a) The supreme governing body may be an assembly composed of delegates who meet the criteria of subsection (5) and who are elected either by the members directly or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in the society’s laws. A society may provide for election of delegates by mail.
(b)The delegates elected must be a majority of delegates and may not have less than a majority of the votes and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. The assembly must be elected and shall meet at least once every 4 years and shall elect a board of directors to conduct the business of the society between meetings of the assembly.
(c)Vacancies on the board of directors may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws.
(3)(a) (i) The supreme governing body may be:
(A)a board composed of persons who meet the criteria of subsection (5) and who are elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in intermediate assemblies; and
(B)any other persons prescribed in the society’s laws.
(ii)A society may provide for election of the board by mail.
(b)The term of a board member may not exceed 4 years. Vacancies on the board may be filled in the manner prescribed in the society’s laws.
(c)The persons elected to the board must be a majority of the board and may not be less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. A person filling an unexpired term of an elected board member is considered to be an elected board member.
(d)The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society.
(4)The officers of the society must be elected either by the assembly or by the board of directors, either of which constitutes the supreme governing body.
(5)Only benefit members are eligible for election to the assembly, the board of directors, or an intermediate assembly.
(6)Each voting member shall have one vote. A vote may not be cast by proxy.