Comhairle Cheannais Charter
We, the members of Comhaltacht Draiocht do on this day of
November 5, 2005 create and empower the council to be known as Comhairle Cheannais to act for Comhaltacht Draiocht with the
authority to manage issues of membership, the chartering and reviewing of local congregations know formally as Pobal, administrative
training and general secular administrative concerns.
The Comhairle Cheannais shall consist of the assembled single
administrative representatives of the local congregations with each Pobal appointing a single Pobal member to act as administrative
representative to the Comhairle Cheannais with each member of the Comhairle Cheannais having one single vote.
One member of the Comhairle Cheannais shall by the expressed
choice of a majority vote of the members of the Comhairle Cheannais assume the office of chairperson for the Comhairle Cheannais.
The office of chairperson will be considered as central among equals and shall always be controlled by a simple majority vote
of the members of the Comhairle Cheannais.
Comhairle Cheannais Customs
It is our custom the Comhairle Cheannais business is to
be conducted by council vote with each member of the Comhairle Cheannais having one vote, and that a quorum consists of a
minimum of two thirds of eligible votes represented and that issues be decide by a simple majority of votes cast with a quorum
present.
It is our custom that votes may be taken at either physical
meetings or meeting facilitate by electronic means. To be considered present at a meeting conducted via an electronic forum
one must be documented as being connected to the forum and have access to all proceedings of the meeting. Meetings are to
be called by the chairperson as needed when items of business are placed on the agenda.
It is our custom that general business meetings and discussions
of the Comhairle Cheannais be open to any Comhaltacht Draiocht member who wishes to silently observe.
It is our custom that the Comhairle Cheannais chairperson
shall schedule meetings, call meetings to order, manage agenda and votes, and maintain records of council proceedings and
act as a representative of the Comhairle Cheannais announcing to the membership of Comhaltacht Draiocht the disposition of
items of business. The chairperson may appoint a secretary or staff to assist in these duties during his or her term.
It is our custom that our chairperson appoint a deputy from
among the members of the Comhairle Cheannais and that the deputy will act as chair of the Comhairle Cheannais in the absence
of the chairperson or if the chair person is unable to discharge the duties of office.
It is our custom that should our chairperson be present
at a meeting and refuse to discharge the duties of office though able, he or she will be deemed to have resigned.
It is our custom that an election for chairperson shall
be conducted in two stages the first stage being a nomination process conducted with quorum present and the second stage being
a vote with quorum present. Any nominee may decline nomination. In the event of a tie, the vote will be taken again to choose
between the tied candidates. Should the election process be conducted through an email based written electronic forum each
stage of the election shall be given one week or until all votes present have been cast.
It is our custom that in the event of the death, permanent
incapacitation, resignation or removal of a sitting chairperson, the deputy shall become acting chairperson and that all other
business shall halt while election proceedings for a new chairperson are conducted and that when the new chairperson is elected
he or she shall immediately appoint a deputy and business shall be resumed.
It is our custom that the agenda be maintained openly and
publicly.
It is our custom that any Comhairle Cheannais member may
place an item of business on the agenda and shall be the only person who can withdraw an agenda item from business prior to
a vote.
It is our custom that items on the agenda are to be dealt
with in the order placed on the agenda with any motion to table an item being subject to a general vote of the council.
It is our custom that a group of five or more Comhaltacht
Draiocht members may present to the Comhairle Cheannais an application containing a group name, identity statement, mission
statement and basic set of group customs for recognition as a Pobal. The proposed name, identity and mission must be in accord
with the identity and mission of Comhaltacht Draiocht. The proposed customs must be in accord with Comhaltacht Draiocht customs
and include requirements for membership in the Pobal how the Pobal is structured, how leaders in the Pobal are selected and
removed. When an application is received it will be examined to insure that all requirements are in order, and if found not
to be in order recommendations will be sent to the applicants to assist them in meeting the requirements and when the application
is in order the Comhairle Cheannais shall within thirty days issue a charter to the new Pobal.
It is our custom that the Comhairle Cheannais may, as needed
vote to form and charter sub-councils or offices to manage the day to day administrative operations of the Comhairle Cheannais.
