Board of directors: Difference between revisions
imported>Louis F. Sander (Copy Edit) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
A '''board of directors''' is a body of elected or appointed persons who jointly oversee the activities of an organization. The body | A '''board of directors''' is a body of elected or appointed persons who jointly oversee the activities of an organization. The body sometimes has a different name, such as board of trustees, board of governors, board of managers, or executive board. It is often simply referred to as "the board." | ||
A board's activities are determined by powers, duties, and responsibilites delegated to it or conferred on it by authority outside itself. These matters are typically detailed in the organization's [[bylaws]]. | A board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilites delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself. These matters are typically detailed in the organization's [[bylaws]]. The bylaws commonly also specify the number of members of the board, how they are to be chosen, and when they are to meet. | ||
In an organization with voting members, the board acts on behalf of, and is subordinate to, the organization's full assembly, which usually chooses the members of the board. In a stock corporation, the board is elected by the stockholders and is the highest authority in the management of the corporation. In a nonstock corporation with no general voting membership, | In an organization with voting members, ''e.g.'' a professional society, the board acts on behalf of, and is subordinate to, the organization's full assembly, which usually chooses the members of the board. In a stock corporation, the board is elected by the stockholders and is the highest authority in the management of the corporation. In a nonstock corporation with no general voting membership, ''e.g.'' a university, the board is the supreme governing body of the institution.<ref>{{cite book | last = Robert III | first = Henry M. | authorlink = | coauthors = William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, Thomas J. Balch | title = Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised | publisher = Da Capo Press | date = 2000-10-01 | location = Cambridge, MA | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-7382-0307-6 }}</ref> | ||
Typical duties of boards of directors include:<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/brdrspon.htm |title=Overview of Roles and Responsibilities of Corporate Board of Directors |accessdate=2008-01-26 |last=McNamara |first=Carter |work=Free Management Library |publisher=Authenticity Consulting, LLC }}</ref><ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.iog.ca/boardgovernance/html/gov_the.html |title=Basic Role of the Board |accessdate=2008-01-27 |work=Governance Basics |publisher=Institute on Governance (Canada) }}</ref> | Typical duties of boards of directors include:<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/brdrspon.htm |title=Overview of Roles and Responsibilities of Corporate Board of Directors |accessdate=2008-01-26 |last=McNamara |first=Carter |work=Free Management Library |publisher=Authenticity Consulting, LLC }}</ref><ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.iog.ca/boardgovernance/html/gov_the.html |title=Basic Role of the Board |accessdate=2008-01-27 |work=Governance Basics |publisher=Institute on Governance (Canada) }}</ref> | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
* Accounting to the stakeholders for the organization's performance | * Accounting to the stakeholders for the organization's performance | ||
The legal responsibilities of boards and board members vary with the | The legal responsibilities of boards and board members vary with the nature of the organization, and with the jurisdiction within which it operates. For public corporations, these responsibilities are typically much more rigorous and complex than for those of other types. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<div class='references-small'> | <div class='references-small'> | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
</div> | </div>[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:01, 19 July 2024
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed persons who jointly oversee the activities of an organization. The body sometimes has a different name, such as board of trustees, board of governors, board of managers, or executive board. It is often simply referred to as "the board."
A board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilites delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself. These matters are typically detailed in the organization's bylaws. The bylaws commonly also specify the number of members of the board, how they are to be chosen, and when they are to meet.
In an organization with voting members, e.g. a professional society, the board acts on behalf of, and is subordinate to, the organization's full assembly, which usually chooses the members of the board. In a stock corporation, the board is elected by the stockholders and is the highest authority in the management of the corporation. In a nonstock corporation with no general voting membership, e.g. a university, the board is the supreme governing body of the institution.[1]
Typical duties of boards of directors include:[2][3]
- Governing the organization by establishing broad policies and objectives
- Selecting, appointing, supporting and reviewing the performance of the chief executive
- Insuring the availability of adequate financial resources
- Approving annual budgets
- Accounting to the stakeholders for the organization's performance
The legal responsibilities of boards and board members vary with the nature of the organization, and with the jurisdiction within which it operates. For public corporations, these responsibilities are typically much more rigorous and complex than for those of other types.
References
- ↑ Robert III, Henry M.; William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, Thomas J. Balch (2000-10-01). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-7382-0307-6.
- ↑ McNamara, Carter. Overview of Roles and Responsibilities of Corporate Board of Directors. Free Management Library. Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ↑ Basic Role of the Board. Governance Basics. Institute on Governance (Canada). Retrieved on 2008-01-27.