Background

The Resolutions Committee is appointed by the Continuing Committee of the International Rangeland Congress at the time of each Congress. Appointees are selected from the full members (with voting rights) of Congress. The numbers is not fixed but about five members are usually appointed. There are no fixed criteria for appointment, but they may include prior interest in and contribution to Congress and representation of major language and interest groups. Inclusion of one (or more) members of the previous Resolutions Committee is not obligatory but may be helpful.

Resolutions are intended to assist the Continuing Committee with maintaining the International Rangeland Congresses. They should relate to the modus operandi of the Continuing Committee and its decisions on future Congresses. Resolutions regarding the content and activities of Congress are converted to recommendations to be passed on to future Organising Committees. They are not binding. Resolutions on international issues regarding rangelands may also be submitted.

Resolutions made at a Congress cannot change the Constitution at the Congress. If the intent of a resolution is to change the Constitution, the resolution will need to be submitted to the next Congress in accordance with Rule 7 of the Constitution.

Procedures

At the beginning of each Congress, and subsequently, the Continuing Committee advises participants that it will accept preliminary resolutions from the membership in writing. Guidelines for the presentation of preliminary resolutions are announced or otherwise made available. The final call for preliminary resolutions, and their submission, must be made one full day prior to the Congress Business Meeting at which they will be discussed.

The Continuing Committee selects a Resolutions Committee and appoints a chairperson. The Resolutions Committee meets informally although it will be necessary that one member be appointed to record decisions.

Preliminary resolutions are reviewed, revised where necessary and placed in sensible order. Similar submissions are grouped together for re-working as a single preliminary resolution. Acceptance of submissions is at the discretion of the Resolutions Committee, in consultation with the Continuing Committee where necessary. For example, submissions with political overtones are rejected.

When the initial review of submissions is complete and the revised form of preliminary resolutions is agreed, rewriting will generally be required. A small group, possible two of the original Committee members may be the most efficient writing team. Decisions on matters such as this are made by the Resolutions Committee, unless otherwise directed by the Continuing Committee.

The finalized preliminary resolutions are given to the Continuing Committee for approval prior to the Congress business meeting. It is possible for the Resolutions Committee to put a preliminary resolution forward but suggest that it be rejected. Approved preliminary resolutions are then presented to the business meeting by the Chairperson or by a spokesperson for the Resolutions Committee.

Action on resolutions:

When the preliminary resolutions are put to the business meeting, they require only a simple majority to be accepted. They then go before the Continuing Committee as recommendations and are not binding. If the Continuing Committee accepts the recommendations, there are several courses of action available to it. It can:

• Develop the recommendations as formal resolutions, in the form of amendments to the Constitution. In these circumstances, they must be presented initially to members at the plenary session of the subsequent Congress (Rule 7 of the Constitution). They will be announced in detail by the chairperson of the Continuing Committee at the first business meeting and no later than 48 hours before the final business meeting. Acceptance or rejection will be decided by a vote or ballot at the final business meeting.
  Two thirds of the total votes cast in the final business meeting must be in the affirmative for the amendment to be adopted. Any amendment thus passed will become effective at the end of the Congress in which it has been adopted.
• Transfer recommendations relating to content and activities of future Congresses to the next Organising Committee. Or,
• Immediately act on any recommendations that do not conflict with the existing Constitution in any way.

The Continuing Committee through the Chairman, shall ensure that action is taken on all the resolutions adopted at the last Congress.