Ex-officio member
Encyclopedia
An ex officio member is a member of a body (a board, committee, council, etc.) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term is Latin
, meaning literally "from the office", and the sense intended is "by right of office"; its use dates back to the Roman Republic
.
A common misconception is that the participatory rights of ex officio members are limited by their status. This is incorrect, although their rights may be indeed limited by the by-laws of a particular body. Robert's Rules of Order
, Newly Revised (10th ed.), clarifies that the term denotes only how one becomes a member of a group, not what one's rights are. It is a method of sitting on a committee, not a class of membership (466-67). Frequently, ex officio members will abstain from voting, but unless by-laws constrain their rights, they are afforded the same rights as other members, including debate, making formal motions, and voting (466-67; 480).
, or in some other foundation governance document.
In some organizations, the term is limited to those who are past Board Presidents, or retired Board Chairs (or Chairwoman, or Chairman) as a reward for serving in a leadership position. An organization may have one ex officio member (the most current past president), or may consider all past leaders as ex officio; again, this is usually detailed in the Articles of Incorporation.
of Hong Kong is still composed of ex officio members (official members since 1997) and unofficial members (non-official members since 1997). By practice the ex officio members include the secretaries of departments
, i.e. the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary
and the Secretary for Justice
. Since 2002 all secretaries of bureaux
are also appointed by the Chief Executive to be official members of the Executive Council. But since 2005 the secretaries of bureaux attend only when items on the agenda concern their portfolios.
, and its Majority and Minority Leaders are all ex officio members of each of its committees.
has former presidents of the Republic, and some appointees by the President, as ex officio members.
of New York City
is a non-voting ex officio member of each Community Board whose boundaries include some of the council member's constituents.
Vice-President – who also serves as President of the Senate – may vote in the Senate on matters decided by a simple majority, if the votes for passage and rejection are equal.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, meaning literally "from the office", and the sense intended is "by right of office"; its use dates back to the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
.
A common misconception is that the participatory rights of ex officio members are limited by their status. This is incorrect, although their rights may be indeed limited by the by-laws of a particular body. Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
, Newly Revised (10th ed.), clarifies that the term denotes only how one becomes a member of a group, not what one's rights are. It is a method of sitting on a committee, not a class of membership (466-67). Frequently, ex officio members will abstain from voting, but unless by-laws constrain their rights, they are afforded the same rights as other members, including debate, making formal motions, and voting (466-67; 480).
For profit and non-profit use
The power of a person's right to use the title ex officio, in Boards of Directors (Corporations, both for profit and non-profit), and Boards of Trustees (Charitable Organizations, Membership based, Society, etc.) is usually established in the Articles of IncorporationArticles of Incorporation
The Articles of Incorporation are the primary rules governing the management of a corporation in the United States and Canada, and are filed with a state or other regulatory agency.An equivalent term for LLCs in the United States is the Articles of Organization...
, or in some other foundation governance document.
In some organizations, the term is limited to those who are past Board Presidents, or retired Board Chairs (or Chairwoman, or Chairman) as a reward for serving in a leadership position. An organization may have one ex officio member (the most current past president), or may consider all past leaders as ex officio; again, this is usually detailed in the Articles of Incorporation.
Hong Kong
, the Executive CouncilExecutive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
of Hong Kong is still composed of ex officio members (official members since 1997) and unofficial members (non-official members since 1997). By practice the ex officio members include the secretaries of departments
Principal officials of Hong Kong
Principals officials , as according to the Basic Law, are government officials that are nominated by the Chief Executive and appointed by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. They include secretaries of departments and secretaries of policy bureaux...
, i.e. the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary
Financial secretary
Financial secretary is an administrative and executive government position within the governance of a State, corporation, private or public organization, small group or other body with financial assets....
and the Secretary for Justice
Secretary for Justice
The Secretary for Justice is a member of the Hong Kong Government responsible for prosecutions and legal matters. He or she heads the Department of Justice....
. Since 2002 all secretaries of bureaux
Principal officials of Hong Kong
Principals officials , as according to the Basic Law, are government officials that are nominated by the Chief Executive and appointed by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. They include secretaries of departments and secretaries of policy bureaux...
are also appointed by the Chief Executive to be official members of the Executive Council. But since 2005 the secretaries of bureaux attend only when items on the agenda concern their portfolios.
New York City
The Speaker of the CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
, and its Majority and Minority Leaders are all ex officio members of each of its committees.
Italy
The Italian SenateItalian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
has former presidents of the Republic, and some appointees by the President, as ex officio members.
Ex officio members who may never vote
Each member of the city councilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
is a non-voting ex officio member of each Community Board whose boundaries include some of the council member's constituents.
Ex officio members who sometimes may vote
The U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Vice-President – who also serves as President of the Senate – may vote in the Senate on matters decided by a simple majority, if the votes for passage and rejection are equal.