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Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1 Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1
PROPOSED RESOLUTION 2017-01
R-2017-01

A resolution to amend Section 470 of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Montana,
to clarify the process to timely submit resolution, reports and recommendations that have legislative
impacts, provide that untimely or improperly proposed resolutions, reports and recommendations are
void, and create New Section 471 to provide that actions on legislative changes contained within reports
or recommendations must be presented separately for Grand Lodge action and not part of acceptance,
approval or adoption of the underlying report or recommendation.

Be it resolved that:

1) Section 470, of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Montana be amended to read:

“470. TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS. Transaction of business in Grand Lodge at its annual communication
shall be upon written resolutions sponsored and submitted by a constituent lodge of this jurisdiction, reports
of standing committees of the Grand Lodge, and reports and Grand Master’s recommendations and decisions.
All resolutions, standing committee reports, and Grand Master’s recommendations which recommend that
propose changes in the Constitution, statutes or work shall be submitted in writing to the Grand Secretary
and received at the Grand Lodge office at least 120 days prior to the opening of the annual communication.
Resolutions, committee reports and Grand Master recommendations may be submitted to the Grand Secretary
by electronic copy, provided the electronic copy is sent electronically within the 120-day period and an
original hardcopy is received within five business days of the date the electronic copy is timely sent. Upon
the receipt of resolutions, committee reports and Grand Master recommendations, the Grand Secretary shall
certify to Committee on Jurisprudence the date on which each resolution, report and recommendation was
received and the Committee shall report to Grand Lodge. Any resolutions, report or recommendation timely
received is and shall automatically be considered as business at the annual communication unless withdrawn.
This restriction shall does not apply to emergent matters as emergency legislation and declared by consent
of two-thirds vote of Grand Lodge or to decisions of the Grand Master made prior to the commencement of
Grand Lodge and which are included in his written message presented at the annual communication. All
resolutions relating to expenditures of Grand Lodge funds must include an evaluation of the impact of the
expenditure upon Grand Lodge finances and contain a recommendation relative to how it is to be paid for
funded. Any resolution, report or recommendation not timely received or otherwise not in compliance with
this section and [New section 471] is void.”

2) NEW SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION BE ENACTED AS FOLLOWS:

“471. ACTION ON RESOLUTIONS, REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
When a resolution, report or recommendation proposes a change to the Constitution, statutes or work, the
proposed change must be presented, considered and acted upon individually and independently from other
actions, including a motion for the approval, acceptance or adoption of any report or recommendation.”

Submitted by Morning Star No. 5

Proponent’s Explanation of Resolution
This Proposed Resolution ensures that resolutions, committee reports and Grand Master’s recommendations
be timely received by the Grand Secretary so that proposed changes to the Constitution, statutes and work
can be included in the Advanced Proceedings to adequately inform the members of Grand Lodge prior to
attendance at Grand Lodge. The Proposed Resolution clarifies that the resolution, report, and recommendations
must be received in the office of Grand Lodge but allows for electronic transmittal of resolutions, reports and
recommendations like the procedure used by the courts and other governmental entities. This amendment in
the process provides better information, transparency, and predictability in the presentation and consideration
of legislative proposals contained in reports and recommendations.

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