Submitting Resolutions to the House of Delegates

The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA), the largest, most influential osteopathic medical organization in Michigan serves an assertive advocate for physicians and patients. It relies on member involvement to communicate the physician vision of health care to the public, legislators, regulators and other health policy leaders who determine how medicine is practiced in our state. Members elected to represent their colleagues in the House of Delegates or on the Board of Trustees determine MOA policy and priorities. Submitting resolutions for action to either of these representative bodies directly influences the MOA advocacy agenda.

Who Can Author and Introduce Resolutions?

Any MOA member in good standing may author a resolution; however, introduction of resolutions to the House of Delegates is limited to delegates, alternate-seated delegates, component associations, MOA Departments, Councils, or Board of Trustees. Non-delegate status members in good standing should contact their component association for assistance in identifying an appropriate channel for resolution introduction. 

Subject Matter of Resolutions 

Resolutions may address a medical practice or other health-related topic, or an aspect of the policies and activities of organized medicine. The Speaker of the House (“Speaker”) may return to submitters any resolution deemed to be inflammatory, or which addresses social policy issues with no direct medical implications, as inappropriate for consideration as MOA policy. Rules also exclude commendation resolutions and resolutions calling for endorsement of or opposition to specific documents developed by external (non-MOA or non-AOA) organizations, including specific legislation cited by bill number and policy statements or documents developed by other organizations. Prior to writing a resolution, authors should consult the online MOA Policies (Link to MOA Policies) to review existing MOA policy. The Speaker will assign resolutions that reiterate existing policy to a “Reaffirmation Calendar”; because these lack a productive commitment of time they will not discussed or debated by the House. 

Construction of Resolutions 

Resolutions consist of one or more "Whereas" clause(s), which serve(s) to explain the reason(s) for the resolution, and one or more "Resolved" clauses, which state the action(s) proposed. The most persuasive resolutions provide convincing background arguments in the “Whereas” clauses and clearly communicate a specific proposed action that follows logically from the arguments in the “Resolved” clauses. Only the "Resolved" clauses are acted on by the House and become MOA policy when approved. Therefore, the "Resolved" clauses must stand-alone and not be dependent upon the "Whereas” clauses to establish their meaning. 

Following is an example of a correctly structured:

Title: ADDITIONAL DAYS IN THE YEAR

Submitted by: Unified Component Association

Whereas, it becomes more apparent every year that we cannot do all of the things we have to do in 365 days; and

Whereas, either more days must be created or work must be decreased; therefore be it

Resolved, that MOA endorse the creation of an additional ten (10) days a year; and be it further

Resolved, that MOA support legislation mandating that all calendars include ten more days a year. 

Specific Formatting Requirements 

Resolutions must be submitted using the template approved by the Speaker. Resolution titles should be descriptive of the resolution subject and generally not exceed ten to twelve words in length. The Speaker, while striving to preserve the submitter’s intent, may edit or revise resolutions, including titles, for length and clarity and to delete any inflammatory language. If more than one resolution has been submitted on the same subject, the Speaker may combine them into a single resolution. 

Citation of Sources and Submission of Background Materials 

MOA strongly encourages resolution authors to cite the source(s) of any factual, scientific or statistical information contained in the ‘whereas’ clauses, and to submit available documentation with the resolutions for review by other delegates, including those serving on the reference committees to which it assigns the resolutions. Consider submitting other background material relevant and persuasive, either as electronic documents or web links.

Submission of Resolutions 

Resolutions must be submitted via the contact form on the website (Submission Form) or by email, in an editable word processing format. Resolutions to be considered by the House of Delegates must be received no less than 60 days in advance of the meeting. Resolutions received after the deadline must be reviewed and accepted by the Speaker, who shall evaluate late resolutions to determine whether the subject of the resolution is of such a timely nature that it could not be introduced prior to the 60-day deadline and is of such current importance that it cannot wait to be introduced as business for the next Annual House of Delegates or for a Board of Trustees meeting scheduled after the current Annual House of Delegates meeting. [As these criteria imply resolutions can be submitted at any time for consideration by the Board of Trustees.] 

MOA acknowledges receipt of resolutions via email reply. If an acknowledgment is not received within 3 working days, the submitter should promptly follow up with MOA. Resolutions received after the 60-day deadline from introducers who claim to have previously submitted them in timely manner, but who received no acknowledgment and did not follow up with MOA timely, will be treated as late resolutions and will be subject to the Speaker’s evaluation as described above. 

With the exception of a qualified submitter’s request to withdraw a resolution, changes will not be accepted after a resolution has been submitted to MOA. If submitter wishes to revise or otherwise modify a resolution after it has been submitted, it will be necessary to propose the change to the reference committee to which the resolution is assigned. Do not submit a resolution that is not in final form.