The Relevance of Meetings and the Committee System

Abstract

Introduction

The word "meeting" means several things to several people. Generally, it means a gathering or assembly of a number of people or the coming together of two or more people. Such assembly may be for the purpose of discussion or social intercourse, for entertainment, legislation or to participate in the administration of public or private affairs. The assembly could be moving or stationary. Furthermore, such an assembly may arise in various circumstances; some are diverse in their character and combination while others are aimed at achieving specific objectives. Thus a meeting may be casual or organized and contrived and its objects may be as varied as are the interests which are common to the generality of mankind. It is to be expected therefore that where people assemble with some common object in view, their collective conduct should be regulated by rules extending beyond those which would affect each member of the assembly in his individual and separate capacity.¹ This is why every meeting is subject to the law. Such laws may be of general principles which have emerged out of the Common Law or constitutionally or statutorily. Similarly, there are internal rules for the regulation of the procedure of such meetings. Such internal rules include articles of association of a corporate body and standing orders.