Legal Definitions - roll of members

A roll of members refers to an official, maintained list of all individuals formally recognized as members of a particular organization, body, or group. This list typically serves to confirm membership status, track attendance, verify eligibility for voting or other privileges, and ensure accountability within the entity.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a "roll of members":

• Example 1: Professional Licensing Board

  The State Medical Board maintains a roll of members that includes every physician licensed to practice medicine within the state. When a hospital needs to verify a doctor's credentials before granting admitting privileges, they consult this official roll to confirm the physician's active license and good standing.

  This example illustrates the term because the roll serves as the definitive, authoritative record of who is legally authorized to practice a profession, ensuring public safety and professional accountability.

• Example 2: Corporate Shareholder Meeting

  Before the annual general meeting of a publicly traded company, the corporate secretary prepares a roll of members, which in this context is a list of all registered shareholders entitled to vote on company matters. Shareholders must be on this roll by a specific record date to cast their votes for the board of directors or other proposals.

  Here, the roll of members is crucial for determining who has the right to participate in corporate governance, ensuring that only legitimate shareholders exercise their voting power.

• Example 3: University Faculty Senate

  At the beginning of each academic year, a university's Faculty Senate compiles a roll of members listing all tenured and tenure-track faculty who are eligible to attend and vote on academic policies, curriculum changes, and other university-wide decisions. During meetings, the secretary might refer to this roll to confirm a quorum or record attendance for important votes.

  This demonstrates the term's use in an academic setting, where the roll defines who holds the authority and responsibility to shape the institution's academic direction and ensures that only qualified individuals participate in governance.