Which term refers to the rules of the organization, including federal and state law, charter, articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws, and policies?

• A. Policies and procedures
• B. Governing documents
• C. Rules of order
• D. Standing rules

Answer: (B)

Governing documents describe the authoritative rules that define an organization's existence, structure, and authority. They encompass the legal foundation and internal framework: federal/state laws, the charter or articles of incorporation, any constitutional provisions, bylaws, and the policies that guide operations. This umbrella term is used because it covers both the legal instruments (charter, articles, laws) and the internal governance rules (constitution, bylaws, policies) that establish how the organization is run and how decisions are made.

By contrast, rules of order cover how meetings are conducted rather than the organization’s overall governance, standing rules are specific procedural rules for particular situations, and policies and procedures typically refer to day-to-day operational guidelines that sit under the broader governance documents.