Overview
According to the MMS the Massachusetts Medical Society House of
Delegates is the policy-making body of the Society having the
authority to establish two general types of policy: health policies
and directives. Health policies are statements of philosophy based
on professional principles and scientific standards. These policies
define what the Society stands for as an organization. Directives
are action items which articulate a strategy for accomplishing an
objective and/or activate the Society's health policies. Directives
are based on a statement of philosophy or health policy. While a
health policy sets forth the Society's position, a directive
instructs the Society to take some action. The House of Delegates
also sets the long-range goals of the Society. Policies of the
Massachusetts Medical Society may be found in the Policy Compendium (.pdf).
The Speaker presides over meetings of the House of Delegates
and, along with the Vice Speaker, is responsible for appointing
reference committees and assigning resolutions and reports to
reference committees. Questions or comments for the Speaker of the
House of Delegates may be directed to speaker@massmed.org
Composition
The House of Delegates is composed of delegates elected by the
district societies and in addition:
One delegate from each designated medical specialty
society.
Two delegates from the student membership of each medical
school in the Commonwealth.
Eight delegates from the Resident and Fellow Section.
One delegate from the Organized Medical Staff Section of the
Society, one delegate from the Academic Physician Section of the
Society and one delegate from the International Medical Graduate
Section.
The President, President-elect, Vice President,
Secretary-Treasurer, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Speaker and
Vice-Speaker.
The president and secretaries of the district medical
societies.
Chairs of all standing committees of the Society, during their
tenure.
Past Presidents of the Society.
Delegates-at-large, as recommended by the Board of
Trustees.
The President of the Massachusetts Medical Society
Alliance.
Trustees and alternates from each district medical society,
for the duration of their term as such.
Meetings
The House of Delegates meets twice annually in May and November
for two days. See HoD meeting dates and deadlines.
Reference Committees
On the first day of the annual and interim meeting, a number of
concurrent reference committees are scheduled by the Speaker.
Reference committees are groups of five delegates selected by the
Speaker to conduct open hearings on the resolutions and reports
before the House for action. Following the reference committee
hearings, the committee draws up a report with recommendations to
the House for disposition of its items of business.
Reference committee hearings are open to all members of the
Society, guests, official observers, interested outsiders and the
press. Any member of the Society may speak on a resolution or
report under consideration. Nonmember physicians, guests or
interested outsiders may, upon recognition by the chair, be
permitted to speak.
Responsibilities of the House of Delegates
The powers and duties of the House of Delegates include some of
the following responsibilities:
Consideration and action on reference committee reports.
Approval of standing committee chair and member appointments
for standing and special committees.
Establishment of special committees.
Election of Officers and AMA representatives.
Approval to establish or discontinue medical specialty society
representation on the House of Delegates.
Authority to override Board of Trustee action on
prioritization of funding a House directive with a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the delegates.
Elect Honorary and Affiliate members of the Society.
Act upon matters of indemnification.
Participation in the MMS Governance Process
The Society is governed by a democratic process that starts with
the House of Delegates. The Procedures of the House of Delegates
outlines the methods for handling and conducting the business
before the House. Procedures of the House of Delegates.
Step 1: Resolutions and Reports
Any member of the Society -- whether or not a delegate -- can
ask the House to consider an item of business. Those items, called
resolutions, are drafted and submitted prior to each House meeting.
The House also considers reports from committees, membership
sections, or MMS leadership groups; often, reports cover previous
House business, information about current activities, or an item
the House has assigned to a group for review and analysis.
Step 2: Pre-Meeting Publication of House
Business
All resolutions and reports for an upcoming meeting, plus any
other business before the House, are printed and mailed to all
delegates before each meeting. MMS members can also view this
information in the members-only area of the website, under Annual
and Interim Meetings.
Step 3: Appointment of Reference Committees
Before each House meeting, the Speaker of the House appoints
members of the Society to sit on reference committees. Reference
committees, with five members and two alternates, hold open
hearings on the resolutions assigned to it by the Speaker.
Reference committees meet during the first session the House
meeting.
Step 4: House First Session
At its first session, the House determines whether to accept any
late items of business. After this, the reference committees meet
to begin hearing testimony on its resolutions. (Resolutions are
often grouped into a single reference committee by general subject,
e.g., new policies/programs). Any member of the Society may testify
before a reference committee and the hearings are open to all
members, the public, and the media.
After all testimony is heard, reference committees deliberate
and determine whether to recommend that the House accept or reject
its resolutions. A written report of the reference committee's
recommendations is prepared for the House.
Step 5: House Second Session
During its second session, the House considers each reference
committee's report and votes whether to accept or reject the
committee's recommendation on each resolution. Once all committee
reports are heard and voted upon, the House adjourns. A report of
the House's decisions is sent to the MMS Board of Trustees.
Step 6: Board implements the will of the House of
Delegates
The Board of Trustees assigns each report or resolution from the
House to a committee, individual, or staff for completion. A report
is provided to the House upon completion of each item.
Delegate Roles and Responsibilities
Members of the MMS House of Delegates serve as an important
communications, policy, and membership link between the MMS and
grassroots physicians. The delegate is a key source of information
on activities, programs, and policies of the MMS.
Qualifications
MMS member.
Elected or selected by the principal governing body.
District delegates must have been members of the MMS for one
year.
No delegate elected by a district shall be eligible for
re-election who has not attended at least two sessions in the two
consecutive years during which he or she has been a delegate,
immediately prior to re-election.
Completion of a "Confirmation of Compliance with the
Massachusetts Medical Society Conflicts of Interest Policy" form.
Every delegate is required to update and resubmit this Form at the
beginning of each MMS Presidential Year.
The Department of Governance Meetings and Services
For additional information please contact the Department of
Governance Meetings and Services. If you have questions on this
material or would like to make suggestions for further resource
information, please e-mail atucker@mms.org
