{"id":41709,"date":"2016-10-05T13:35:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-05T11:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.polyas.de\/ct_content_page_2\/legal-framework"},"modified":"2024-04-29T19:22:36","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T17:22:36","slug":"legal-framework-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.polyas.com\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/legal-framework","title":{"rendered":"Legal Framework of Cooperatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class='flex_column av-2h0g7x4-de4ae1467e542757120a2c90fb2718d7 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1aizrzs-b8396742be4d58a3fe1c7145165aa0ec\">\n.avia-image-container.av-1aizrzs-b8396742be4d58a3fe1c7145165aa0ec img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-1aizrzs-b8396742be4d58a3fe1c7145165aa0ec .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-1aizrzs-b8396742be4d58a3fe1c7145165aa0ec av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image- avia-img-lazy-loading-not- avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.polyas.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Board_Election_Cooperative.jpg\" alt='' title=''   itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ltsofnzg-e00b2b2a0be9be2e3c09c71bd36eb6b0 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1>Legal Framework of Cooperatives<\/h1>\n<p>The legal framework of a cooperative&nbsp;is linked to whether it is incorporated or not. Many cooperatives choose to do&nbsp;so and fall under federal, state or provincial legislation, depending on how and where they want to operate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ltymfqmc-a7e66dfd12d3c3a0f73a2f3629a0358f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Types of cooperatives<\/h2>\n<p>Cooperatives can be found all across the business sector. The most common areas for cooperatives are healthcare, retail, housing, agriculture or art.<\/p>\n<p>The advantage of cooperatives is its membership. Membership can vary from five to 5 million but all members contribute actively to their cooperative because they are part of it and have an interest in it. Cooperatives can easily operate locally or globally and often serve a commonly shared or community purpose, which brings members together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ltymg7xp-b78053bb5458bc6df78350d079a20a72 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Founding, membership and dissolution of cooperatives<\/h2>\n<p>When founding a cooperative, certain criteria need to be fulfilled.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A first meeting of the charter members\/incorporators<\/li>\n<li>File articles of incorporation<\/li>\n<li>Creating and approving bylaws for the cooperative<\/li>\n<li>Appointing or electing a board of directors<\/li>\n<li>Writing down the results of the first meeting<\/li>\n<li>Obtain relevant (business) licenses and permits<\/li>\n<li>If necessary:&nbsp;hiring&nbsp;employees<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Generally, all cooperatives, despite their varying legal structures in the US and Canada, have a general meeting open to all members and a board of directors who run the cooperative on behalf of the members. More committees can be constituted in the bylaws.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\">Learn more about board of directors elections in cooperatives!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Membership<\/strong><br \/>\nTo become a member, persons must be founding members or join the cooperative. They fill out a membership application to legally verify that they are members of the cooperative.&nbsp;Members usually&nbsp;have a voting right at the Annual General Meeting, depending on the bylaws.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dissolution of the cooperative&nbsp;<\/strong><br \/>\nThe legislation in the various states and Canadian provinces&nbsp;suggests&nbsp;that a cooperative can be dissolved at&nbsp;a general meeting if a quorum is reached and a majority votes in favor of dissolving the cooperative. The cooperative\u2019s assets go to the person or organization determined&nbsp;in the bylaws.&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe details for dissolving your cooperative should be verified with your local business and cooperative laws.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ltzjiloq-ca07d89252e665da6549c35602240f27\">\n.av_promobox.av-ltzjiloq-ca07d89252e665da6549c35602240f27{\ncolor:#000000;\nbackground:#e8f8f8;\nborder-color:#ededed;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av_promobox av-ltzjiloq-ca07d89252e665da6549c35602240f27 avia-button-no'><div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-46677 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polyas.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Bildschirmfoto-2024-03-20-um-09.15.04-80x80.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.polyas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Bildschirmfoto-2024-03-20-um-09.15.04-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/www.polyas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Bildschirmfoto-2024-03-20-um-09.15.04-36x36.png 36w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><br \/>\n<strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>POLYAS-Tip:&nbsp;<\/strong>If the bylaws allow it, you can hold your annual general meeting online. Let your members vote directly online and increase&nbsp;voter turnout in your cooperative.<a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/amending-bylaws\">&nbsp;Learn how you can include online voting in your bylaws now!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n       <section  class='av_textblock_section av-wz0wl4-34aab32a2d0f1ae4906b93362ed1f18e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Online voting in cooperatives<\/h2>\n<p>Give your members the option to vote online on resolutions and their board of directors. Members who are not able to attend the general meeting can still exercise their voting right.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lead your cooperative into the digital future.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our online voting experts are happy to help you in conducting online elections in your cooperative.&nbsp;<a href=\"\/request-demo\">Contact us now!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div> <div  class='flex_column av-1nz9rg8-75c54a224fb808df4d271da46d3d88ea av_one_third  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lu9i2vcx-f98b442447e01de64a594721f37db094\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-lu9i2vcx-f98b442447e01de64a594721f37db094{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-lu9i2vcx-f98b442447e01de64a594721f37db094 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ltym5gx4-4b5d2bf9f8cb84828b4c30d830082a87 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock cnt2_sidemenu1'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3><strong>Topics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\">Board of Directors Elections in Cooperatives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/electoral-system\">Electoral System in Cooperative Board Elections<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/online\">Cooperative Elections Online<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/faq\">FAQ: Board of Directors Elections in Cooperatives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/checklist\">Checklist: Board of Directors Elections in Cooperatives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/bylaws\">Cooperative Bylaws<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/amending-bylaws\">Amending Cooperative Bylaws<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/cooperatives\/board-elections\/case-study\">Case Study: Online Voting at the PSD Cooperative Bank<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='hr av-13shxaw-70ecde758ef09bd32c279342ccec690e hr-default  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-lu9idg7z-bf603fd1ba39051b13a329fc88d83331 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock cnt2_sidemenu2'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3><strong>Further information<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/election-administration\">Election Administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/increase-voter-turnout\">How to Increase Voter Turnout in your Election<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/election-glossary\">POLYAS Election Glossary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9568],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41709","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-allgemein-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v25.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Legal Framework of Cooperatives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the basics about the legal framework of cooperatives. 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