(a) The functions that will bring a particular position with a title
other than president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, or executive
board member within the definition of ``officer'' cannot be precisely
defined. They are the functions typically performed by officers holding
these titles in current labor union practice. Decisions in each case
will require a practical judgment. As a general rule, a person will be
regarded as being authorized to perform the functions of president if he
is the chief or principal executive officer of the labor organization.
Similarly, he will be regarded as being authorized to perform the
functions of treasurer if he has principal responsibility for control
and management of the organization's funds and fiscal operation. A
member of any group, committee, or board which is vested with broad
governing or policymaking authority will be regarded as a member of an
``executive board or similar governing body.'' The name or title that
the labor organization assigns to the position is not controlling.
(b) The purpose of the election requirement of the Act is to assure
that persons in positions of control in labor organizations will be
responsive to the desires of the members. \18\ Professional and other
staff members of the labor organization who do not determine the
organization's policies or carry on its executive functions and who are
employed merely to implement policy decisions and managerial directives
established by the governing officials of the organization are not
officers and are not required to be elected.
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\18\ See, for example, S. Rept. 187, 86th Cong., 1st sess., p. 7.
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