The HOD is an advisory body to the Board of Governors on matters of local and regional interest and on matters of policy affecting the practice of veterinary medicine and its branches. The HOD is, in principle, the voice of the constituent associations. Its vote shall be deemed a recommendation to the BOG calling for implementation thereof. The recommendations of the HOD are advisory and not binding upon the BOG except as otherwise noted.
The HOD shall serve as a liaison between the members of the Association and the BOG for purposes of the communication of suggestions relative to the rules and regulations which the BOG may promulgate on matters of professional responsibility and ethics.
The HOD may, upon two-thirds vote of all members thereof, initiate recall proceedings against one or more members of the BOG for good cause shown.
The HOD shall have the right, by a two-thirds vote of the members thereof, to veto, overrule, challenge or recommend revisions of any and all decisions made by the BOG at any regular or special meeting.
Constituent organizations, either from geographical associations or by affinity group, and that are recognized by the BOG, constitute the HOD. There are currently twenty-five geographic, and eight non-geographic, constituent organizations. The non-geographic constituencies are: RVTs, Holistic Medicine Vets, Food Animal Vets, Lab Animal Vets, Shelter Medicine Vets, Western University CVM faculty, University of California SVM students, and Western University CVM students.
Other affinity groups are possible. CVMA members can be members of multiple constituent groups, but represented in the HOD by only one and must declare which group shall represent their vote.
Weighted voting where delegates have a number of votes depending on how large a constituency they represent.
A quorum requires 60% of the total votes to be present, not the total delegates.
Each constituent association shall be represented at the ratio of one delegate and one alternate delegate for a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 150 members, and an additional delegate and alternate for each additional 150 members or fraction thereof (151-300).
A delegate will have one vote for each 15 Association members or major fraction thereof.
No single delegate or alternate shall represent more than 150 Association members nor have more than ten votes.
Alternate delegates shall vote only in the absence of the delegate for whom he/she is the alternate.
Constituencies with multiple delegates shall have their weighted votes apportioned as equally as possible among the delegation on the basis of one vote for each fifteen members or major fraction thereof.
Note: the above information was taken from the CVMA Bylaws.