ABPSC — P&P needs to be more explicit about which documents are subject to the 4 wk rule

I've just today come to the embarrassed realization that I've been assuming for years (my bad!) that RFIs (issuance of) are not subject to the 4 wk rule. That folks can decide during a meeting week to prepare an RFI and get it issued that same week. And I've been spinning what I realize now is a fairy tale for years. After reviewing the P&P today (and the HH Guide), my opinion is that the P&P's handling of the 4 week rule is quite clear on the subject of submissions but with regards to documents like RFPs, RFCs, and RFIs is quite obtuse. It does not state explicitly which documents issued by a subgroup are subject to the 4 week rule – all it says is "Where a poll at a meeting requires documentation (i.e., on adoption of particular documents or based on the content of a document), one third of the Voting Members represented at the meeting may invoke the requirement that documentation supporting the poll must be available at least four weeks prior to the poll." This may be OK in the sections concerning the AB polls (Sxn 3.5.4) and DTC/PTC polls (Sxn 3.5.2) but IMHO is not OK for subgroups. One is forced to infer that "based on the content of a document" refers to things like RFPs, RFCs, and RFIs. A subgroup chair should not be forced to have to infer the intent of some obscure line in the P&P .. it should be clear. It also doesn't state clearly that the 4 wk rule applies – all it says is that somebody can choose to invoke it, if they wish.

My suggestion is that the wording of the paragraph cited above should be changed to indicate exactly which documents are subject to the 4 week rule. Am referring here to the ones covered by "based on the content of a document" ("adoption of particular documents" clearly refers to submissions). One could also add the qualification that the 4 wk rule applies to any document voted on by a subgroup that will subsequently be voted on by the AB and TC or the TC alone. Furthermore, the wording should be more direct... clearly state the cases where a 4 wk rule applies instead of stating it indirectly (almost backwards or by exception) – "Members represented at the meeting may invoke the requirement that documentation supporting the poll must be available at least four weeks prior to the poll." This makes it sound like one can ignore the 4 wk rule unless somebody objects. In which case what kind of a rule is it?

I know we've operated under this subtle wording for years .. but let's abandon subtlety for clear and direct. Please!