The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences exercised a clause in their bylaws to expel Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski.
But the board's decision also bypassed a new procedure for handling grievance procedures for expelling members.
The 54-member Board of Governors are allowed to expel members with a two-thirds vote, the Academy elected to do for the actor and director.
That bylaw allows the board to expel members 'for cause.'
For Cosby and Polanski, the board chose to expel them for not upholding the Academy's standards of conduct, including a regard for ethics, and the values of respect and human dignity.