Draft for consideration April 26, 2008
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF IDAHO, INC
BYLAWS
Sec.1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Idaho, Inc., hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVID, or as the state League. This state League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS.
Purpose and Policy
Sec. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVID are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2. Political Policy The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
ARTICLE III
Strike through is remove underline is add
Sec.1. Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League shall be eligible for membership.
a. Voting
Members. Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the League shall be voting
members of the local Leagues, and state Leagues and of the LWVUS:
(1) individuals who live within an area of a local League may join that League
or any other local Lleague; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local
League may join a local League or shall be a state member-at-large ((MAL);
(3) those who make a lump-sum life membership payment to the LWVUS shall
be paid life members and those who have been members of the League for 50
years or more shall be honorary life members excused from the payment of dues.
b. Associate Members. All others who join the League shall be associate members.
Local Leagues and Member-at-large Units
a. Local Leagues are those Leagues within the state of Idaho that have been so recognized by the LWVUS.
b. The board of directors, hereinafter referred to as the state board, shall recommend to the board of the LWVUS, hereinafter referred to as the national board, that it recognize as a local League any group of members of the League in any community within the state provided the group fulfills both state and national recognition requirements.
c. In the event of a recurrent failure of a local League to fulfill these requirements, the board of the LWVID shall recommend to the national board that it withdraw recognition from such local League. All funds held by a local League from which recognition has been withdrawn shall be paid to the LWVID after the national per member payment and other obligations have been met.
a. The state board may authorize the establishment of member-at-large (MAL) units in communities in which the establishment of a recognized local League is not feasible. MAL units shall operate within limitations established by the LWVUS and within guidelines adopted by the state board.
b. In the event of recurrent failure to follow guidelines for MAL units or to operate within the limitations established by the LWVUS, the state board may withdraw approval of the MAL unit. All funds held by a MAL unit from which approval has been withdrawn shall be paid to the state League.
c. The state board shall be the board of directors for MAL units. The state board must approve bylaws changes for each MAL unit.
Sec. 1. Election,
Qualifications and Term. The officers of the LWVID shall be a
president, a vice-president, or two (2) co-presidents, a secretary, and a
treasurer. In the event that co-presidents are nominated to serve, the
position of vice-president may or may not be filled. They All
officers shall be voting members of the LWVID. The president,
vice-president or co-presidents and secretary. All officers other than
treasurer shall be elected by the convention’s voting delegates to hold
office until the close of the next regular biennial convention or until their
successors have been elected and qualified. The treasurer shall be elected by
the council’s voting delegates to hold office until the close of the next
biennial council or until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Sec. 2. The President or Co-Presidents The president or co-presidents shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; shall preside at all meetings of the organizations and the state board, or designate another person to do so; shall be ex officio, a member of all committees except the nominating committee; may sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes in the absence of the treasurer; and shall perform such other duties as the state board may direct.
Sec. 3. The
Vice-President.(unless co-presidents are selected) The
vice-president, if the office is filled, shall perform such duties as the
president and state board shall direct. In the event of the absence,
disability, resignation or death of the president, the vice-president shall
assume the office. If the vice-president or co-president is not able to serve
the state board shall fill the vacancy from among the elected directors.
Sec. 4 The Secretary. The secretary has the responsibility to keep minutes of the convention, council and meetings of the state board. The secretary shall notify all officers and directors of their election and sign with the president all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the board, and shall perform such other duties as the president and the state board direct.
Sec. 5. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office, shall collect and receive all monies due, shall be the custodian of these monies, shall deposit them in a bank or banks designated by the state board, and shall disburse the same only upon the order of the state board. The treasurer shall present periodic statements to the state board at its regular meetings and an annual report to the convention or council. The books of the treasurer shall be audited prior to transfer to any successor.
ARTICLE VI
Sec. 1. Selection, Qualifications, and Term. The board of directors shall consist of the officers of the LWVID and three (3) directors. One director shall be elected by the convention and two (2) directors shall be elected by the council. All directors shall be voting members of the LWVID. They shall serve a two year term until the close of the next convention or council or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Directors will be assigned specific responsibilities for the duration of their tenure as determined by the board. Vacancies other than the presidency (ies) may be filled by vote of the remaining members of the board.
Sec. 2. Powers. The state board shall manage and supervise the business, affairs, and activities of the LWVID subject to the instruction of the convention. It shall accept responsibility for the organization and the development of local Leagues and MAL units, the promotion of League program, financial development and such other matters as the national board may from time to time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees as it deems necessary and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.
Sec. 3. Meetings. At least four regular meetings shall be held annually at such time and place as the board may determine. The president may call special meetings, and upon the written request of five members of the board, call a special meeting by giving notice by written or electronic mail to each member of the board.
Sec. 4. Quorum. A majority of the members of the board of the LWVID shall constitute a quorum and a majority of members in attendance at any board meeting shall, in the absence of a quorum, decide its action.
Convention
Sec. 1. Place, Date, and Call. A convention of the LWVID shall be held biennially at a time and place to be determined by the state board, a first call to convention shall be sent to the presidents of local and provisional Leagues, and to the chairs of MAL units at least three (3) months before the date fixed in said call. Thereafter, the state board may advance or postpone this date by not more than two (2) weeks. A final call, giving the exact time and place of the convention, shall be issued at least six (6) weeks before its opening session.
Sec.2. Composition The convention shall consist of:
a. The presidents of the local Leagues or an alternate, in the event the president is unable to attend and the chairs of the MAL units or an alternate in the event the chair is unable to attend;
b. Delegates chosen by members of local Leagues as follows: one delegate in addition to the president or alternate; when local League membership reaches 15 voting members, the local League shall be entitled to one additional delegate; thereafter one additional delegate shall be authorized for each additional 15 voting members; the official membership count shall be determined by state office records of voting members as of January 1 of the year in which the convention is held; and
c. Members of the state board
Sec. 3. Delegate’s Qualifications and Voting. All delegates shall be voting members of the LWVID. No delegate shall be entitled to more than one vote. The convention shall be the sole judge of whether a delegate is qualified to vote.
Sec. 4. Powers.
The convention shall adopt a program; elect co-presidents or a president, and
vice president, a secretary, all officers other than treasurer, one
director, the chair and two members of the nominating committee; adopt a budget
and transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Sec. 5. Quorum.
A quorum for convention shall be the number of voting delegates (other than
the board of directors) equal to the number of local Leagues and MAL units in
attendance, provided there is representation from at least one-half of the local
Leagues.
Council
Sec. 1. Place, Date, and Call. A meeting of the council shall be held biennially approximately twelve months after each convention at a time and place to be determined by the state board. In the event of an emergency, the state board may also call a special council meeting. Notice of the council meeting shall be sent to the presidents of local Leagues and to the chairs of MAL units at the same time. A first call to council shall be sent to the presidents of local and provisional Leagues, and to the chairs of MAL units at least three (3) months before the date fixed in said call. Thereafter, the state board may advance or postpone this date by not more than two (2) weeks. A final call, giving the exact time and place of the convention, shall be issued at least six (6) weeks before its opening session.
Sec. 2. Composition. The council shall consist of:
a. The presidents of the local Leagues and the chairs of the MAL units or their alternates in the event they are unable to attend;
b. Two delegates chosen by the board of each local League; and
c. The members of the state board.
Sec. 3. Powers. The council shall elect a treasurer and two directors, give guidance to the state board on program and methods of work, and adopt a budget. Bylaws may be amended at council or convention.
In the event of an emergency, the council may change the program upon recommendation of the state board or a local League, using the following procedure:
1. At least eight weeks before the council meeting any local League proposing a change shall submit it to the state board which shall decide whether to recommend it.
2. At least six weeks before the council meeting, the state board shall send to the presidents of local Leagues all proposed changes.
3. Any change proposed by a local League and not recommended by the state board shall first require a majority vote of the council for consideration.
4. a two-thirds vote shall be required to adopt any change.
Sec. 4. Quorum.
A quorum shall be the number of voting delegates (other than the board
of directors) equal to the number of local Leagues and MAL units in attendance,
provided there is representation from at least one-half of the local League.s
is equal to the number of local Leagues and MAL units represented
at council, provided at least one-half of the local Leagues are present.
Members of state board are not counted in reaching the required number to reach
quorum, even if they are representing their local Leagues.