Bylaws
The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area, New Jersey
Bylaws
(Accepted by Membership, June15, 2021)
ARTICLE I
Name
Section 1 - Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area with mailing address: The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area PO Box 253 Kingston, NJ 08528. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States and of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Policy
Sec. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWV of the Princeton Area are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2. Policies. The policies of the LWV of the Princeton Area are
a. Political Policy. The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. (See Attachment A)
b. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy. The League is fully committed to ensure compliance - in principle and in practice - with LWVUS's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy. (See Attachment B)
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1: Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purpose and policy of the League shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2: Types of Membership. The membership of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall be composed of voting members and associate members.
a. Voting members shall be those persons who are at least 16 years of age who join the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area and live in New Jersey. Life members are those residing in the Princeton Area who have been members of the League of Women Voters of the United States for 50 years or more. Those who are students are defined as individuals who are enrolled either full or part-time with an accredited institution.
b. Associate members shall be all other members.
ARTICLE IV
Leadership Committee
Section 1:The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall be governed by a Leadership Committee, each member of which is responsible for a specific role as well as for sharing or rotating administrative functions as needed to hold meetings and complete projects or tasks that support the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ).
Section 2: Number, Manner of Selections, and Term of Office. The Leadership Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall consist of no fewer than 5 members and up to a maximum of 10 members. The members of the Leadership Committee shall be elected by the general membership at the Annual Meeting and shall serve a one-year term, which will expire on June 30thof the following fiscal year.
Section 3: Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as a member of the Leadership Committee of this organization unless that person is a voting member of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area.
Section 4: Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Leadership Committee by reason of resignation, death or disqualification may be filled until June 30thof the present fiscal year by a majority of the remaining members of the Leadership Committee
Section 5: Powers and Duties. The Leadership Committee shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct the same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the program as adopted by the national Convention, the state Convention, and the Annual Meeting. The Leadership Committee shall create and designate such special committees, as it may deem necessary.
Section 6: Meetings. There shall be at least two (2) regular meetings of the Leadership Committee annually. Any member of Leadership Committee can call a special meeting upon the written request of three (3) members of the Leadership Committee.
Section 7: Quorum. A majority of the members of the Leadership Committee shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V
Leadership Committee Roles
Section 1: Enumeration and Election of Officers. The Leadership Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall consist of a Secretary, Voter Service Team, Events Team, Membership Team, Advocacy Team, Directory and Email List Team, Convener/Spokesperson, Webmaster and Treasurer. These Officers shall be elected for terms of one (1) year by the general membership at an Annual Meeting and take office July 1, SEE ATTACHMENT B
Section 2: The Convener/Spokesperson: The Convener/Spokesperson shall preside at all meetings of the organization .The Convener/Spokesperson may, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes.
Section 3: Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the minutes, of the League and of all meetings of the Leadership Committee. As such, The Secretary shall notify all members of The Leadership Committee of their election. Furthermore, The Secretary shall sign, with the Convener/Spokesman all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Leadership Committee and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to the office of secretary.
Section4: The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of these moneys, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Leadership Committee and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Leadership Committee. The Treasurer shall present statements to the Leadership Committee at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VI
Financial Administration
Section 1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall commence on July 1 of the current fiscal year.
Section 2: Dues. Dues shall be payable on the first day of July each year. Any member who fails to pay the dues by December 31 of the current fiscal year shall be dropped from the membership rolls. A change in the amount of dues may be made by the membership at the Annual Meeting.
Section 3: Budget. A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted to the Leadership Committee at least one (1) month prior to the Annual Meeting for approval. The budget shall include support for the work of the League as a whole. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one (1) week before the Annual Meeting. The proposed budget shall be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings
Section 1: Membership Meetings. There shall be at least two meetings of the membership each year. The Leadership Committee shall determine time and place.
Section 2: Annual Meeting. An Annual Meeting shall be held in the spring, the exact date to be determined by the Leadership Committee. The Annual Meeting shall:
a. Adopt a local Program for the ensuing year,
b. Elect members of the Leadership Committee and members of the Nominating Committee,
c. Adopt an adequate budget, and
d. Transact such business as may properly come before it.
Section 3: Quorum. Ten percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area, except for adoption of the Program items; ten percent of the voting members of the Municipality concerned shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII
Nomination of The Leadership Committee
Nominations and Elections
Section 1: Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members two (2) of whom shall be members of the Leadership Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. The current Nominating Committee shall make nominations for these offices. The Leadership Committee shall appoint the other member. The Leadership Committee may fill any vacancy occurring on the Nominating Committee. Any voting member may send suggestions for nominations for Leadership Committee to this Committee. The Nominating Committee shall function throughout the year, proposing nominations for vacancie, which may occur on the Leadership Committee.
Section 2: Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations from Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of the nominations for the Leadership Committee and the members of the succeeding Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members at least one (1) week before the date of the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, any voting member may make nominations from the floor provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.
Section 3: Elections. The election shall be by ballot, provided that when there is but one nominee for each office; the Secretary or Convener/Spokesperson may be instructed to cast the ballot for every nominee. A majority of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee proxy voting shall not be permitted.
ARTICLE IX
Program
Section 1: Authorization. The governmental principles adopted by the National Convention and supported by the League as a whole, constitute the authorization for the adoption of a program.
Section 2: Program. The program of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area shall consist of (a) those local governmental issues chosen for study, action, and/or continuing attention, (b) action to implement our principles. The Program shall include local issues concerning government of a single municipality within the area or local issues common to two or more governments.
Section 3: Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program. The following procedures shall be used:
a) The Leadership Committee shall consider the items suggested by voting members resident in the municipality(s) concerned two months prior to the Annual Meeting and shall formulate a Proposed Program.
b) The Proposed Program, together with all items suggested, but not recommended, shall be sent to all members three weeks before the Annual Meeting.
c) A majority vote of the voting members resident in the municipality(s) concerned and present and voting at the Annual Meeting, followed by a majority vote of concurrence of voting members residing outside the municipality(s)concerned and present and voting, shall be required for adoption of subjects in the Proposed Program as presented to the Annual meeting by the Leadership Committee.
d) If suggestions for Program are submitted one (1) month prior to the Annual Meeting by voting members resident in the municipality(s) concerned, but are not recommended by the, Leadership Committee they may be considered by the Annual Meeting provided that:
1) The Annual Meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote of the voting members resident in the municipality(s) concerned, and
2) The Annual Meeting shall adopt the item by a two-thirds vote of the voting members resident in the municipality(s) concerned followed by a majority vote of concurrence of the voting members residing outside the municipality(s) concerned.
ARTICLE X
National Convention, State Convention, State Council, and Inter-League Organization Convention
Section 1: National Convention. The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area, (at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office) shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Section 2: State Convention. The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area (at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office) shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allotted to the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
Section 3: State Council. The term “council” shall refer to a statewide meeting of the LWVNJ, with specified representation from local Leagues, Inter-League Organizations (ILOs), and the LWVNJ Board, that is called between conventions to transact business requiring member input. The League of Women Voters of the Princeton area (at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office) shall select delegates to the Council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
ARTICLE XI
Parliamentary Authority
Section 1: Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII
Amendments
Section 1: Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided that amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting.