PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LWVUS BYLAWS

 

FROM: LWV OF CONNECTICUT                       FILE NUMBER: CT 000

 

DATE: February 4, 2008

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:  Brackets [ ] denote words to be deleted. Underlining ____ denotes words to be added.

 

Article IX Convention

Sec. 4. Powers. The convention shall adopt a program (including action priorities), elect officers and directors, adopt a budget and transact such other business as may properly come before it.

 

Rationale: In a democratic, grassroots organization like the League, members want to set action priorities which the national League must follow for the next biennium unless emergency situations require a change at Council. Program includes action as stated in current bylaws, but no method of members giving input and setting priorities was included in the program planning and adoption process.  Setting it in bylaws allows all to know and follow one process.

 

Article X Council

Sec. 4. Powers. The council shall give guidance to the national board on program and methods of work.

a. In the event of an emergency, the council may change the program (including action priorities) upon recommendation of the national board or a state League, using the following procedure: (1) At least [eight weeks] two months prior to the council meeting any state League proposing a change shall submit it to the national board which shall decide whether to recommend it. (2) At least [six weeks] one month prior to the council meeting, the national board shall send to the presidents of local and state Leagues and ILOs and registered delegates to council all proposed changes, both recommended and non-recommended. A rationale for such action shall be included along with a detailed background document containing pro and con considerations and the actual position statement or clarification language.  (3) Any change proposed by a state League and not recommended by the national board shall first require a majority vote of the council for consideration. (4) A [three-fifths] two-thirds vote shall be required to adopt any change.

Rationale: To be a viable, flexible organization action priorities and other program issues may need to be amended annually. The membership can stay involved in the program setting process through their delegates to Council. 

With the proliferation of electronic communications, deadlines for proposals, recommendations and notices can be shortened.  All timeframes were changed to months to be consistent.

Any delegates that are registered can be sent direct communications from national so that they can be informed in a timely manner without forwarding from state, local or ILO Leagues.

Requiring a two-thirds vote provides consistency with other vote percentages at Convention.  Requiring 66% versus 60% to adopt a change at Council, when fewer delegates attend, ensures broader member agreement.

Article XII Principles and Program

[Sec. 2. Program. The program shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those governmental issues chosen by the convention for concerted study or concurrence and action as follows:

 

a. Local and state League and ILO boards may make recommendations to the national board at least three months prior to the convention. Any League that plans to propose the adoption or amendment of a national League position by concurrence on the floor of convention shall give notice to all Leagues of its intent to do so at least six weeks before convention.

 

b. The national board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program which shall be sent to the presidents of local and state Leagues and ILOs at least six weeks prior to the convention.

 

c. Any League that plans to propose the adoption or amendment of a national League position by concurrence on the floor of convention shall send background information, including pros and cons on the issue and an explanation of the rationale for using this form of member agreement, to all Leagues at least six weeks before convention.

 

d. The convention shall adopt a program by a majority vote on each subject presented to it. A program recommendation submitted by a local or state League or ILO board at least three months prior to convention but not proposed by the national board may be adopted only if its consideration is ordered by majority vote of the convention and the vote on adoption comes on a following day. A two-thirds vote is required to amend or adopt a national League position by concurrence on the floor of convention.

 

Sec. 3. Program Action. Leagues may act on national program only in conformity with positions taken by the LWVUS. Members may act in the name of the LWVUS only when authorized to do so by the appropriate board.]

Sec. 2. Program. The program shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those governmental issues on which the League has adopted positions.  Positions and action priorities shall be adopted or amended as follows:

a. New or amended positions

1.    Local and state League and ILO boards may make recommendations to the national board for a concerted study leading to a new or amended position (by consensus or concurrence of members) at least two months prior to the convention.

2.    Any League that plans to propose the adoption or amendment of a national League position by concurrence on the floor of convention shall send background information, including pros and cons on the issue and an explanation of the rationale for using this form of member agreement, to all Leagues at least two months before convention.

3.    The national board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program which shall be sent to the presidents of local and state Leagues and ILOs along with non-recommended proposals at least one month prior to the convention.

4.    At convention the national board shall present its recommendations at the first business session.  A program recommendation submitted by a local or state League or ILO board at least two months prior to convention but not proposed by the national board may be adopted only if its consideration is ordered by majority vote of the convention and the vote on adoption comes on a following day.

5.    The convention shall adopt a program by a majority vote on each subject presented to it. A two-thirds vote is required to amend or adopt a national League position by concurrence on the floor of convention. 

6.    Prior to accepting study responses, the national board shall set and communicate standards for member and league participation, whether by consensus or concurrence, to ensure widespread participation by the members nationwide.  New positions resulting from a study, whether by consensus or concurrence, become effective upon adoption by the national board.

Rationale: The entire program section is rewritten to provide clarity on adopting, amending and taking action on positions.

1. This section describes the process for proposing new studies leading to a new position or an amended position.  It allows local and state leagues more time to get proposals to the national board by changing the deadline to two months prior instead of three.  With electronic communication possible, allowing input as close to the convention date as possible provides for more current assessment of pertinent issues.

2. The six weeks notice requirement for adoption or amendment of a position by concurrence on the floor of the convention is changed to two months.  More time should be allowed for this method of adoption, since members have not had time to study the issue in advance and only delegates are making the decision for the entire League.  It protects the League’s reputation of thorough study and prevents a faction from pushing an issue which may not be the view of the majority of members.

3.  This changes the requirement that the national board send their recommended program and non-recommended programs to Leagues from six weeks prior to convention to one month.  Again, this should be done electronically – tightening up the timeframe from planning to adoption at convention.

4/5.  Clarifying existing procedure but updating three months to two months reference.

6.  This new section establishes a requirement that the national board set and communicate to Leagues standards for member and League participation in studies, whether by consensus or concurrence, to ensure widespread participation by the grassroots members nationwide. It also clarifies that new positions resulting from a study, whether by consensus or concurrence, become effective upon adoption by the national board.  This is important to insure that positions are formed by a significant number of members and broad geographical cross-section of members.  Again this keeps the League’s high standards and reputation intact.