AUBURN
UNIVERSITY CHAPTER CONSTITUTION
FOR
THE
National
Association for the
Advancement
of Colored People
(NAACP)
ARTICLE
I
NAME,
OBJECTIVES,
COORDINATION
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Auburn University Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Section
2
Objectives
The
purpose and aims of the College Chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People shall be to improve the political, educational,
social and economic status of minority groups; to eliminate racial prejudice; to
keep the public aware of the adverse effects of racial discrimination; and to
take all lawful action to secure its elimination, consistent with the efforts of
the national organization and in conformity
with
the Articles of Incorporation of the Association, its Constitution and By-Laws
and as directed by the National Board of Directors. In addition, its objectives
shall be to inform students of the problems affecting Blacks and other minority
groups; to advance the economic, educational, social, and political status of
Black people and other minority groups and their harmonious cooperation with
other people; to stimulate an appreciation of the Black man's contribution to
civilization. To develop intelligent, militant, effective leadership. These
objectives shall be pursued in accordance with the policies of the Association
within the framework of University regulations.
Section
3
Coordination
(a)
Whenever a College Chapter is located in a city or county containing another
Unit of the NAACP, the off-campus activity of the College Chapter shall be by
mutual exchange of information.
(b)
In the event of a dispute between the College Chapter and the other NAACP Unit(s)
in connection with such activity, the matter shall be
submitted
to the National Office for settlement.
ARTICLE
II
MEMBERSHIP
Section
1
Membership
Any
person under the age of 25 who is in accordance with the principles and policies
of the Association, may become a member of the Youth and College Division with
the consent of the Board of Directors, by accepting the terms of the
Constitution of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
and by paying annually, in advance, a fee of at least ten dollars ($10.00) for
any fiscal year for any College
Chapter
member who has not passed his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday, fifteen dollars
($15.00) if he/she has not passed his/her twenty-first (21st)
birthday,
and thirty dollars ($30.00) thereafter. Membership in the College Chapter shall
include membership in the National Association. On his/her 25th birthday, the
College Chapter member must transfer to the Branch.
Section
2
Members
At-Large
Members
of the Association in good standing and a student enrolled at a College or
University, where a College Chapter is in existence, may affiliate with the
College Chapter and be entitled to vote upon presenting satisfactory evidence of
their membership. They shall not be assessed annual membership fees by the
College Chapter until the expiration
of
the annual membership for which they have paid.
ARTICLE
III
OFFICERS
Section
I
Officers
(a)
The elected officers of the College Chapters shall be a President, Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer; also, at the option of the College Chapter
and pursuant to local By-Laws, additional - Vice Presidents and an Assistant
Secretary. Where such By-Laws are adopted, they are to be considered an integral
part of the College Chapter Constitution and By-Laws and may be adopted or
amended in accordance with the terms
and
conditions of Article XVI.
Section
2
President
The
duties of the President shall be:
(a)
To preside at meetings of the College Chapter and act as Chairman of the
Executive Committee.
(b)
To appoint Chairmen and members of all committees not directly elected by the
College Chapter or the Executive Committee.
(c)
Between meetings of the Executive Committee and the College Chapter and subject
to the approval thereof, to exercise general executive authority on behalf of
the College Chapter.
(d)
To countersign all requisitions by the Secretary for disbursement from the
College Chapter treasury.
(e)
To countersign all checks by the Treasurer for disbursement from the College
Chapter treasury.
(f)
To perform such other functions and exercise further duties as may be voted from
time to time by the College Chapter or the Executive Committee.
(g)
To represent the College Chapter on the Executive Committee of the Branch.
(h)
The President shall be an ex-officio member of all College Chapter committee.
Section
3
Vice
President
The
duties of the Vice President shall be to perform all the duties of the President
in his/her absence or disability. In case of more than one Vice President, the
Vice Presidents shall be designated as first, second, third, etc., and shall
perform their duties according to their numerical rank.
Section
4
Secretary
The
duties of the Secretary shall be:
(a)
To act as Secretary of the College Chapter and the Executive Committee; to give
due notice of all meetings of the College Chapter and
the
Executive Committee, and record the same in a minute book.
(b)
To keep a record of all Chapter members and their dues.
(c)
To give receipts for all membership fees received and to transmit such fees to
the College Chapter Treasurer, and to promptly send lists of all
memberships
received to the National Office; to secure from the Treasurer and forward to the
National Office that portion of fees due to the National Office.
(d)
To submit reports to the College Chapter and the Executive Committee at all
regular meetings, or whenever required by either body,
covering
the status of the College Chapter and its activities since the date of the last
report; to submit to the College Chapter, at its Annual Meeting, an Annual
Report on the status and activities of the College Chapter. A copy of all
reports by the Secretary, when adopted by the College Chapter, shall be
forwarded to the National Youth and
College
Director.
(e)
To keep the National Youth and College Director informed of all events affecting
the interest of the youth in the vicinity of the College
Chapter,
and to submit, to the National Office, a report on College Chapter activities.
(f)
In conjunction with the President, to sign requisitions for disbursements from
the College Chapter treasury and to maintain a file of receipts for
disbursements. The Secretary shall be an ex-officio member
of
all committees.
Section
5
Treasurer
The
duties of the Treasurer shall be:
(a)
To receive all monies of the College Chapter and promptly deposit the same in
the name of the College Chapter in a separate account(s) in a responsible bank
or other responsible student depository. No money shall be withdrawn from any
such account, except by check signed by the
Treasurer
and countersigned by the President.
(b)
To act as Chief Financial Officer of the College Chapter and Chairman of the
Finance Committee.
(c)
To make authorized disbursements upon requisitions signed by the Secretary and
countersigned by the President. Each requisition shall
recite
the amount and purpose of the payment requested. Every requisition in the amount
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more must further be approved by the
Executive Committee before payment. The College Chapter, may by regulation,
require that requisitions in smaller amounts be approved by the Executive
Committee.
(d)
To remit, through the College Chapter Secretary to the National Office, the
proportion of membership fees to which the National Office is
entitled,
as hereinafter provided within fifteen (15) days after their receipt (Article
VIII, Section 4).
(e)
To submit reports to the College Chapter and the Executive Committee at all
regular meetings, or whenever required by either body, covering the financial
condition of the College Chapter, showing receipts, disbursements', and
outstanding accounts unpaid since the last report; to submit an Annual Report of
his/ her office at the Annual Meeting of the College Chapter, to which shall be
appended a statement signed by the President and Secretary that all funds
received by the College Chapter have been listed in the Treasurer’s Report A
copy of all reports by the Treasurer, when adopted by the College Chapter, shall
be forwarded to
the
National Office, to submit to the National Office, when requested, financial
reports of all College Chapter activities.
(f)
The College Chapter may require the Treasurer to be bonded, at the expense of
the College Chapter.
Section
6
Executive
Committee Chairman
The
duties of the Chairman of the Executive Committee shall be:
(a)
To preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee.
(b)
To encourage and assist all committees in the development of their programs and
the performance of their duties.
(c)
To recommend, to the Executive Committee, the removal of any delinquent chairmen
of standing or special committees.
(d)
To recommend, to the chairmen of standing or special committees, the removal of
delinquent members thereof, and to insist that said chairmen immediately replace
such personnel or relieved of duty.
ARTICLE
IV
Section
1
Committees
The
Executive Committee shall have general control of the affairs of the College
Chapter subject to the authority of the College Chapter and to the provisions of
this Constitution. It shall consist of the President, First Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, ex-officio the Faculty Advisor(s), and such other members
to be elected at the Annual Meeting of the College Chapter as the College
Chapter By-Laws may decide, provided that the total membership of the Executive
Committee shall not exceed eighteen (18), except by written authorization of the
National Board of Directors.
Section
2
The
Executive Committee shall render a report to the College Chapter at the regular
meetings of the College Chapter and whenever otherwise required by the College
Chapter. The further duties and powers of the Executive Committee shall be:
(a)
At its first meeting following the Annual Meeting of the College Chapter, to
appoint the standing committees and select Faculty Advisor(s).
(b)
To appoint special committees from time to time.
(c)
To fill all vacancies in the College Chapter offices or on committees for the
non-expired term.
Section
3
The
quorum of the Executive Committee shall be determined by the College Chapter,
but shall not be less than one-third of its total membership.
Section
4
Standing
Committees
The
standing committees of the College Chapter shall be the Committee on Membership,
Finance, Press and Publicity, Program and Research,
Education,
Housing, Labor and Industry, Political Action, Veteran Affairs, and Health.
The duties of the standing committees shall be:
(a)
MEMBERSHIP. The Membership Committee shall work to maintain and increase the
membership of the Association through the renewal of old memberships and the
securing of new members. Between Annual Membership Campaigns, the committee
shall seek to renew all memberships as they expire, and shall recruit campaign
workers for the next campaign. It shall be responsible for drafting plans for
the Annual
Membership
Campaign and for organizing adequate machinery.
(b)
FINANCE. The Finance Committee, which shall consist of the President, Treasurer,
and at least one other member, shall study the financial needs of the Chapter
and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate Annual Budget. It shall
initiate fund raising projects for special local and national purposes within
the scope of the College Chapter programs and shall work with other communities.
(c)
PRESS and PUBLICITY. To secure publicity in the local press for the Chapter, to
publicize by means of posters, etc., the meetings and activities
of
the Chapter, to promote the sale of THE CRISIS and other Association literature.
(It shall be understood that no press releases may be made
without
the consent of the President of the Chapter.)
(d)
PROGRAM and RESEARCH. To study local and national issues affecting Black youth
and other minority groups and to recommend certain of these issues for
discussion and action by the Chapter; to operate a speakers' bureau for the
benefit of the Chapter and for the benefit of organizations on the campus and in
the community desiring to make use of it, to have charge of such entertainment
as shall be approved by the Executive Committee and to formulate and present to
the Executive Committee, at the regular monthly meeting following the Annual
Meeting of the Chapter, a program of activity for the ensuing year.
(e)
EDUCATION. The Committee on Education shall study educational conditions
affecting Black people and other minority groups. It shall be the policy of the
Education Committee to:
(1)
Concern itself with educational practices on its own campus as well as other
campuses.
(2)
Be a center of popular education on the problems of Black students and the work
of the NAACP.
(3)
To work for the integration of students, faculty and non-teaching personnel;
elimination of quota systems, particularly in medical, dental, and engineering
schools, and to give attention to upgrading and granting
tenure
to professors.
(4)
Seek to secure unprejudiced presentation in the teaching of materials pertaining
to racial and other minority groups.
(5)
Work to establish deadlines by which time student organizations must have
removed racial or religious discriminatory clauses from their constitutions or
face non-recognition by the University.
(6)
Conduct joint programs with students from other colleges in the community,
particularly colleges having few, if any, Black students.
(f)
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY PLANNING. The Committee on Housing and Community Planning
shall study the housing patterns and conditions of Blacks and other minority
people both on and off campus. Specifically it shall:
(1)
Seek to guarantee the rights of students and staff to live in any campus
controlled housing without regard to race or color,
(2)
Oppose segregation and discrimination in off campus housing for both students
and staff.
(3)
Demand the enforcement of community housing and sanitation codes.
(4)
Where necessary, with the approval of the National Office, sponsor direct action
programs as a means of publicizing and correcting intolerable housing
conditions.
(5)
Seek to eliminate segregation and discrimination and to improve the general
housing conditions for Blacks and other minorities in the community at large.
(g)
LABOR and INDUSTRY. The Labor and Industry Committee shall seek ways to improve
the economic status of minority groups by:
(1)
Working to eliminate discriminatory employment practices on campus and in
industry and government, wage differentials based on race, sex, or national
origin, unequal opportunities for training and pro motion, unfair dismissals.
(2)
Working to end discriminatory practices in labor unions.
(3)
Encouraging greater participation in the trade union movement.
(4)
Securing the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices
legislation.
(5)
Working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.
(h)
POLITICAL ACTION. The Political Action Committee shall seek to increase
registration and voting; encourage and promote voter education; and work for the
enactment of municipal, state, and federal legislation designed to improve the
educational, political and economic status of minority groups. The Committee
shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.
(i)
VETERAN AFFAIRS. The Committee on Veteran Affairs shall:
(1)Study
conditions pertaining to veterans on both the campus and in the community.
(2)
Serve as a center of information on material issued affecting Black veterans.
(3)
Serve as a source of information to veterans and their families seeking
information on government agencies serving veterans.
(4)
Receive and act on all veterans' complaints relative to discrimination on
account of race, color or creed, or denials of benefits in local areas because
of discrimination.
(k)
HEALTH. The Health Committee shall:
(1)
Work to promote, protect, and maintain the health of African Americans.
(2)
Assess the health needs of the community.
(3)
Advocate for equal access to health education, cue, treatment, and research for
all Americans.
(4)
Sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs, and workshops
high lighting issues of importance to people of
color.
(5)
Support health initiatives of the Association.
Section
5
Tenure
Members
of the Executive Committee and of the several standing committees shall hold
office for one year and until their successors are elected and qualify.
Section
6
Vacancies
And Removals
(a)
Non-functioning committees shall be promptly discharged by the Executive
Committee, and where necessary, new appointments made by
the
Executive Committee for the un-expired terms or unfulfilled purposes.
(b)
Any member of the Executive Committee or of any standing or special committee,
who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings without notice or
explanation, or who shall not perform the required duties for three consecutive
months, shall be removed by the Executive Committee. A member of any standing or
special committee may be directly removed by the Chairman for dereliction of
duty.
ARTICLE
V
Section
1
Faculty
Advisor
There
shall be a Faculty Advisor for Chapter or a Faculty Advisory Committee (not to
exceed 3 members), in accordance with the rates of the college and/or student
government regulations relating thereto.
Section
2
Advisory
Qualifications
The
Advisor to the College Chapter must be an employee of the College and meet the
requirements as set forth by the College and/or Student
Government
regulations relating to serving as advisor to a bona fide College or group. In
addition the Advisor must be a member of the NAACP.
ARTICLE
VI
ELECTION
OF OFFICERS
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Section
1
Organization
Meeting
(New
College Chapter)
The
officers and members of the Executive Committee elected at the organization
meeting shall hold office until their successors are elected
and
qualify, unless removed for dereliction of duty.
Section
2
Annual
Meeting
Thereafter,
all officers and members, not otherwise appointed, shall be elected by ballot at
each Annual Meeting of the College Chapter and
shall
hold office for one year and until their successors are elected and qualify.
Elections
All
persons qualified as provided by Article VIII, Section 1, who signify their
intention of becoming charter members of the College Chapter and their
endorsement of the aims and purposes of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People and who have paid the prescribed
fees,
shall be entitled to vote at the Organization Meeting and to be elected to
office. Thereafter, all members who me in good standing by noon of the day of my
meeting of the College Chapter shall be entitled to vote at the meeting.
Nominating
Committee
(a)
At the regular meeting of the College Chapter next preceding the Annual Meeting,
the College Chapter shall elect a Nominating
Committee,
composed of not less than five and no more than nine members of the College
Chapter in good standing, provided not more than two shall be officers of the
College Chapter or members of the Executive Committee, to present nominations at
the Annual Meeting for all officers and the Executive Committee, provided, that
additional nomination may he made at the Annual Meeting by written petition
signed by three or more members of the College Chapter.
Duties
Of Nominating Committee
(b)
The Nominating Committee shall meet promptly to elect a Chairman and interview
persons qualified as candidates for office.
(c)
The Nominating Committee shall submit a report in writing to the College Chapter
during the Annual Meeting. In case the Nominating
Committee
is not elected and neglects or refuses to render a report, nominations shall be
made at the Annual Meeting by written petition signed by three or more members
of the College Chapter.
Notice
Of Annual Meeting And The Meeting
That
Precedes The Annual Meeting
At
least seven days prior to the Annual Meeting and the meeting that precedes the
Annual Meeting, written notice shall be sent to each member of the College
Chapter, in good standing of the date, place, and purpose of said meetings and
election.
Tenure
in Office
All
officers and elected members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by
secret ballot and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are
elected and qualify unless removed for dereliction of duty.
Election
Meeting
The
College Chapter election of officers meetings and the College Chapter Annual
Meeting shall be the same. No candidate for office shall occupy the chair at the
election meeting. The names of the various candidates for office shall be
clearly announced or posted in a place visible to all present at the election
meeting. Tellers to count the ballots shall be appointed in equal number by the
candidates for office of President.
Section
8
The
number of the eligible voting members of the College Chapter shall be
established before the voting begins. Upon proof of qualification eligible
voters shall receive and sign for one ballot each and thereupon immediately
proceed to vote secretly. The right to vote is personal and shall not be
exercised by proxy.
Section
9
The
site of the College Chapter election shall be that place where the College
Chapter held the majority of its regular meetings, unless otherwise voted by a
majority of the College Chapter members present at the meeting preceding the
Annual Meeting.
Member
In Good Standing
Only
members in good standing shall be eligible to run for office or to vote in a
College Chapter election. For the purpose of running for office, a member in
good standing is one who has paid the prescribed membership fee no later than
thirty (30) days prior to the date of elections. For the purpose of being
nominated by the Nominating Committee, a member in good standing is one who has
been a bona fide member of the College Chapter and one who has paid the
prescribed membership fee by twelve noon the day of the meeting that precedes
the
Annual Meeting.
Section
11
Life
Members And Members-At-Large
In
order to ran for College Chapter office or vote in a College Chapter election,
Life Members and Members-at-Large must be actively affiliated
with
the College Chapter at least thirty (30) days prior to any meeting at which they
me nominated for office or seek to vote.
Election
Controversy
In
the event of election controversy, all parties thereto shall submit complaints
to the Chair of the Special Committee on Internal Affairs. Said complaints must
be postmarked no later than five (5) days following the date of the election in
question. The complaint must be signed by at least seven (7) members of the
College Chapter in good standing, and each signer must list his or her address.
The Chair of the State Conference's Special Committee on Internal Affairs shall
forward a copy of the complaint by mail to the officer or member against whom
the complaint has been filed at the officer's or member's address on record.
Should the State Conference determine that the complaint is frivolous or
completely devoid of merit, or that the election result could not have been
otherwise even if the matters alleged me assumed to be true, then the State
Conference shall, within thirty (30) days from receipt of the charges, dismiss
the complaint and inform the College Chapter forthwith that it may proceed with
the installation of officers. Should such complaint, in the opinion of the State
Conference, warrant intervention, a copy of
the
Conference's findings and conclusions shall be founded to the National Office,
through the National Youth and College Director, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore,
MD 21215. The National Office shall prepare the State Conference findings and
conclusions for reviews by the National Board of Directors. Should the National
Board determine that a new election be ordered, a National Officer or person
designated by the National Office shall preside over the new election. The
designated presiding officer shall order the procedure of the called elections,
and the results of the election thus supervised shall be final. In the event a
new election is ordered for the officers of President, Secretary, or Treasurer,
upon receipt of notice to that effect by mail or otherwise, no officer of the
College Chapter shall disburse funds from the Chapter treasury unless otherwise
instructed by the National Office pending a new election.
ARTICLE
VII
MEETINGS
Section
1
Regular
Meetings
Regular
Meetings of the College Chapter shall be held on a fixed Meetings day(s) or
date(s) of each month.
Annual
Meeting
The
Annual Meeting for the election of officers shall be the first regular meeting
held during the Spring term of the College or University.
Written
notice of the time and place of the Annual Meeting shall be sent by the
Secretary to each member of the Chapter, at least seven (7) days in advance of
the date of the Annual Meeting. Notice of the regular monthly or special
meetings shall be published in the campus publication.
Special
meetings may be called at any time and place within three days of such meeting
by written notice from the President or by any three members of the Executive
Committee, or on failure of these to act, by any ten members of the Chapter.
Section
4
The
Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month at such times and places as
it shall determine. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by
the President, the Secretary, or by two members of the Committee on two days'
written notice.
Section
5
The
standing committees shall meet regularly at least once a month.
Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or by two members on two
days' written notice. All standing committees shall report to the Executive
Committee at its regular meeting.
Adjourned
Meetings
In
the event a quorum is not present at any regular or special meeting of the
College Chapter or committee of the College Chapter, those present
at
the time and place announced for said meeting may adjourn the same from time to
time, to a day, hour, and place certain, and without further notice, all
business which might lawfully have been transacted
at
the original meeting, may be transacted at the adjourned meeting.
DUES,
FEES and ASSESSMENTS
Membership
Any
persons under the age of twenty-five (25) may become a member of the College
Chapter in accordance with the articles of incorporation and
the
Constitution and By-Laws of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, by paying annually, in advance, a fee of at least ten ($10.00)
for any fiscal year for any College Chapter member who has not passed his/her
eighteen (18th) birthday, fifteen dollars
($15.00)
if he/she has not passed his/her twenty first birthday, and thirty dollars
($30.00) thereafter. On his/her twenty-fifth (25) birthday, the
College
Chapter member must transfer to the Branch.
The
Crisis
Any
College Chapter member under the age of eighteen (18), paying an annual
membership of at least fifteen ($15.00), shall be entitled to receive
THE
CRISIS without further charge during the year. Persons between the ages of
eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) must pay youth membership
with
THE CRISIS which is fifteen dollars ($15.00), any person above the age of
twenty-one must pay annual membership of at least thirty dollars
($30.00),
which carries an automatic subscription to THE CRISIS.
Members-At-Large
Members
of the Association in good standing, who are qualified for membership in the
College Chapter, may affiliate with the new College Chapter, where the same is
being formed in the locality, and be entitled to vote upon presenting
satisfactory evidence of Association membership.
They
shall not be assessed annual membership fees by the new College Chapter until
the expiration of the annual membership for which they have paid.
Division
Of Fees
The
College Chapter shall remit to the Treasurer of the National Association, the
National Office's share of all membership fees, within fifteen (15) days of
their receipt, in accordance with the following schedule:
(a)
Youth Membership without THE CRISIS: for persons under eighteen (18) years of
age, ten dollars ($ 1 0. 00); to the NAACP National Office $7.00 which includes
state tax of $1.30, to the local treasury $3.00.
(b)
Youth Membership with THE CRISIS: for persons under twenty-one (21) years of
age, fifteen dollars ($15.00); to the NAACP National Office $10.20, to the local
treasury $4.80.
(c)
Regular Adult Membership with THE CRISIS Magazine: for any persons above
twenty-one (21) years of age (for both persons within the
Branch
and persons a part of the college community where the College Chapter is
located), $30.00; to the NAACP National Office $19.10 which includes state tax
of $.25, to the local treasury $11.90.
(d)
Junior Life Membership: for persons under the age of thirteen (13) years of age,
one hundred ($100.00); to the NAACP National Office
$60.00,
to the local treasury $40.00.
(e)
Bronze Life Membership: for persons between the ages of fourteen (14) to
twenty-one(21), four hundred dollars ($400.00); to the NAACP National Office
$240.00, to the local treasury $160.00.
(f)
Silver Life Membership: $750.00; to the NAACP National Office $450.00, to the
local treasury $300.00. Payable in yearly installments of
not
less than $75.00.
(g)
Golden Life Membership: $1500.00 (must already hold Silver Life Membership); to
the NAACP National Office $900.00, to the local treasury $600.00. Payable in
yearly installments of not less than $150.00.
(h)
Diamond Life Membership: $2500.00, to the NAACP National Office $1500.00, to the
local treasury $1000.00. Payable in
yearly installments
of
not less than $250.00.
(i)
Annual Corporate Membership: $5000.00 to the NAACP National Office, $3000.00, to
the local treasury $2000.00.
State
And Regional Assessment
(a)
Whenever the College Chapter comes within the jurisdiction of a State or
Regional Youth and College Division, assessments for the support of the
Conference shall be paid into the State Youth treasury and transmitted to the
treasury of the State or Regional Conference. The amount of such assessments
shall be determined by the State or Regional Conference with the approval of the
National Bond of Directors.
(b)
College Chapter Freedom Fund and other assessments for the support of the
Association must be paid to the National Office before the
Annual
National Convention for the delegates to be eligible to vote at the National
Convention. The above mentioned assessments refer to the previous calendar
year’s assessment.
(c)
The National Office will match the local assessment for the State Youth and
College Division provided that the National Office assessment
shall
not exceed ten cents ($. 1 0) per member in the College Chapter paying such
assessments into the treasury; and provided that the National
Office
received a written request for such payment from the State Youth and College
Division. Said request must be signed by the State-Regional
President-Chairman,
Secretary and Advisor.
The
College Chapter may raise and retain funds for local purposes within the scope
of the Association's program, as the same may be defined
from
time to time by the National Board of Directors, through entertainment and other
activities. The net proceeds of each entertainment or fundraising effort by a
College Chapter, excluding ACT-SO and Back-To-School/Stay In-School, shall be
divided as follows: Twenty-five percent (25%) to the National Office,
seventy-five percent (75%) to the College Chapter unless, in any case, written
permission is obtained from the National Office for some different division,
provided that the entire net proceeds of my fundraising effort for exclusively
national purposes shall be transmitted to the National Office. A financial
report of all
such
entertainments and activities shall be rendered to the College Chapter
membership, National Office and the public.
ARTICLE
IX
WITH
OTHER GROUPS
Definition
College
Chapters may cooperate with other groups when them is an incentive for
cooperation on specific issues which are in keeping with the
program
and policy of the Association.
Section
2
Permission
for such cooperation must be granted by the President/ CEO of the Association.
Affiliation
College
Chapters may not affiliate with other organizations or groups.
QUORUM
Quorum
The
number of members necessary to constitute a quorum at all meetings shall be
decided upon by a resolution adopted by the College Chapter.
ORDER
OF BUSINESS
Order
Of Business
Unless
altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present,
the following shall be the order of business at meetings of the Youth Council.
·
Ascertainment of
members present.
·
Reading of minutes
of previous meeting.
·
Report of Officers.
·
Report of
Committees.
·
Elections.
·
Unfinished business.
New
business.
Rules
of procedure laid down in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the College
Chapter except as otherwise herein provided.
EXPULSION,
SUSPENSION or
REMOVAL
OF OFFICERS
and
MEMBERS
Section
1
If
a College Chapter fails to report to the National Office for a period of four
consecutive months, the National Board of Directors may declare any or all of
the offices of the College Chapter vacant and order a new election. Notice of
removal shall be sent to the President, Secretary,
Treasurer,
and Advisor of the College Chapter by registered mail at their last addresses on
file in the National Office and may be published in the official organ of the
National Association. Immediately, upon the service of notice by the National
Office, the officers shall perform no official act and shall hold all records
and monies of the College Chapter subject to the disposition of the National
Office and/or the College Chapter.
Grounds
For Expulsion, Suspension Or Other
Disciplinary
Action
When
an individual becomes a member of the NAACP, that individual pledges to abide by
the rules and policies of the Association and the decisions of the National
Board of Directors. The National
Board of Directors, upon satisfactory evidence that an officer or member of the
Association
or of a subsidiary Unit of the Association is guilty of conduct, not in accord
with the principles, aims, and purposes of the National
Association
for the Advancement of Colored People, as set forth in its Constitutions, and as
defined by the National Board of Directors and
Convention,
or is guilty of conduct inimical to the best interest of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, may order the suspension,
expulsion, or other disciplinary action against such officer or member, after a
full hearing in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution.
A member who files litigation against the National NAACP or against any of its
Units is not entitled to a hearing and automatically
forfeits
his/her membership.
Section
3
Complaints
A
Complaint against any such officer or member under Section 2 hereof may be
initiated by any three (3) members of the affected College
Chapter
and must be signed by such members and forwarded to the Chairman of the State
Conference's Special Committee on Internal Affairs. The Complaint must include
the officer or member's mailing address (es).
Authority
Of National President and CEO
Where
the President/CEO is satisfied that there is danger of irreparable harm to the
Association or College Chapter involved and that immediate action is necessary,
he may order the officer or member suspended pending a full hearing.
Section
5
Notice
Of Complaint And Right To Answer
Upon
receipt of the complaint, the Chair of the State Conference Special Committee on
Internal Affairs shall forward a copy of the Complaint, by mail, to the officer
or member against whom it has been filed at the officer's or member's address of
record within ten (10) working days of receipt of the complaint. The respondent
officer or member shall have fifteen(15) working days from the date of the
receipt of the compliant
to
file a written response with the State Conference by mail, sent to the Chair of
the Special Committee on Internal Affairs. The 15-day period
shall
commence to run from the time a copy of the charges should have reached said
officer or member by ordinary post.
State
Conference Review And Investigation
The
Committee, upon receipt of the Complaint and the respondent's written response,
shall conduct an investigation, render determinations, and make recommendations
and findings regarding the charge to the State Conferences Executive Committee
for its final decision within 90 days of the respondent's writ ten response. The
Committee shall prepare a record which includes all documentary matter submitted
to it and written summary of all oral testimony received. Which documents shall
be delivered to the National Office, should there be appeal as provided here in.
The complainant and respondent shall have fifteen (15) days within which
to appeal the Executive Committee's decision. Notice to Appeal
shall
be served on the National Office, by regular mail, through the National Youth
and College Director, 4805 Mt Hope Dr., Baltimore, MD 21215.
If no appeal is received, as certified by letter from the National Youth
and College Director, within a fifteen (15) day period, the State
Conference's
Internal Affairs Committee decision shall be implemented under the supervision
of the State Conference Executive Committee. Upon failure to appeal within a
fifteen (15) day period, the complainant/respondent's opportunity to appeal is
hereby waived.
Should
either party appeal to the National Office, the President/CEO or his designee
shall cause a hearing to be held by a panel of three members
of
the National Board of Directors. The panel shall be appointed by the Chairperson
of the Committee on Branches, Youth Work, and Membership. The hearing panel
shall convene within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the appeal, or as soon as
possible thereafter, and conduct a
hearing
according to the hearing procedure.
Section
7
Hearing
Procedure
The hearing panel shall review only the written record of the State Conference investigation and may allow oral argument by the parties or their spokesperson. Based on its review of the record, and oral argument, if any, the panel shall render findings and recommendations in the matter to the Committee on Branches, Youth Work, Membership, and the National Board of Directors. The National Board of Directors shall affirm, reverse, or modify the panel's recommendation, or deny a rehearing. The National Board of Directors' decision shall be final.
Appeals
shall be based on the written record. Hearings will be conducted by a three (3)
member hearing panel which shall be appointed by the
Chairperson
of the Committee on Branches. The General Counsel or his/her designee shall
serves as counsel for the panel. The appellants may be represented by oral
argument by counsel or any other person of their choosing. The parties may not
present documentary evidence or testimony, but rather they may speak only from
the written record before
the
panel.
Section
8
Notice
Of Finding And Action Of The Board
Notice
of the findings and action of the Board shall be sent to the officer or member
by registered mail at his/her last address on file in the National Office and,
in the discretion of the Board of Directors, published in the official organ of
the National Association.
ARTICLE
XIII
SUSPENSION
and REVOCATION
OF
CHARTER
(a)
The Charter of authority received by the College Chapters upon it's admission to
the National Association for The Advancement of
Colored
People, may be suspended or revoked by the Board of Directors of the
Association, whenever the Board shall deem it for the best interest of the
Association, provided, however, that a full hearing on charges be held before
the National Board of Directors, at which the College Chapter may be represented
by a person or persons of its choice. Such suspension or revocation shall not
invalidate the membership of any member of the College Chapter in the National
Association.
(b)
The National Board of Directors may, without prior notice, suspend or revoke the
charter of any College Chapter that fails to maintain a minimum of twenty-five
(25) memberships for two consecutive years.
Section
2
Notice
Of Suspension
Notice
of the findings and action of the Board of Directors shall be sent by the
President/CEO of the Association, by registered mail, to the President and
Secretary of the College Chapter and may be published in the official organ of
the National Association. In case the Charter of the College Chapter is
suspended or revoked, the College Chapter shall immediately cease to function
and the officers shall forthwith forward all
records,
property, and monies of the College Chapter to the National Office. In the event
the Charter is revoked, notice shall also be sent to the
Secretary
of the Branch.
ARTICLE
XIV
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY
Section
1
Limitation
Of Liability Of National Association
No
indebtedness or obligation shall be incurred by the College Chapter or any of
its officers or agents in the name on behalf of the National Association or of
the Branch, and the Branch and the National Association shall not be responsible
for any indebtedness or obligation incurred by the College Chapter or by any of
its officers or agents.
Section
2
No
indebtedness or obligation of more than $25.00 shall be incurred in the name on
behalf of the College Chapter unless by vote of the College
Chapter's
Executive Committee.
Further
Limitations
College Chapters may initiate litigation.
ARTICLE
XV
SCHEDULE
and INSTALLATION
OF
OFFICERS
Section
1
Schedule
The
fiscal and business year of the College Chapter shall begin January 1, and end
December 31.
Installation
Of Officers
The
officers elected at the Annual Meeting shall be installed at the next regular
meeting of the College Chapter following the election.
BYLAWS
With
the written approval of the National Board of Directors previously obtained, a
College Chapter may adopt or amend By-Laws not inconsistent with this
Constitution, the Branch Constitution, or the Constitution of the Association,
provided that: (1) notice should be in writing of the proposed amendment shall
be given to all members at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which
the same is to be acted upon; or that (2) the proposed amendment shall be
approved at two successive regular meetings of the College Chapter.
ARTICLE
XVII
AMENDMENTS
TO
THIS
CONSTITUTION
This
Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of any Annual Convention of the
Association, provided the proposed amendment be submitted to the Resolutions
Committee by May 1, sixty (60) days prior to the Convention. The President/CEO
shall publish such proposals in the
official
organ of the Association prior to the Annual Convention.
AUTHORIZED
COMMITTEES
Groups
of seven (7) or more individuals in communities too small to maintain a College
Chapter or the Association may be authorized by the Board of Directors to work
as Authorized Committees of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People carrying out its purposes and objectives and raising funds for
its support as does a College Chapter, subject to such rules and regulations as
the National Board of Directors may enact.
It shall receive from the National Office a Certificate of Authority.
ARTICLE
XIX
Section
1
Relationship
Between College Chapter,
Youth
Council and Adult Branch
College
Chapters, Youth Councils, and Branches have coordinate status with the
Association's framework. While each affiliate has an independent status from the
other, it is expected that their programs will be coordinated and that the
College Chapter, Youth Council, and Branch in the same work are in full
cooperation to accomplish the Association's objectives.
Section
2
Within fifteen (15) days after a controversy arises between a College Chapter, Youth Council, and Branch, the Faculty Advisor, Advisor, Presidents and the Secretaries of the Units shall prepare and forward signed report(s) to the President/CEO of the Association for arbitration, decision of referral to the appropriate Regional Office or State Conference for investigation and other action. Respective parties shall send copies of all reports submitted by them to the State Conference or Regional Office and to the other party to the controversy. The original report to the President/ CEO shall contain a statement that copies have been forwarded
as
provided above.
UNIFORM
BOOKKEEPING SYSTEM/
ANNUAL
AUDIT
Section
1
Uniform
Bookkeeping System
The
College Chapters must use a uniform bookkeeping system approved by the National
Office.
Annual
Audit
The
books of the College Chapters, State and Regional Conferences shall be subject
to an annual audit by the National Office or its designee.