Sample Bylaws
BYLAW I - MEETINGS
Section 1 - Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President, or at the request of three
members of the Committee.
Section 2 - General Membership Meetings
The Executive Committee shall arrange at least two meetings of the members each year.
Section 3 - Special Meetings
Special meetings of the General Membership may be held at the call of the President, or upon
written request to the Executive Committee from five representatives, or upon petition of 5% of
the members. Business to come before special meetings must be stated in the call, which shall
be sent in writing to each representative.
BYLAW II - QUORUM
A majority of their members shall be a quorum for the Executive Committee and committees.
BYLAW III - POWER OF OFFICERS
The offices that shall be filled by election shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 1 - President
The President shall preside over meetings of the Executive Committee, appoint the chairpersons
and members of standing committees, appoint special committees, be ex-officio member of all
standing committees, and shall be the executive officer of the ASSOCIATION. The President shall
represent all other functions usually attributed to this office.
Section 2 - Vice-President
The Vice-President shall perform the functions usually attributed to the office. The VicePresident shall become President when the presidency becomes vacant except as provided in
the Bylaws.
Section 3 - Secretary
The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and
General Membership meetings, shall maintain official files, and shall assist the President with
ASSOCIATION correspondence.
Section 4 - Treasurer
The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the ASSOCIATION and disburse them upon authorization
by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall maintain a roll of the members. The Treasurer
shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, shall report to each meeting of the
General Membership, and shall prepare an annual financial statement for publication to
members as directed by the Executive Committee informed of the financial condition of the
ASSOCIATION, shall be bonded by the ASSOCIATION, shall assist the Budget committee in the
initial drafting of the annual budget and shall file such reports with the Internal Revenue Service
or the Department of Labor as are required by law.
Section 5 - Terms and Succession
a.
The officers shall serve for two (2) years and may be re-elected without an intervening
term.
b.
Whenever the offices of both President and Vice-President shall become vacant
between elections, except as provided in Article VIII, Section 5 of the Bylaws, the
remaining members of the Executive Committee shall choose one of their number to
serve as President pro tempore until the Executive Committee can fill the vacancies.
BYLAW IV - POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 - The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the ASSOCIATION,
approve all expenditures, carry out policies established by the General Membership, report its
transactions to the members, and suggest policies for consideration by the members.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall develop workshops and training conferences for all building
representatives if requested.
Section 3 - The Executive Committee shall represent the ASSOCIATION in negotiating personnel policies
with the governing and appropriating bodies of the school system. Within policies established by the
General Membership, it may make decisions binding the ASSOCIATION in these matters.
Section 4 - The Executive Committee shall have the right to remove any Executive Committee member
for just cause, after due notice and hearing. Such vote to remove shall require a two-thirds roll call
vote of its entire membership at a duly convened meeting of the Executive Committee.
If the Vice-President is removed for just cause, or if he/she succeeds to the presidency upon the
President's removal for just cause, a special election to fill the balance of the Vice-President's unexpired
term shall be conducted under procedures developed by the Election Committee and approved by the
Executive Committee. Should there be any dispute as to what constitutes just cause, the matter may be
submitted by the affected individual to final and binding arbitration by the American Arbitration
Association. The arbitration hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Voluntary Labor
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the costs of the hearing shall be assumed
by this ASSOCIATION.
BYLAW V - POWERS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The General Membership shall approve the budget, authorize the participation in the Region, set the
dues for the ASSOCIATION, act on reports of committees, approve resolutions and other policy
statements, and shall adopt procedures to be followed in censuring, suspending, and expelling members
for cause or for reinstating members. It may adopt such rules governing the employment of staff, the
conduct of the ASSOCIATION, and the conduct of meetings as are consistent with this Constitution and
Bylaws. It shall be the final judge of the qualifications and election of officers and Building
Representatives. Powers not delegated to the Executive Committee, the officers, or other groups in the
ASSOCIATION shall be vested in the General Membership.
BYLAW VI - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1 - Meetings
Each standing committee shall meet according to need as determined by the Executive
Committee and may hold special meetings at the call of the chairperson.
Section 2 - Reports
Each committee shall choose a secretary who shall keep a continuing record of activities.
Chairpersons shall report as necessary to the Executive Committee and shall prepare an annual
written report summarizing objectives, action programs, gains, and unreached goals, which the
Executive Committee shall distribute to the members and which shall become a part of the
continuing committee record in the ASSOCIATION files.
BYLAW VII - SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Each year the President shall appoint an Election Committee, an Audit Committee, a Budget Committee,
and such other special committees as may be necessary and shall discharge them upon completion of
their duties. These committees shall operate according to rules approved by the Executive Committee.
No officers of the ASSOCIATION shall serve on either the Election Committee or the Audit Committee.
BYLAW VIII - ELECTIONS
Section 1 - Nominations
a.
The active members of the ASSOCIATION in each building during the month of February
may nominate candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
Executive Committee members-at-large as follows:
b.
The Committee on Elections shall report all nominations to the Executive Committee at
the March meeting. Members of the Council may nominate other candidates from the
floor.
c.
The Committee on Elections shall publish brief information on each candidate and make
such information available to the members.
Section 2 - Balloting
At a General Membership meeting in April members shall vote for officers and members-atlarge of the Executive Committee by secret ballot, in accordance with procedures developed by
the Committee on Elections and approved by the Executive Committee. The Committee on
Elections shall report results to the President who shall cause them to be published. New
officers shall be installed at the May meeting of the Executive Committee.
Section 3
Names of officers of the organization shall be reported to WEAC within thirty (30) days after
their election or appointment.
Section 4
All members in good standing shall be eligible to nominate candidates for local office and
WEAC office and shall be eligible to vote (by secret ballot) in all elections and referenda.
Section 5
All members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office in this Association.
BYLAW IX - AUTHORITY
Roberts Rules of Order (revised) shall be the parliamentary authority for the ASSOCIATION on all
questions not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws and such standing rules as the General
Membership may adopt.
BYLAW X - AMENDMENT
These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote at any regular meeting of the General Membership
provided that proposed amendments have been sent to Building Representatives two (2) calendar
weeks in advance of the meeting.
A copy of the latest revision of these documents shall be submitted to the Wisconsin Education
Association Council annually, with the date of the latest revision included on the face of the document.