User:Gavinbaker/Bylaws1

''This page is protected, to keep it static for simplicity's sake. Please add comments at Talk:Bylaws. --Gavin 12:35, 22 July 2007 (JST)''

Article I: Name
This organization shall be known as Students for Free Culture (hereafter "the Organization").

The registered agent and registered office will be determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

The main web site of the organization shall be http://freeculture.org/

Article II: Purposes and Goals
The Organization is a diverse, non-partisan group of students and young people founded to advance cultural participation in the digital age and to defend the public interest in intellectual property policy.

The goals of the Organization are to:
 * 1) support existing chapters and promote the establishment of new chapters;
 * 2) network within the free culture movement and build coalitions with those outside of it; and
 * 3) advocate issues on behalf of our chapters and their members.

Section 1. Chapter Membership
The Organization is organized as a confederation of chapters. Membership in the Organization shall be limited to chapters duly recognized by the processes contained in these By-laws and adopted by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Becoming a Chapter
Each prospective chapter must designate an individual to be the offical liaison with the Organization. The chapter must then register with the national organization through a method established by the Board of Directors. This process includes submitting a form containing complete contact information for the official liaison, information regarding the chapter's current membership and status and an endorsement of the national organization's mission. An officer designated by the Executive Director will then interview the chapter contact and present their recommendations to the Executive Director for approval.

Section 3. Chapter Dues
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to adopt membership dues by a majority vote. At the time of the adoption of these by-laws, there are no dues required for membership in the Organization.

Section 4. Chapter Responsibilities
Each chapter must provide the Organization with current and accurate contact information for a current active chapter member designated as the liaison to the national organization. To ensure that this information is current, each chapter must re-register once a year. Each chapter's liaison must also vote in national elections for the Organization as detailed in Article IV.

Section 5. Termination of Chapter Status
Member status in the Organization may be terminated by the following means:

Section 5.1. Failure to Maintain Status
When a chapter does not comply with the responsibilities defined in Article III, Section 4, the Executive Director or his/her designee may remove the chapter from the national roster.

Section 5.2. Written Resignation
Any chapter may resign their membership from the Organization by submitting a written resignation to the Executive Director. Such a resignation shall be effective as of the date received by the organization, unless said resignation specifies another date. The Board at its sole discretion may maintain or remove any such chapter's access to any national projects upon such resignation.

Section 5.3. Removal for Cause
Any chapter may be removed from all aspects of the Organization for cause by a four-fifths vote of the Board of Directors; such decision shall be final and unappealable. Removal shall occur only after the chapter against whom the complaint was made has been advised of the complaint and has been given reasonable opportunity for defense before a committee to be formed and convened only should the occasion arise. The Board of Directors, at its sole discretion, may maintain or remove any such chapter's access to any national projects upon such removal for cause. The removal process shall not be the same as the process of temporary (long or short term) suspension of membership privileges.

Section 5.4. Suspension
Independant of the power of Removal for Cause, the Board of Directors shall be empowered to order suspension of membership or the suspension of particular membership privileges of any chapter upon receipt of a verified complaint of misconduct; such suspension shall be a short or long term temporary measure in connection with any mediation or arbitration procedure or procedures.

Nominations
Members of any chapter can nominate other members for board positions.

Members of the board of directors are elected by the liaisons of official chapters by plurality vote. Each chapter may cast one vote.

Elections must be called when the number of board members threatens to drop below the minimum required, so as to fill any empty seats. Otherwise, elections will be called once a year in the spring for all seats on the board.

Only current members of chapters, alumni of chapters, or people who have previously served the Organization in other capacities for at least a year shall be eligible to stand for election to the board. There is no limit to the number of terms that a person may serve on the board.

The executive director is responsible for running the election.

Section 1.2. Board Structure
The board of directors must have a chair, selected by the board. The chair arranges the time and method of meeting and sets the agenda.

The board of directors shall consist of an odd number of members no smaller than five and no larger than nine.

At least two-thirds of the board must be present at a meeting for the board to conduct business.

The board of directors makes decisions by majority vote. A tie vote does not pass. Directors may abstain from a vote when they sense a conflict of interest, or for any other reason.

Section 1.3. Board Duties and Powers
The board of directors meets at regular intervals, no more frequently than twice a week, and no less frequently than once a semester. At his/her discretion, the chair may call special meetings.

The board of directors selects, directs, and terminates the executive director. The board should approve important expenditures, appointments, and other major decisions by the executive director, as the board defines them.

The board of directors creates, selects, directs, and terminates other executive positions, if needed. It may also create committees or "teams" as needed, such as web, outreach, or press.

The board of directors confirms appointments made by the executive director at the meeting following the appointment.

The board must stay aware of all major issues and activities at the national level of the Organization.

The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.

Section 1.4. Board Vacancies
Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by all Board members. All members of the Organization must be notified within two weeks of any resignations from the board. A Board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the remaining directors.

When a vacancy on the Board exists, nominations for new members may be received from present Board members and individual university chapters.

Section 2. Executive Director
The executive director is selected by the board, as stated in 4.1.3.

The executive director runs the day-to-day activities of the Organization, within his/her powers as defined by the board of directors.

To help him/her fulfill these duties, the executive director may appoint assistants, such as a lieutenant executive director, outreach director, web director, or fundraising director. These appointments are valid immediately, but must be confirmed at the next meeting of the board of directors.

The executive director is in charge of announcing elections for the board of directors, determining a deadline for voting, tallying votes, and any other election-related responsibilities.

The executive director must report to the board of directors regularly.

Article V: Ratification
Chapters shall have no less than seven (7) days to vote on ratification of the bylaws.

Each chapter shall submit a vote to approve or to disapprove the ratification of the bylaws, as per the procedures of that chapter, by the chapter's president.

The votes shall be recorded by an independent, trusted third party, which shall not reveal the votes until the voting period closes. Upon the closing of the voting period, the vote of each chapter shall be publicly disclosed.

These bylaws shall be considered as ratified upon approval by three-fourths of the chapters registered and voting.

Article VI: Amendments
The board of directors may revise the bylaws as appropriate with a two-thirds majority vote. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the chapters.

Article VII: Dissolution
The dissolution of the Organization must be authorized by the Board by a four-fifths vote.

Upon the dissolution or winding-up of this corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of the corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or corresponding provisions of subsequent federal tax laws.

Unless the board decides otherwise through a four-fifths vote, the assets will be given to the Electronic Frontier Foundation in perpetuity.