View source for Transhuman National Committee By-Laws

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DRAFT  (Adopted by Interim Board 12/1/2015)
 
FINAL ADOPTION - 2016 Transhuman National Committee Convention 27 FEB 02016
 
Article One Transhuman National Committee National Convention
 
Section 1. The National Convention is the highest authority of the TNC, subject to the provisions of the Charter.

Section 2. The National Convention shall adopt permanent rules governing the conduct of its business at the beginning of each Convention, and until the adoption of such permanent rules, the Convention and the activities attendant thereto shall be governed by temporary rules set forth in the Call to the National Convention.

Section 3. Delegates to the National Convention shall be allocated in the Call to the Convention consistent with the Charter.
 
Article Two Transhuman National Committee Board
 
Section 1. Duties and Powers. The Transhuman National Committee Board shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the TNC between National Conventions, subject to the provisions of the Charter and to the resolutions or other official actions of the National Convention. This responsibility shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Issuing the Call to the National Convention; (b) Conducting the TNC Policy efforts

(c) Filling vacancies in the TNC as they occur;

(d) Assisting state and local Transhuman political organizations in the election of their candidates, policy efforts and the education of their voters;

(e) Formulating and disseminating statements of TNC policy, promoting programs for the systematic study of public policy issues, through participation of members of the Transhuman National Committee Board and through specific projects administered under the authority of the Chairperson of the Transhuman National Committee;

(f) Providing for the election or appointment of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Treasurer, a National Finance Chair, a Secretary, a Technology Chair, Social Media Chair and other appropriate officers of the National Committee as shall be determined by the Committee, and for the filling of vacancies;

(g) Establishing and maintaining National Headquarters of the TNC;

(h) Promoting and encouraging TNC activities at every level, including but not limited to the following:

(i) promoting and encouraging implementation of all TNC mandates;

(ii) the fulfillment by the TNC of its platform and policy pledges and other commitments;

(iii) establishment and support of an adequate system of political research;

(iv) the preparation, distribution and communication of TNC information to its members and the general public;

(v) the development and maintenance of a program of public relations for the TNC; and

(vi) development of a program for the coordination of TNC committees, organizations, groups, public officials and members.

(i) Devising and executing ways and means of financing activities of the TNC;

(j) Taking such other action as may be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of the Charter, these Bylaws, the resolutions and other official actions to achieve the objectives of the TNC and the Convention; and

(k) Approval of the budget of the Transhuman National Committee.
 
Section 2. Membership. The Transhuman National Committee Board shall be composed of:

(a) The Chairperson and the highest ranking officer of each recognized state or regional organizations as defined by Article Nine of the Charter,

(b) Additional members apportioned to the states or local organizations on the basis set forth in Article Two, Section 5(a) of the Charter, provided that each state shall have at least two members;

(c) The highest political ranking transhumanists in any party;

(d) The Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, the National Finance Chair, the Treasurer, Technology Chair, Social Media Chair, Legal Chair and the Secretary of the Transhuman National Committee Board;

(e) Additional members as provided in Article Nine of the Charter;
 
Section 3. Selection of Board Members.

(a) Members of the Transhuman National Committee Board apportioned to the states pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Article and those apportioned pursuant to the provisions of Article Nine of the Charter who are not otherwise members by virtue of TNC office shall be selected by each state or territorial TNC or Transhuman organization in accordance with standards as to participation established under Section 11 of this Article through processes which assure full, timely and equal opportunity to participate. The method of selection for such members shall be described in detail in each state or territory's Party or organizational rules and shall be by one of the following methods or any combination thereof:

(i) by a meeting of the National Convention delegation from the state or territory authorized to elect National Committee Board members, at an open meeting called within the calendar year of the Convention after effective public notice of the agenda; Primary

(ii) by state or territorial y within the calendar year of the National Convention;

(iii) by state or territorial TNC committees in an open meeting within the calendar year of the National Convention called after effective public notice of the agenda;

(iv) by a state or territorial convention authorized to select national committee members in an open meeting within the calendar year of the National Convention called after effective public notice of the agenda; and

(v) by such other method as may be adopted by a state or territorial Party and approved by the Transhuman National Committee Board

(b) Selection by any of the above r methods shall be held to meet the requirements of full, timely and equal opportunity to participate if the selecting body has been established according to law and the Charter and the rules of such body have been approved by the Transhuman National Committee Board.

(c) Members of the Transhuman National Committee Board who serve by virtue of holding TNC office shall be selected by each state party or organization in accordance with standards as to participation appearing in Section 11 of this Article.
 
Section 4. Certification and Eligibility of Board Members.
 
(a) Members of the Transhuman National Committee Board provided for in Section 2 of this Article shall be certified to the National Committee Board as follows:

(i) those authorized under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 2 shall be certified by the proper TNC authority of the state or territory;

(ii) those otherwise authorized under Section 2
shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Transhuman National Committee.

(b) No person who is not or who does not continue to be a resident for voting purposes of the jurisdiction which he or she represents shall be eligible to hold such office.

(c) No person shall be entitled to vote in a challenge to his or her credentials.

(d) Contests involving membership or to credentials of members shall be heard d adjudicated by the National Committee as ed or provided in Article Two, Section 10(b) of these Bylaws.
 
Section 5. Resignation or Removal of Members.
 
(a) A member of the Transhuman National Committee Board may resign by written notice to the Chairperson of the Transhuman National Committee, and such resignation shall be effective immediately.

(b) After notice and opportunity for public hearing and upon grounds found by the National Committee Board to constitute good and sufficient cause, the National Committee Board may remove a member by two-thirds vote of the Transhuman National Committee Board.

(c) Failure of any member of the Nation Committee Board to declare affirmatively his or her support for the recommended Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees within thirty (30) days after the adjournment of the National Convention shall constitute good and sufficient cause for removal.
 
Section 6. Vacancies. Vacancies created toy resignation or removal of any member of the National Committee Board shall be filled as follows: 

(a) Vacancies in membership apportioned to the states and territories pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Article and Article Nine of the Charter shall be filled by a state or territorial transhuman organization in a meeting called after effective public notice of the agenda.

(b) Vacancies created by the removal or resignation of an officer.

(c) Vacancies in the at-large membership of the National Committee Board shall be filled by the National Committee Board.
 
Section 7. Meetings.
 
(a) The National Committee Board shall meet as soon as possible after the adjournment of the National Convention on the call of the Chairperson. The Committee is authorized to organize with those members already selected, including any person seated temporarily as provided in Section 10(b)(iv) and entitled to serve as of the first meeting of the Committee. They shall select those members of the Executive Committee who are selected by the Regional groups, who shall serve with those who serve by reason of office until the next regular meeting of the Transhuman National Committee.

(b) At least two meetings of the National Committee Board shall be held each year upon call of the Chairperson and after notice to members, unless any such meeting is dispensed with by prior vote of a majority of the full membership of the National Committee Board.

(c) Special meetings of the National Committee Board may be held upon the call of the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee with reasonable notice to the members, and no action may be taken at such a special meeting unless such proposed action was included in the notice of the special meeting. 

(d) No later than thirty (30) days before each regularly scheduled meeting, and as soon as possible before a special meeting of the Transhuman National Committee Board, the Secretary of the Transhuman National Committee shall send written notice of the date, time and place of such meeting or the connection details of said meeting, and the tentative agenda to all members of the Transhuman National Committee Board.

(e) Upon the written request of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the members of the National Committee Board, filed with the Chairperson within a period of thirty (30) days, it shall be the duty of the Chairperson within fifteen (15) days from receipt of such request to issue a call for a meeting of the National Committee Board. The date of such meeting shall be fixed by the Chairperson not later than thirty (30) days nor earlier than fifteen (15) days from the date of the call.
 
Section 8. Board Quorum and Voting.
 
(a) A majority of the full membership of the Transhuman National Committee Board present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum, provided that no less than forty percent (40%) of the full membership be present in person for the purpose of establishing a quorum; provided, however, that for purposes of voting to fill an officer vacancy, a quorum shall be a majority of the full membership present in person or digitally present.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Charter or in these Bylaws, all questions before the Transhuman National Committee Board shall be determined by majority vote of those members present and voting in person, digitally or by proxy.

(i) A roll call may be requested by a vote of twenty-five percent (25%) of those Transhuman National Committee members present and voting.

(c) Each member of the National Committee Board shall be entitled to one vote on each issue before it. 

(d) Voting to fill a vacancy of an officer shall be in accord with procedural rules adopted by the Rules and Bylaws Committee and approved by the Transhuman National Committee Board.

(e) Proxy voting shall be permitted. Proxies may be either general or limited and either instructed or uninstructed. All proxies shall be in writing and transferable if so specified. No DNC member may at any one time hold or exercise proxies for more than one other DNC member; provided, however, that proxy voting shall not be permitted in voting to fill a vacancy of a TNC officer.

(f) The Chairperson of the National Committee may refer matters to the members of the National Committee Board for consideration and vote by mail or email, provided, however, that if members aggregating more than twenty percent (20%) of the full membership shall. so request, the matter shall be presented to the next meeting of the National Committee Board.
 
Section 9. Regional and local groups shall decide on how they elect members to the Transhuman National Committee Board if they so choose as they see fit.
 
Section 10. Committees.

(a) In addition to the Committees otherwise provided for in the Charter there shall be the following standing committees of the Transhuman National Committee Board:

(i) Membership Committee;

(ii) Policy Committee;

(iii) Rules and Bylaws Committee.

(b) (i) Rules for additional committee’s will be defined in the charter to those committee’s by the TNC Board.

(e) The National Committee Board may from time to time create such other standing or ad hoc committees as it shall deem appropriate.

(f) All matters referred to any council, special committee, standing committee, conference or any other sub-group must be acted upon and said action reported to the TNC Board.
 
Section 11. Participation in All TNC Affairs.

(a) The TNC of the United States shall be open to all who desire to support the TNC and who wish to be known as Transhumanists. Participation in the affairs of the TNC shall be open pursuant to the standards of non-discrimination incorporated into the Charter of the TNC of the United States.

(b)(i) All TNC Affairs shall mean all activities of each official TNC organization commencing at the lowest level and continuing up through the TNC. Such activities shall include but need not be limited to the processes in which delegates are selected to the National TNC Convention; TNC officials are nominated or selected; TNC policy, platforms, and rules are formulated; and regular programs of voter registration, public education and public relations. Such programs may be developed and sponsored in cooperation with the Transhuman National Committee.

(ii) National and state Transhuman Parties or organizations shall carry out programs to facilitate and increase the participation of low- and moderate-income persons. These programs shall include provisions and resources for outreach and recruitment to achieve representation and equitably minimize economic factors which act to bar full participation by such persons.

(iii) State and other local and regional organizations shall act affirmatively to develop and implement appropriate education, training, fundraising and outreach programs directed at low- and moderate-income Transhumanists and shall implement rules, and regulations of the TNC in their most constructive interpretation to effect increased participation and representation by people of low and moderate income. Nondiscrimination as it relates to this Section 11(b) and as provided in Article Eight, 
Section 2 of the Charter shall be strictly enforced.

(c)(i) Each state or territorial organization shall require each unit of the TNC if organized or associated with the TNC which holds such meetings to publicize effectively and in a timely fashion the dates, times, and places of all such meetings, and the name or names of the person responsible for such meetings.

(ii) Notice of meetings shall be published as required in this Section prior to the meeting. Such notice may appear as legal notice, paid advertisement, news item, direct mail, radio or television announcement, email, web site post or in such other form as may reasonably be designed to notify Transhumanists of the meeting provided no state, territorial, or county Party is required to purchase paid advertising; and

(iii) If challenged, a state or territorial TNC organization shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section upon proof of effective notice from the reporting unit of the TNC.

(d) If a county or any local unit of the state or territorial TNC organization fails to comply with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the state or territorial Party may assume responsibility for setting dates, times and places for local meetings and for giving notice of the same as provided in this Section.

(e) Each state or territorial TNC organization may establish such procedures and structures as are necessary to ensure compliance with this Section, including procedures for review of complaints of non-compliance with this Section by any unit of the political process, including the state.

(f) If a state or territorial TNC organization is alleged to have failed to comply with this Section, the alleged non-compliance shall be referred to the Transhuman National Committee Board for review provided that any person alleging non-compliance at any level shall be a resident of the affected jurisdiction and provided that any person alleging non-compliance of a state or territorial TNC organization with this Section shall have exhausted all remedies provided by the state or territorial TNC organization.
 
Section 12. Duties and Responsibilities of the Chairperson

(a) The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the Transhuman National Committee and shall exercise authority delegated to him or her by the Transhuman National Committee Board and the Transhuman National Committee's Executive Committee in carrying out the day-to-day activities of the TNC.

(b) By the time of the next TNC meeting following his or her election, the Chairperson shall designate a Vice Chair who will have authority to act as Chairperson should a vacancy occur or should the Chairperson become incapacitated. In the event of such succession, the designated Vice Chair will serve in the capacity of the Chairperson until a new Chairperson is elected at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the full Transhuman National Committee.
 
Article Three Executive Committee
 
Section 1. Powers and Duties. The Executive Committee of the Transhuman National Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the TNC in the interim between the meetings of the full Board. This responsibility shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Authority for the Transhuman National Committee Board between meetings thereof;

(b) Recommending approval of the budget of the Transhuman National Committee, electing the members or representatives to other organizations, approving the budget and overseeing the operations of such Council; and

(c) Reporting all of its proceedings to the Transhuman National Committee.

Section 2. Membership. The Executive Committee shall be composed of:

(a) The Chairperson of the TNC;

(b) The Vice Chairperson;

(c) The Technology Chair, Social Media Chair, Legal Chair, the Treasurer, and the Secretary of the Transhuman National 
Committee Board;

(d) The National Finance Chair;

(1) Three additional members as selected by the Convention;

(m) Any designee as provided for in this Section may not otherwise be a member of the Executive Committee and must be a member of the organization or constituency he or she is designated to represent.

Section 3. Election of Members.

(a) Elected members of the Executive Committee shall be elected:

(i) at the first meeting of the Transhuman National Committee Board held after the National Convention;

(ii) at a meeting of the Transhuman National Committee Board held after the succeeding presidential election and prior to March 1 next, and

(iii) whenever a vacancy occurs.

(b) Members of the Executive Committee shall serve until the election of their successors. Upon the resignation of a member, a successor shall be selected by the original official authority to serve the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 4. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times each year. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson or by written request of no fewer than one-fourth of its members. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings which shall be available to the public.
Section 5. Quorum and Voting. The provisions of Section 8 of Article Two of these Bylaws shall apply to the Executive Committee.
 
Article Four - Finance
 
Section 1. Duties and Powers. The Finance Chair of the TNC shall have general responsibility for the finances of the TNC for raising funds to support the TNC and the Transhuman National Committee Board to advise and assist local organizations and candidates supporting Transhuman policy as directed by the TNC Board in securing funds for their purposes.  The National Finance Chair and the Treasurer will advise Executive Committee of the Transhuman National Committee with respect to the finances of the TNC.
 
Article Five Amendments
 
Bylaws may be adopted or amended by majority vote of:

(a) the TNC National Convention; or

(b) the Transhuman National Committee Board provided that thirty (30) days written notice of any proposed Bylaw or amendment has been given to all members of the National Committee Board. Unless adopted in the form of an amendment to the otherwise designated, any resolution adopted by the National Convention relating to the governance of the TNC shall be considered a Bylaw and made public.


Original draft based on http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/POLITICALMACHINES/DemocraticPartyRules.html

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