Team_Constitution

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Article I: Team Name and Purpose

 * **Section 1**: The name of this organization shall be the Upper Merion Area Debate Team.
 * **Section 2:** The purpose of this organization shall be to provide Upper Merion Area students with educational experiences in public discussions, presentations, and debates through a variety of activities and competitions.
 * **Section 3:** The business of this organization shall be conducted in accordance with this constitution. If any section of the constitution is in any way in conflict with school district policy, that section shall be null and void.

Article II: Team Organization

 * **Section 1:** The coach (or coaches) of this team shall be the person(s) hired by the Upper Merion Area Board of School Directors.
 * **Section 2:** General Team Meetings shall be scheduled and announced by the coach. Special team meetings shall be called by the coach at the request of any three (3) team members.
 * **Section 3:** Special Team Meetings shall be announced at least one week prior to the meeting.
 * **Section 4:** Special Team Practices shall be scheduled and announced by the coach at the mutual convenience of coach and members. No team business shall be conducted at special team practices.

Article III: Membership

 * **Section 1:** Membership in this organization shall be open to any student eligible to participate in Upper Merion Area extracurricular activities according to school policy.
 * **Section 2:** Voting membership status shall be attained after attending 4 official team functions, which shall include regular meetings, competitions, or special workshops.
 * **Section 3:** Varsity membership status shall be attained when any voting member earns a degree of honor in the National Forensics League, or attends 10 official team functions including 3 competitions within a year.
 * **Section 4:** The Upper Merion Area Forensics Team for Speech and Debate believes in promoting Viking Way values. Hazing activities shall be prohibited, and students shall be free to leave or disassociate with the team without fear of harassment or reprisal.

Article IV: Officers

 * **Section 1:** The Executive Board shall be defined as President, Captain, Treasurer, Secretary, and one Member-At-Large. The Executive Board shall be responsible for approving the team competition schedule, outreach activities, team budget, and team communication systems. The Executive Board meetings shall be called by the coach or requested by any Executive Board member, or any five (5) team members. The Executive Board may appoint ad hoc committees and chairs to assist with team affairs.
 * **Section 2:** President—The president shall preside over team meetings and Executive Board meetings. The president shall serve as (or appoint) the team representative for school district functions, including but not limited to Student Forums, School Board Meetings, and Activity Fairs. The president shall be expected to attend all team functions, or appoint an Executive Board member to serve during the president’s absence.
 * **Section 3:** Captain—The captain shall be responsible for the organization of team competitions. The captain shall assist the coach in preparing the competition schedule and line-up, and hosting the home tournament(s). The captain shall serve as team representative for interscholastic functions, including but not limited to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Debate League Student Group.
 * **Section 4:** Treasurer—The treasurer shall be responsible for team finances. The treasurer shall assist the coach in organizing student fund-raisers, arranging for payment of league dues, and managing any other incoming or outgoing money for the team.
 * **Section 5:** Secretary—The secretary shall be responsible for team records. The secretary shall assist the coach in organizing the team roster, contact information, and team communications. The secretary shall be responsible for filing ballots and team correspondence.

Article V: Selection of Executive Board

 * **Section 1:** Executive Board members shall be elected at a special team meeting after February 28 and before June 1, for one-year terms to begin July 1.
 * **Section 2:** Nominations for Executive Board positions shall be made at a special team meeting at least two weeks prior to the election. Candidates must have attained voting membership status prior to this meeting. Individuals may be nominated to more than one office.
 * **Section 3:** Votes for Executive Board positions must be cast in person at the special meeting for elections.
 * **Section 4:** Elections will be held in the following order: President, Captain, Treasurer, Secretary, Member-At-Large, and team members may not be elected to more than one office.
 * **Section 5:** Members of the Executive Board may be removed for dereliction of duties through the following procedure. A petition signed by five (5) team members must be presented to the coach detailing grounds for removal. The coach will call a meeting of the Executive Board to review the petition. At this meeting, petitioners and the accused Board member will be allowed to speak to the issue of removal. Deliberation of the Board will occur after the accused Board member has been excused from the meeting. If any two (2) members of the Executive Board find just cause for removal in the petition, they may refer the matter to a vote at a special team meeting. Removal must be supported by 2/3 of members voting at that special team meeting.
 * **Section 6:** Vacancies in the Executive Board shall be filled by a special election, with nominations taken at the next regular team meeting.

Article VI: Amendments

 * **Section 1:** Proposed amendments shall be presented to the Executive Board for review. The Board will be responsible for working with the member bringing the proposal to correct any ambiguities before it is presented at a team meeting.
 * **Section 2:** Proposed amendments must pass by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at two consecutive team meetings.

On June 5, 2013, the following amendments were passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. These amendments will be subject to a vote at the next regularly scheduled team meeting in 2013. (Changes in **bold** type.)
 * Article V, Section 1: Executive Board members shall be elected at a special team meeting after February 28 and before **the end of the school year,** for one-year terms to begin July 1.
 * Article V, Section 2: Nominations for Executive Board positions shall be **opened by email at least two weeks prior to the election, and closed 24 hours before the election.** Candidates must have attained voting membership status prior to this meeting. Individuals may be nominated to more than one office.
 * Article VI, Section 2: Proposed amendments must pass by a two-thirds (2/3) vote **at a team meeting.**