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Service-Chapter Bylaws of the Young Politicians of America

(last amended Friday, February 20, 2004)

Preamble
The Young Politicians of America was founded to expand the democratic experience to the youth of our society. Our goal is to further democracy, participation in government, and good citizenship. We accomplish our goal by establishing Service-Chapters that provide a forum for discourse and community service.

ARTICLE I NAME AND AFFILIATION
Section 1 Name
The name of this organization shall be the YOUNG POLITICIANS OF AMERICA (YPA).

Section 2 Affiliation
The United States’ 50 states and its territories shall be affiliated with the National YPA.

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION
The structure of the Young Politicians of America shall be comprised of the 50 states of the United States and its territories.

  1. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
  2. American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Wake Island.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 National Membership
The membership of the National YPA shall be comprised of members appointed by the YPA Board of Directors.

Section 2 State Membership
The membership of the State YPA shall be comprised of members appointed by the National YPA.

Section 3 Service-Chapter Membership
The membership of YPA Service-Chapters shall be comprised of duly chartered YPA Service-Chapters and the members thereof.

  1. Every regular member of a duly chartered Service-Chapter shall be eligible for any office of the Service-Chapter.
  2. No member may be claimed by more than one Service-Chapter even if that person is a member of another Service-Chapter for the purpose of representation (holds an office). The most recent date of Service-Chapter membership shall be binding unless the member in question expresses a choice to have another Service-Chapter make a claim for his or her membership for purposes of such representation.

Article IV CHARTERING/MEMBERSHIP PROVISIONS
Section 1 Procedure

  1. Any Service-Chapter that meets the requirements of these Bylaws may charter with the YPA.
  2. A Service-Chapter seeking to be chartered with this organization shall file an application online with the National YPA at www.ypa.org/chapters.
  3. Each member of a Service-Chapter must pay annual dues
    1. National YPA Dues
      1. Service-Chapter members in high school must pay annual dues of three dollars ($3.00) to the National YPA.
      2. Service-Chapter members in college or a university must pay annual dues of five dollars ($5.00) to the National YPA.
    2. Service-Chapter Treasury
      1. Service-Chapter members in high school must pay annual dues of at least three dollars ($3.00) to their own Service-Chapter treasury.
      2. Service-Chapter members in college or a university must pay annual dues of at least fifteen dollars ($15.00) to their own Service-Chapter treasury.
      3. Service-Chapter officers may determine local Service-Chapter dues pursuant to the guidelines established in these Bylaws.
      4. All Service-Chapter dues paid to the treasury shall be held by the Service-Chapter Teacher-Advisor.
        1. Service-Chapter officers may then request the Teacher-Advisor to release funds for specific projects, supplies, materials, etc.
        2. In the case of Service-Chapters at colleges or universities, the Service-Chapter Treasurer may hold the Service-Chapter treasury funds.
    3. A Service-Chapter officer or Teacher-Advisor shall send all required dues to the National YPA via mail or online at www.ypa.org/chapters under the "Pay Dues" section.

Section 2 Suspension or Revocation
Service-Chapter charters may be suspended or revoked by action of the National YPA for violations of these Bylaws.

Section 3 Name of Service-Chapters
Service-Chapter charters assume the name of the Young Politicians of America. Service-Chapters may include the name of their school.

Section 4 Monthly Reports
All Service-Chapters shall submit electronic progress reports at the end of every month to the National YPA at www.ypa.org/chapters. Violation of this provision shall result in the revocation of a Service-Chapter’s charter.

Section 5 Service-Chapter Duties
All Service-Chapters are expected to perform community service activities and provide a forum to discuss said activities. At least one community service activity is required per month, and at least one Service-Chapter meeting relating to the activity is required per month.

Article V OFFICERS
Section 1 Officers

  1. For the National YPA, the officers shall be Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, and additional posts deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
  2. For the State YPA, the officers shall be State Presidents.
  3. For YPA Service-Chapters, the officers shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section 2 State Officer Duties
  1. The State President shall be the chief executive officer and official voice of the State YPA for his/her respective state. The State President shall be the official representative at all State YPA functions. The State President shall preside over all State YPA meetings and conferences. The State President shall make all efforts to maintain and strengthen communications between the various YPA Service-Chapters.
Section 3 Service-Chapter Officer Duties
  1. The Service-Chapter President shall schedule Service-Chapter meetings, plan Service-Chapter events, recruit new members, and serve as the chief spokesperson. The President shall submit a Monthly Report to the National YPA online at www.ypa.org/chapters at the end of every month.
  2. The Service-Chapter Vice President shall assist the President in carrying out his/her duties.
  3. The Service-Chapter Secretary shall keep all non-financial records of the club (i.e. membership rosters, attendance, record of community service activities, number of hours volunteered, etc.). The Secretary shall report the information monthly to the Service-Chapter President to assist in his/her Monthly Reports to the National YPA.
  4. The Service-Chapter Treasurer shall keep all financial records and report the treasury and list of expenses and fundraising to the Service-Chapter President to assist in his/her Monthly reports to the National YPA.
Section 4 Election of Service-Chapter Officers
  1. In the case of newly established Service-Chapters, all officers shall be elected at the first official Service-Chapter meeting of the year and their terms will expire at the last meeting of that school year.
  2. In the case of an established Service-Chapter, all officers shall be elected on an annual basis at the last meeting of the school year and their terms will expire at the last meeting of the next school year.
  3. In an election, the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be elected by the entire membership of their Service-Chapter by secret ballot.
Section 5 Term of Office for Service-Chapter Officials
  1. Officers elected within their Service-Chapter shall take office immediately after the adjournment of the meeting.
  2. Every Service-Chapter officer shall hold office until the last meeting of the school year unless removed in accordance with these Bylaws.

Section 6 Appointment of State Officials
The National YPA shall appoint the State Presidents.

Section 7 Term of Office for State Officials
All State YPA members shall serve terms established by the National YPA.

Section 8 Vacancy
Vacancy in the Service-Chapter President position shall be filled by the Service-Chapter Vice President and a new Vice President will be chosen by members of that Service-Chapter. If the Vice President does not wish to assume the position of Service-Chapter President, Service-Chapter members must elect a new Service-Chapter President by the next meeting.

  1. Vacancy in both the Service-Chapter President and Service-Chapter Vice President positions shall be filled by the Service-Chapter Secretary and Service-Chapter Treasurer, respectively. A new Service-Chapter Secretary and a new Service-Chapter Treasurer will be chosen by the members of that Service-Chapter. If the Service-Chapter Secretary and/or Service-Chapter Treasurer do not wish to assume the positions of Service-Chapter President and Service-Chapter Vice President, Service-Chapter members may elect a new Service-Chapter President and Service-Chapter Vice President.
  2. Vacancy in either or both of the Service-Chapter Secretary and Service-Chapter Treasurer positions shall result in Service-Chapter elections for the said positions.

Section 9 Removal

  1. Any State President may be removed by the National YPA.
  2. Any Service-Chapter officer may be removed by a three-fourths(3/4) vote by all Service-Chapter members.

ARTICLE VI CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS
Section 1 Time and Location

  1. This organization shall convene in State Conventions when deemed necessary by the State President and approved by the National YPA.
  2. This organizational shall convene in Conventions when deemed necessary by the National YPA.
  3. A thirty (30) day notice shall be sent to all Service-Chapters stating the time, location and agenda.

ARTICLE VII BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 Board of Directors
There shall be a Board of Directors of this organization, which shall have all the powers and duties of this organization.

Section 2 Board of Directors Membership
The Board of Directors shall consist of the following members:

  1. 15 members including student, community, business, and political leaders.

Section 3 Board of Directors Term of Service
The Board of Directors serve a term of indefinite service.

Section 4 Board of Directors Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of four (4) times per year.

Section 5 Board of Directors Voting
No members of the Board of Directors may be entitled to more than one vote, and all measures must pass by a majority vote by all Board of Directors members.

Section 6 Board of Directors Quorum
Eight (8) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1 Expenditures

  1. Service-Chapter expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be subject to prior approval by the State President.
  2. Service-Chapter expenditures in excess of three hundred dollars ($300.00) shall be subject to prior approval by the National YPA.

Section 2 Scholarships
Only YPA members shall be eligible for YPA sponsored scholarships.

Section 3 Amendment Bylaws
These bylaws shall only be amended by the Board of Directors with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. Upon amendment of Bylaws, updated copies shall be sent to each YPA Service-Chapter or made available on the national website at www.ypa.org.