The Constitution of the Wisconsin Junior Classical League

(Adopted 1984; Revised 2012)

Preamble

We, the members of the Wisconsin Junior Classical League, in order to coordinate the work of chapters within the state and to assist with the activities of the National Junior Classical League, do hereby adopt the following constitution and agree to abide by its provisions.

Article I: Purpose

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL).

Section 2. The emblem of this organization shall be a reproduction of the national emblem, namely a torch encircled with a laurel wreath, and the colors shall be Roman purple and gold.

Section 3. The purpose of the WJCL shall be to gain a more thorough knowledge of classical life, history, and literature; to understand the practical and cultural values of the classics; and to interest other students in classical languages, literature, government, law, and arts.

Section 4. The WJCL formulates its policies in accordance with the policies of the NJCL, of which the WJCL is a federation member.

Section 5. The welfare of the WJCL requires close cooperation among the affiliated clubs, the individual members, the officers, the sponsors, and the State Chair. Long-term needs and immediate concerns must be balanced carefully. To this end, every attempt has been made to provide checks and balances to assure that every substantial decision truly has the support of both those most concerned with the long-term health of the organization – the sponsors and the State Chair – and those most concerned with the immediate needs of the organization – the members and officers. However, the most effective measure to aid the welfare of the organization is the close cooperation of all members of the organization.

Article II: Membership

Section 1. Any Latin Club in Wisconsin may affiliate with the WJCL by application to the State Chair and payment of dues. Such clubs shall consist of students preceding the college level who are taking or have taken Latin, Greek, or other classical studies courses. All registered members of any such Latin Club become individual members of the WJCL upon payment of dues. The sponsors of such chapters shall be members of the American Classical League.

Section 2. Qualified persons who wish to become members of the WJCL but lack a local chapter may become at-large members of the WJCL by application to the State Chair.

Section 3. Qualified members of local chapters are individual members of the WJCL.

Section 4. Latin Clubs in Wisconsin that affiliate with either the WJCL of the NJCL must join both organizations. Similarly, at-large membership must be held with both organizations.

Article III: The Executive Board

Section 1. The WJCL Executive Board shall consist of the State Chair, WJCL Officers, and one representative from each affiliated club.

Section 2. The sponsors attending the annual state convention shall elect one or more state chair(s). The State Chair(s) shall conduct long range planning of the WJCL, prepare a yearly budget and state convention cost analysis, and determine the cost of the state convention (subject only to overruling by four-fifths of Board members present at an open Executive Board meeting). The State Chair(s) shall work carefully with officers for the good of the WJCL.

Section 3. The purpose of the club representative shall be to represent the local club at WJCL Executive board meetings. Local chapters shall elect a club representative and provide credentials for that individual. If the representative is unable to attend a board meeting, a substitute from the same school may be selected. Club Representatives shall have the same voting and discussion privileges as officers at WJCL Executive Board meetings.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. The elected officers of the WJCL shall be: President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Technology Coordinator, and Editor.

Section 2. All officers shall serve from 31 days after their election at state convention until 31 days after the following convention. The Treasurer may maintain the treasury for an additional two months to assure proper payment of all convention bills.

Section 3. Any officer must be a member of both the WJCL and the NJCL. Candidates for President must have entered the tenth or higher grade; candidates for any other office must have entered the ninth or higher grade. No candidates for office shall have completed the eleventh grade. These shall be the only requirements for seeking and holding office in WJCL.

Section 4. Officers may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to both the President and Parliamentarian.

Section 5. Any sponsor or officer may begin impeachment proceedings by sending the President, Parliamentarian, and charged officer a letter detailing charges or abrogation of duties of office. At the next board meeting – which may not be held until at least one week after the charged officer has received written notice of the charges – a motion to read the charges against the officer may be introduced. If a simple majority of Board members present passes the motion, the charged officer will be granted the floor in order to present a defense. Only after this defense may a motion to remove the officer from office be introduced. This motion shall require the approval of two-thirds of Board members present in order to pass.

Article V: Duties of Office

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the WJCL except for one General Assembly of the state convention, maintain the presidential files, and call board meetings with at least ten days' notice to all officers and chapters. The president may appoint committees with chair, serve ex-officio on committees, and plan yearly projects. The president shall assign adult moderators for state convention events subject to the approval of the Executive Board and the State Chair(s).

Section 2. The 1st Vice President shall aid in the promotion of membership and communication among chapters. The 1st Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President or when otherwise requested by the President.

Section 3. The 2nd Vice President shall perform all duties relating to spirit and service, including spirit contests, roll call, service contests, promotion of spirit and service, and any other spirit and service related activities.

Section 4. The Parliamentarian will be responsible for using Robert's Rules of Order to determine any procedural questions. The Parliamentarian shall maintain a current copy of the WJCL Constitution and provide nomination papers for candidates, credentials for each Chapter's Club Representative, and credentials for each Chapter's Voting Representative at the WJCL Convention. The Parliamentarian shall preside over the Amendment Meeting, the Code of Conduct Meeting, one General Assembly, and any other meetings pertaining to elections, the constitution, or amendments.

Section 5. The Secretary shall send copies of minutes of WJCL General Assemblies and Board Meetings to all officers and chapters within two weeks after such meetings. The Secretary also shall conduct WJCL correspondence and retain appropriate records.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall maintain a record of receipts and expenditures, pay all bills authorized by the executive board, and submit reports at state convention and board meetings. All payments shall be co-signed by the State Chair or adult designate of the State Chair.

Section 7. The Historian shall prepare a scrapbook for the National Junior Classical League Convention.

Section 8. The Editor shall prepare at least three bulletins that will be distributed to all WJCL Chapters. This bulletin shall be called the WJCL Torch. One of the issues of the WJCL Torch shall be produced for the WJCL Convention and will include candidate biographies. Each year, the Editor shall review and perform any needed corrections on the WJCL Convention Program.

Section 9. The Technology Coordinator shall maintain a current and well organized website to ensure that all WJCL members have access to information regarding WJCL activities. The Technology Coordinator shall update the WJCL website with information approved by the board, provide downloadable copies of WJCL forms and paperwork, facilitate communication among the chapters through technological means; and aid in the acquisition of other technology for the use of the WJCL. After State Convention, the Technology Coordinator shall work closely with the Technology Coordinator-Elect in order to ensure a smooth transition of operations.

Article VI: Elections

Section 1. All candidates who wish to run for office must declare their intention to do so by submitting the necessary forms to the Parliamentarian by December 1st. At the December board meeting, the Parliamentarian will announce the candidates for each office.

Section 2. Should no candidates declare their intent to run for an office by December 1st, a State-of-Emergency is to be declared. The Parliamentarian is obligated to notify all Chapters as soon as possible. Any qualified member of the WJCL, including a current candidate for another office, may declare their intention to run for the office. Should no JCL member declare candidacy for the office by January 1st, a Vacancy Election shall be held after State Convention.

Section 3 . Officers shall be elected at the annual State Convention. Each candidate shall be limited to one speech of three minutes at state convention. Each chapter attending the state convention shall select a Voting Delegate to report the vote of that chapter. The Parliamentarian shall retain the ballots of any contested election for examination by any WJCL member for one year after the election in question.

Section 4. Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the 1st Vice-President shall become President. Should a vacancy occur in any office other than that of the President, the Parliamentarian is obligated to notify all Chapters as soon as possible and call a Vacancy Election.

Section 5. Any qualified WJCL member may submit a declaration of candidacy to be considered a candidate in a Vacancy Election, provided that the candidacy is declared at least one week prior to the election meeting. At the election meeting, each candidate shall be interviewed individually in front of all voters present. Each Board member – State Chair(s), current officers, and club representatives – shall be entitled to one vote. A candidate must win a majority of votes cast in order to be elected. Should no candidate win a majority of the votes, a runoff election between the two candidates who received the most votes shall occur.

Article VII: State Convention Voting

Section 1. Voting for office shall be by chapter with each chapter entitled to two votes, plus one additional vote for each 25 members or major fraction thereof. No chapter may claim more votes than the number of delegates from that school attending the convention. Chapters may vote in favor of a candidate, abstain, or cast a vote of no confidence. An abstention is not included in the total number of votes cast; a vote of no confidence is included in the total number of votes cast.

Section 2. A candidate running unopposed must receive a majority of votes cast in favor of election. For a contested office, a candidate must receive a plurality of eligible votes cast to be elected to an office. Ties shall be broken by the State Chair(s).

Section 3. In voting for any convention business other than election of officers, each delegate shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 4. For any convention business, three-fifths of the delegates attending the WJCL Convention shall constitute a quorum.

Article VIII: Dues and Expenditures

Section 1. WJCL dues shall be $5 per chapter and $1 per member. However, by two-thirds vote of the delegates to the state convention, dues for the following year may be changed.

Section 2. Both the Executive Board and the State Chair must approve any expenditures. However, the planning of the state convention shall be regarded as authority to spend all money necessary to obtain mandated facilities. Stipends may be authorized for the State Chair(s) and officers; no such stipends shall exceed twice the delegate fee for the state convention. The President may authorize expenses of up to $25 per individual, subject to approval of the Executive Board and the State Chair(s).

Article IX: Amendments and Bylaws

Section 1. Any WJCL member may submit amendments to the Parliamentarian for consideration. At the December WJCL Board meeting, the Parliamentarian shall present proposed amendments for discussion and revision. The Parliamentarian shall submit the final versions of proposed amendments to all chapters at least 15 days prior to State Convention.

Section 2. Ratification of amendments shall require a two-thirds majority of votes cast, excluding those of abstention, and the approval of three-quarters of the chapters attending the State Convention.

Section 3. At each WJCL state convention for which amendments have been proposed, the Parliamentarian shall call a meeting to present these amendments. Two representatives from each delegation in attendance must be present at this meeting.

Section 4. Additional bylaws not in conflict with the NJCL and WJCL constitutions may be adopted by either a two-thirds majority of the Executive Board or a simple majority of the delegates at a General Assembly at State Convention.