The name of this Corporation shall be the League of Women Voters of New Mexico,
Inc., hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVNM. This state League is an
integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS).
Article IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. Enumeration, Election, and Duties of Officers. The officers
of the LWVNM shall be president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.
They shall be elected by Convention and shall take office immediately after the
Convention. They shall hold office until the election at the next biennial
Convention or until their successors have been elected and qualified.
Section 2. The President. The president shall preside at all meetings
of the organization and of the state board or designate someone to preside. The
president may, in the absence or disability of the treasurer, sign or endorse
checks, drafts and notes. The president shall be, ex-officio, a member of all
committees except the nominating committee, and shall have such usual powers of
supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the president and
perform such other duties as may be designated by the state board.
Section 3. The Vice-President. The vice-president shall perform such
duties as the president and the state board may designate, filling in during
the absence of the president. In the event of the absence, resignation, disability
or death of the president the vice-president shall assume the office of president,
possessing all the powers and performing all the duties of that office. If the
vice-president is unable to serve as president, the state board shall elect one of
their members to fill the vacancy.
Section 4. The Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of the
Convention, Councils, and of all meetings of the state board. The secretary shall
notify all officers and directors of their election. The secretary shall sign,
with the president, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the
state board, and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to the
office.
Section 5. The Treasurer. The treasurer, or a duly appointed assistant,
shall collect and receive all moneys due. The treasurer shall be custodian of
these funds, shall deposit them in financial institutions designated by the state
board. The treasurer shall present periodic statements to the state board at its
regular meetings and an annual report to the Convention or Council. The books of
the treasurer shall be reviewed annually at the end of the fiscal year.
Article V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS (STATE BOARD)
Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office. The board of
directors shall be members of LWVNM and shall consist of the officers of the LWVNM,
not more than six elected directors, not more than six appointed directors, and the
presidents of local and provisional Leagues. The elected directors shall be elected
by the Convention and shall take office immediately after the Convention. They
shall hold office until the election at the next biennial Convention. The
appointed directors shall be appointed by the state board as ad hoc directors
as the need arises in relationship to projects adopted by the state board, and
shall serve until the project is completed or dropped or until a replacement is
secured in case of resignation, illness or other causes(s). Presidents of local
Leagues shall serve during their term of office and may serve in other capacities
on the state board. While serving on the board, the ad hoc directors and the
presidents shall have full voting rights.
Section 2. Vacancies. Any vacancy other than in the office of president
may be filled, until the next Convention, by a majority vote of the remaining members
of the Board.* Two consecutive absences from a board meeting without notification
to the president or secretary, and without valid reason shall be deemed a
resignation.
* Provisions for filling the vacancy in the presidency are made in Article IV,
Section 3.
Section 3. Powers and Duties. The state board shall have full charge
of the property and business of the corporation with full power and authority to
manage and conduct the same, subject to the instructions of the Convention. The
state board shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the program
adopted by the Convention. It shall accept responsibility delegated to it by
the Board of Directors of the LWVUS for the organization and development of all
Leagues and MAL units within the state. It shall also accept responsibility for
implementing state and national program and transmission of funds toward the
support of' state and national budgets. The state board shall create and designate
such special committees as it may deem necessary.
Section 4. Regular Meetings. There shall be at least four regular
meetings of the state board annually.
Section 5. Special Meetings. The president may call special meetings
of the state board. Upon written request of five members of the board, a special
meeting of the board must be called. Board members shall be notified of the time
and place of special meetings at least six days prior to such meeting. During a
Convention the president may, or upon the request of five members of the board,
shall, call a special meeting of the board.
Section 6. Electronic Board Meetings. The Board may conduct either regular
or special meetings by e-mail or telephone conferencing provided that all board
members shall have access to the electronic media used. Procedures for discussion,
debate and voting shall be in place prior to the convening of such a meeting.
Section 7. Emergency Polling of the Board. When an urgent decision
must be made by the Board between regular meetings, the President may call
and/or e-mail the members of the Board. Board members must be given full
information about the issue to be decided and sufficient time to share opinions
before the final decision is given. A quorum of the Board must respond.
The emergency decision must be presented to the next Board meeting for
ratification and official report in the minutes.
Section 9. Quorum. A majority of members of the board shall constitute
a quorum.
ARTICLE VII. FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVNM shall be from
May 1 to April 30 of each year.
Section 2. Financial Support. Financial responsibility for the work of
the state League shall be assumed by members of the LWVNM.
Section 3. Dues. Members enrolled in local Leagues shall pay annual
dues as prescribed by local option.
- Members enrolled in local Leagues shall pay annual dues as prescribed by local
option.
- The state portion shall be determined at state Convention for local league
members, members-at-large, additional members in a common household,
student members, and associate members by a three-fifths
of the delegates.
- Local leagues shall pay the state portion of dues for their members directly
to LWVNM by December 31 of each calendar year.
- The state treasurer shall make a per member payment to LWVUS for each MAL
in accordance with the bylaws and procedures of LWVUS.
Section 4. Budget Committee. The state board shall appoint a budget
committee at least four months in advance of Convention or Council. The Treasurer
shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee but shall not serve as chair.
The Committee shall prepare a budget for the next fiscal year and present it to
the State Board for approval.
Section 5. Budget. The state board shall approve and distribute a proposed budget for
the next fiscal year to the membership
at least 45 days prior to the Convention or Council. A budget shall be adopted
by the Convention or Council.
Section 6. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of a
dissolution for any cause of the LWVNM, all moneys and securities which may at
the time be owned by or under the absolute control of the LWVNM shall be paid
to the LWVUS. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal,
or mixed which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the LWVNM shall
be disposed of by any officer or employee of the organization having possession of
the same to such person, organization, or corporation, for such public, charitable,
or educational uses and purposes as may be designated by the current state board
of the LWVNM.
ARTICLE VIII. CONVENTION
Section 1. Place, Date. and Call. A Convention of the LWVNM shall be
held biennially at a time and place to be determined by the state board. The
president shall send a first call for Convention to the membership
not less than four months prior to the opening date
of the Convention fixed in said call. Thereafter the state board may advance or
postpone the opening date of the Convention by not more than two weeks. A final
call for the Convention shall be sent to the membership at least 45 days before Convention.
Section 2. Composition. The Convention shall consist of the delegates
chosen by the members through the local Leagues and state MAL units as prescribed
in Section 4 of this article, the presidents of the local Leagues or an. alternate
in the event the president is unable to attend, and the members of the state board
of LWVNM.
Section 3. Qualifications of Delegates and Voting Members. Each delegate
shall be a voting member in the state of New Mexico. Each delegate representing a
local League shall be entitled to vote only if that League has met its per member
payment responsibilities to LWVNM. The state board may make an exception in the
case of proven hardship. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote only at the
Convention even though the delegate may be attending in two or more capacities.
Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted. The Convention shall be the sole
judge of whether a delegate is qualified to vote.
Section 4. Representation. The members of the LWVUS who are organized
into recognized local Leagues and state MAL units in the state of New Mexico shall
be entitled to voting representation in the Convention as follows:
- The president and one delegate who shall be chosen by the members through the
local Leagues; the members in each local League having more than 15 voting members
shall be entitled to one additional delegate for each additional 25 voting members
or a major fraction thereof, belonging to said local League as established by
the official count of said year sent to LWVUS for calculation of PMPs.
- Each state MAL unit shall be entitled to one delegate chosen by their members.
- Members-at-Large shall be represented by the state board MAL chairperson, whether
on or off board.
- Number of delegates shall be established by membership count of paid voting
members as of January first of said year.
- In the event any delegate chosen is unable to attend the Convention, a substitute
may be selected by the board of the local League, provisional League, or state MAL
unit.
Section 5. Powers. The Convention shall consider and adopt a program for
study and action, shall elect officers and directors, shall adopt a budget for the
ensuing year, and shall transact such other business as may be presented.
Section 6. Quorum. Forty percent of the possible number of voting
delegates other then members of the state board, shall constitute a quorum provided
that there is representation from a majority of local Leagues.
ARTICLE IX. COUNCIL
Section 1. Place, Date, and Call. A meeting of the Council shall be held
in the interim year between Conventions, approximately twelve months after the
preceding Convention, at a time and place to be determined by the state board.
A formal call shall be sent to the presidents of the local Leagues and state MAL
units at least 30 days before a council meeting. Special meetings may be called
in the event of an extreme emergency.
Section 2. Composition. The Council shall be composed of the following
delegates: The presidents of the local Leagues, or an alternate in the event the
President is unable to attend; one delegate chosen by each local League, each state
MAL unit and a MAL representative to be selected by the state board and all members
of the state board of the LWVNM.
Section 3. Powers. The Council shall give guidance to the board on program
and methods of work.
- The Council is authorized to change the program only in the event of an emergency,
provided; 1) notice of proposed changes shall have been sent to the presidents of the
local Leagues at least 45 days in advance of the meeting of the Council and 2) the
change is adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Council.
- The Council shall adopt a budget for the ensuing year and shall transact such
other business as shall be presented by the state board.
Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the possible number of voting delegates
shall constitute a quorum provided that there is representation from a majority of
the local Leagues.
ARTICLE X. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist
of five members, two of whom shall be members of the state board. The chairman
and two members, who shall not be members of the state board, shall be elected
by the Convention. Nominations for these offices shall be made by the current
nominating committee. The other members of the committee shall be appointed by
the state board immediately after Convention. Any vacancy occurring in the
nominating committee by reason of death, resignation, or disqualification shall
be filled by the state board. The president of the LWVNM shall send the name
and address of the chairman of the nominating committee to the president of each
recognized local League and state MAL unit.
Section 2. Suggestions for Nominations. The chairman of the nominating
committee shall request through the president of each local League and state MAL
unit, suggestions for nominations for offices to be filled. Suggestions for
nominations by local Leagues shall be sent by the president or secretary of such
local Leagues to the chairman of the nominating committee at last three months
before the Convention. Any member may send suggestions to the chairman of the
nominating committee.
Section 3. Report of the Nominating, Committee and Nominations from the
Floor. The report of the nominating committee of its nominations for officers,
directors, and chairman and two members of the succeeding nominating committee shall
be presented to the State Board and
sent to the membership at least 45 days before the
date of the Convention. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented
to the Convention on the first day of the Convention. Immediately following the
presentation of this report, nominations may be made from the floor provided that
the consent of the nominees shall have been secured.
ARTICLE XI. PRINCIPLES AND PROGRAMS
Section 1. Principles. The Principles are concepts of government
supported by the League and are the authorization for adoption of national, state
and local program.
Section 2. Program. The program of LWVNM shall consist of action to
implement the Principles and those governmental issues chosen by the Convention
for concerted study and action as follows:
- The boards of local Leagues and state MAL units may make recommendations for
a program to the state board at least three months prior to the Convention.
- The state board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed
program which shall be sent to the membership at least
45 days prior to the Convention.
- The Convention shall adopt a program by a majority vote on each subject presented
to it.
- A Program recommendation submitted by a local League or by a state MAL unit at
least three weeks prior to Convention but not proposed by the state board may be so
considered only if it is ordered by a majority vote of the Convention and the vote on
adoption comes on a following day. Adoption of any such recommendation will require
a two-thirds vote.
Section 3. Program Action.
- League members may act on national and state program only in conformity with
League positions. Members may act in the name of the League only when authorized
to do so by the appropriate board.
- The state board shall have power to request emergency concurrence action.
Requests for emergency concurrence may be initiated by local Leagues or by state
board. State board shall establish procedures for emergency concurrence action.
Section 4. Council Action. The Council may change the program as provided
in article IX.
ARTICLE XII. NATIONAL CONVENTION
Section 1. National Convention. The state board, at a meeting before
the date on which names of delegates must be sent to the National Office, shall
elect delegates to that Convention in the number allowed the LWVNM under the
provisions of the bylaws of the LWVUS.
Section 2. National Council. The state board, at its meeting preceding
the meeting of the Council of LWVUS shall elect delegates to such Council in the
number allowed the LWVNM under the provisions of the bylaws of the LWVUS.
