SECTION BYLAWS APROVAL PROCESS

1
SECTION BYLAWS APROVAL PROCESS

• Five Easy Steps

2
Step One Collect Data

• Obtain Template from
• SWE webpage under Member Resources - Governance
  section
• Regional Bylaws Committee Rep
• Bylaws Committee Chair
• Locate Current Bylaws
• Section Files
• National Files (Limited)
• Request 2004 Standard Section Bylaws Template
• Request 1984 Student Section Bylaws

3
Step Two Make Changes

• Review notes in current template
• Compare to existing bylaws, 2004 Standard Section
  Bylaws template or 1984 Student Section Bylaws
• Review proposed changes with the region bylaws
  committee rep or national committee chair
• Section bylaws committee approves draft
• Include Section Number/Name in File Name
• Insert Section (Number/Name) Draft Bylaws v1
  MM/DD/YYY in Footer

4
Step Three National Bylaws Committee Review

• National Bylaws Committee Chair receives draft
  with track changes from section
• Received by the 7th Committee reviews at
  current monthly meeting
• Received after the 7th Committee reviews at
  next monthly meeting
• Chair sends track changes draft to committee for
  review
• National Bylaws Committee reviews draft at
  meeting
• If little or no changes to template, committee
  approves at meeting
• If substantial changes, committee concurs on
  changes required for approval.

5
Step Three National Bylaws Committee Review

• Acceptable Changes
• Combine secretary/treasurer positions
• Combine VP/section rep positions
• Add up to 3 additional elected officers
  (Additional secretaries or VPs, Past President)
• Add college/university required language
• Check to see if the provision is already covered
  by existing language
• Add Oversight of committees assigned to office
  to Officer Duties Section

6
Step Three National Bylaws Committee Review

• Changes requiring explanation of need before
  approval
• Having standing committees
• Eliminating parts of Elections Section of
  template
• Adding details to Officer Duties section of
  template
• Changing the dates in the Elections Section
• Eliminating Nominations Committee or final ballot
  prior to holding elections
• Holding officer elections as part of a section
  meeting
• Changing candidate selection process

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Step Three National Bylaws Committee Review

• Changes rejected by bylaws committee
• Failure to designate a successor to president
• Failure to select a nominating committee to
  prepare ballots and run the election of officers
• Changing format of bylaws
• Changing officer titles
• Changing text in template if intent does not
  change
• Failure to designate one person to manage
  amendment process
• Executive council quorum is less than 1 more than
  half the number on the council
• Appointed members of the executive council have
  voting rights

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Step Four Response by Section

• Draft Bylaws Approved by National Bylaws
  Committee
• Make any format changes requested
• Submit to section for approval
• Insert Footer Section (Number/Name) Bylaws
  approved by section MM/DD/YYYY after section
  approves draft bylaws
• Forward approved version with track changes to
  National Bylaws Committee Chair

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Step Four Response by Section

• Draft Bylaws Not Approved by Committee
• Review comments from national bylaws committee
• Make required changes
• Make recommended changes or provide justification
  why section needs variance
• Submit revised draft version to committee for
  review with Footer Section (Number/Name) Version
  X draft MM/DD/YYYY with track changes
  implemented.
• Step Three is repeated

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Step Five Final Approval

• National Bylaws Committee chair submits bylaws
  with national committee approval to Society
  Secretary
• Society Secretary approves bylaws and changes
  Footer to Section (Number/Name) bylaws approved
  Society Sec MM/DD/YYYY.
• Bylaws committee chair sends PDF version of
  approved Bylaws to section contact to post on
  sections webpage

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Questions

• Contact Region Bylaws Committee Representative
• Contact Society Bylaws Committee Chair
• Contact Region Governor