ARTICLE I-ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Roll call of officers
2. Roll call of delegates
3. Report of committee on credential
4. Report of audit committee
5.
6. Reports of officers
7. Reports of other committees.
8. Unfinished business
9. Reports of standing convention committees
10. New business
11. Naming place of next convention or assembly
12. Election of officers (1st order of business,second day)
13. Ajournment
ATRICLE II- QUORUM
Twenty percent(20%)of the registered voting delegates, but not less than three Locals, shall constitute a quorum but less than that number may adjourn to meet at a future specified time. Each of election officers at the State Convention shall have one (1) vote.
ARTICLE III- AUTHORITY
In the absence of other authority, the deliberations of this organization shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
ARTICLE IV- AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the By-Laws may be made in the same manner as prescribed for amendments to the Constitution except the Rules of the Convention which may be amended by a majority of delegates voting in convention.
ARTICLE V- MEMBERSHIP LIST
Locals will provide an updated mailing list of their membership to the State organization twice yearly. This report will be sent to the State Secretary-Treasurer during the months of November and April of each year.
ARTICLE VI- SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
Should any part of this Constitution and By-Laws of the NMPWU of American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, herein be rendered or declared invalid by reason of any existing or subsequently enacted legislation or by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidation of such part or provision of this Constitution an By-Laws shall not invalidate the remaining portions of this Constitution and By-Laws, and they shall remain in full force and effect.
RULES OF THE CONVENTION
1. In the absence of a special motion, the first business
session of the convention will be called to order at
2. Visitors and delegates shall be seated in separate sections. National officers may be recognized by the chair, on a specific issue, by a two-thirds(2/3) vote of the convention. The only exception is that any National officer that is a member of a state affiliated local shall be allowed to address the convention and need not be recongnized by the chair. National officers will not make campaign speeches or distribute campaign literature on the convention floor.
3. The nomination of State Officers and delegates to the National Convention shall be the last order of business on the first (1st) day. Elections will be the first(1st) order of business on the second (2nd) day.
4. To obtain the floor, a delegate shall rise, address the chair, and state his or her name and local.
5. A delegate shall not speak more than twice on the same
question, the first time being limited to five (5) minutes, the
6. There shall be thirty (30) minute, time limit on discussions on any one subject.
7. Nominating speeches shall be limited to two (2) minutes, two (2) seconding speeches of one (1) minute each shall be pemitted.
8. An original motion shall be open for discussion until it has been seconded and stated by the chair.
9. An original motion shall be open for amendment (if seconded) from the floor.
10. When a question is pending before the convention, no motion shall be in order except to adjourn, recess, or refer to lay on the table, for the previous question, to postpone to a certain time, to divide or amend which motion shall have precedence in the order stated.
11. A motion to lay on the table shall not be debatable except between the maker of the original motion and the maker of the motion to lay on the table.
12. Debate on a question of appeal from the decision of the chair shall be limited to the appellant and the chair.
13. A motion to reconsider will not be entertained unless by a delegate who noted on the prevailing aide.
14. It shall require a majority vote to reconsider.
15. No delegate shall interrupt another in remarks except to call a point of order or request information.
16. The report of a committee shall be considered to adopt the same, without the formality of a motion or second.
17. The report of a committee of concurrence in a resolution shall be subjected to amendments and substitution from the floor of the convention; the same as other motion and resolutions.
18. It shall require at least five (5) voting delegates to second the motion, and a majority to close debate (previous question).
19. No resolution shall be subitted after
20. Adjournment shall be regularly made by motion, seconded and carried by majority vote.
< a constitute shall delegates voting total the of percent(20%) Twenty>
22. In the absence of a special rule, ROBERT'S RULES OR ORDER, NEWLY REVISED, shall govern.
23. Rules abopted for the conduction of this year's business are carried forward to the next convention.
24. The order of business may be transposed at any time by a majority vote of the delegate and state officers in the convention.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ELECTION COMMITTEE
The Election Committee will have complete charge of all phases of the election from opening nominations until 48 hours after the election results have been announced.
1. Any challenges to the election MUST be registered with the CHAIRPERSON of the Election Committee immediately after the election and cite the reason(s) for the challenge. In the evant of a such a challenge, the Election Committee will immediately consider such challenge. The challenge and the disposition of such challenge shall be handled in accordance with those procedures outlined in the National Convention.
2. Nominations for officers, National Convention delegates and the next convention or assembly site will be accepted during the afternoon of the first day of the convention. Ballots will be prepared by the Election Committee for all contested positions.
3. Only those Locals and MALs within a District may vote for the Vice President of that District.
4. Ballots for all election contests will be prepared and safeguarded by the Election Committee during the evening of the first day of the convention and the election of those positions will be the first order of business on the second day of the convention.
5. Members-at-Large in attendance at the convention may, at the pleasure of the convention, be awarded a one fourth (1/4) vote if more than three members-at-large are in attendance. If three or less members-at-large will have one vote each.
6. Locals may have one or more delegates in attendance to vote the number of votes assigned to them.
7. A master list will be prepared by the Credentials Committee and the State-Treasurer as to the number of votes accorded to each local. INQUIRIES CONCERNING THIS APPORTIONMENT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND SETTLED WITH THE SECRETARY-TREASURER PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF VOTING. Once the vote has starded, THERE WILL BE NO ADJUSTMENTS.
8. The following will be listed on the general ballot provided the positions are contested: If a position is unchallenged, the Secretary-Treasurer will cast a white ballot and declare the unopposed nominee as the winner of the election. If there are no nominees for a position, the position will be filled by State appointment in accordance with the State Constitution.
A. President
B. Vice President (North)
C. Vice President (South)
D. Secretary-Treasurer
E. Two Trustees
PREPARATION OF BALLOTS:
1. All ballots MUST be accounted for when printed and the number recorded. After the voting, all unused ballots will be counted and sealed.
2. After the ballots counts have been verified, all used ballots will be sealed.
3. The number of used and unused ballots MUST total the number that was printed.
VOTING PROCEDURE:
1. The delegates entering the voting area will give the name of the Local for which he/she is voting and whether he/she is voting all ballots or not. He/she will give this information to a member of the election committee who is stationed at the entrance with the list provided him/she by the Treasurer and the credentials committee. The election committee member will verify the number and instructed the election committee member sitting next to him/her to issue the verified number of ballots.
2. The committee member having custody of ballots will count and with a snip of his/her scissors will clip off a corner from the bottom of the delegate's badge showing that the delegate has received his/her ballots. NO ELEGATE ENTERING THE VOTING AREA WILL BE ISSUED ANY BALLOTS IF HIS/HER BADGE HAS ALREAD BEEN CLIPPED. The delegates will mark his ballots, fold then, deposit in the ballot box and leave.
COUNTING THE BALLOTS:
Once the vote has been completed, the election committee will be locked in under the supervision of a Sergeant-at-Arms and will not leave until the count has been completed and verified.
ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS:
1. As soon as the full count has been verified, the Chairperson of the Election Committee will notify the President. The Chairperson of the Election Committee will then announce the results to the convention immediately before adjournment or the first order of business the next day morning. The Chairperson of the Election Committee will retain the officlal tally along with the box containing the sealed ballots.
2. The person receiving the highest votes will be elected.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
1.Each committee member, insofar as is practical, will be supplied with an advance copy of all resolutions which have been submitted for the State Convention. These resolutions have already been divided into the proper categories(i.e., State Convention, National Convention, etc.)
2. The committee member will study the proper category of resolution to which they have been assigned and be prepared to make a recommendation to the full committee as to concurrence (agreement with the resolution), non-concurrence (disagree with the resolution) or other action such as amendment, or substitute motion.
3. The full committee will meet at the appropriate time to prepare a report to the convention.
4. The chairperson of the committee, when called upon to submit his/her report will join the chairperson of the convention. The convention chairperson will turn the microphone over to the chairperson after each resolution has been voted upon for his presentation of the committee's recommendation on the next resolution.
PROCEDURE
1. The convention chairperson will turn the business over to the committee chairperson by announcing "Chairperon of the Committee".
2. The chairperson will then read the resolution and the committee's recommendation. The committee's recommendation is the same as a mention on the floor and must either be voted up or down or amended before any other business can be place before the convention.
3. Once the committee chairperson has presented the resolution and the committee's recommendation, the convention chairperson will conduct the business until he turns the gavel back with the words, "Chairperon of the Committee" or unless he asks for a point of clarification.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
1. The Audit Committee will meet with the State Secretary-Treasurer the evening prior to the start of the convention at the time and place on the convention site which is convenient and proceed to audit the books and records of the New Mexico Postal Workers Union.
2. The Audit Committee will be the second committee called to the floor at the convention to give its report after the formal opening of the convention by the President and after the initial report from the credentials committee.
3. The chairperson of the Audit Committee will report to the convention on the financial status of the State Organization's investments, interest accounts, and the general well being of the financial functions of the State.
4. A report will be made as to the compliance with Federal and other laws governing the administration of accounts.
5. The committee will ensure two signatures are on all checks issued by the State.
6. The committee will ensure direct deposit of State funds is being utilized wherever possible.
7. The committee may,at its pleasure, submit informal recommendations as to future operations which will be taken under consideration by the Executive Board's Budget Committee at its next meeting.