AAW Constitution

Table of Contents

Article 1: Name

The name of this organization is Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin (AAW).

Article 2: Definitions

Section 1: Abstention. Not a vote.

Section 2: Amendment. An addition to, deletion from, or change to a motion.

Section 3: Constitution. The formal document which specifies the fundamental nature and structure of AAW.

Section 4: Formal Documents. The Constitution, Standing Policies, and Position Statements.

Section 5: General Meeting. A meeting of the general membership.

Section 6: Majority. More than half of the members present and voting.

Section 7: Modification. An addition to, deletion from, or change to a formal document.

Section 8: Nominate. To volunteer oneself or suggest another member as a candidate for an office. Nominations need not be seconded.

Section 9: Position Statements. The formal document which contains the official opinions of AAW.

Section 10: Present. Physically present at a meeting or represented by proxy where allowed.

Section 11: Proxy. The authority to vote for another.

Section 12: Quorum. The minimum number of members required to be present to validly transact business.

Section 13: Rationalist. A person who bases her or his views on rationality.

Section 14: Rationality. [The definition needs to be determined by the general membership at a future meeting.]

Section 15: Standing Policies. The formal document which contains the operating policies and procedures of AAW.

Section 16: Supermajority. At least 3/4 of the members present and voting. 

Article 3: Purposes

The purposes of AAW are to:
  1. Promote knowledge of, refinement of, and appreciation for the principles of rationalism, freethought, atheism, agnosticism, and related subjects.
  2. Support the principle of separation of state and church.

Article 4: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility. Any person is eligible to join AAW.

Section 2: Application. A person may become a member of AAW by making application to an AAW officer and paying 1 year's dues, as established by the Constitution.

Section 3: Rights. A member shall have the right to:

  1. Attend any general meeting or Executive Board meeting.
  2. Introduce motions at a general meeting.
  3. Discuss motions at a general meeting or Executive Board meeting.
  4. Cast 1 vote on any motion at a general meeting.
  5. Run for any AAW office.
  6. Cite or quote from Position Statements in speaking or writing on behalf of AAW.
Section 4: Privileges. A member may:
  1. Wear and display any official insignia of AAW.
  2. Carry an official membership card issued by AAW.
  3. Receive 1 free copy of any AAW publication.
Section 5: Restrictions. A member may not act on behalf of AAW without authorization by the Constitution, a general meeting, or the Executive Board. Authority to act may take the forms of Standing Policies or of specific motions.

Section 6: Expulsion. For conduct inconsistent with the purposes of the organization, a member may be expelled by a supermajority vote at a general meeting. A member considered for expulsion shall be given the opportunity to offer a defense.

Article 5: Officers

Section 1: Titles and Duties.
  1. The president shall preside at general meetings and Executive Board meetings, represent AAW on ceremonial occasions, make all appointments subject to approval by the Executive Board, call special meetings of the Executive Board, and serve as treasurer pro tempore in the treasurer's absence.
  2. The secretary shall maintain the official records of AAW (including an up-to-date copy of the formal documents, minutes of all general meetings and Executive Board meetings, and a correspondence file), prepare all secret ballots, maintain membership records, handle all correspondence, and serve as president pro tempore in the president's absence.
  3. The treasurer shall receive all revenue, authorize all expenses, record all financial transactions, establish such accounts for the treasury as he or she deems necessary and proper, render financial reports at monthly business meetings and each regular Executive Board meeting, and serve as secretary pro tempore in the secretary's absence.
Section 2: Eligibility. Any member of AAW is eligible for any office. However, no member may hold more than 1 office at a time. If an officer ceases to be a member of AAW, that person's officership shall terminate simultaneously.

Section 3: Election. Officers shall be elected at the October business meeting. To be considered for an office, a member must be nominated. Nominations for any office shall be closed after 3 consecutive calls for further nominations without response. If only 1 candidate is nominated for any office, he or she shall be declared elected. Otherwise, election shall be by secret ballot. A majority vote is necessary and sufficient to elect. If no candidate receives a majority, a run-off election will be conducted between the 2 top vote-getters. In case of tie votes, the winner will be determined by coin flip.

Section 4: Term of Office. Each officer shall serve until the end of the October business meeting following the one at which he or she was elected.

Section 5: Vacancies. If an office becomes vacant, it shall be filled for the duration of the term by an AAW member selected by the Executive Board.

Section 6: Removal. An officer may be removed by majority vote at a general meeting.

Click here for current AAW officers

Article 6: Executive Board

The officers shall constitute the Executive Board. The Executive Board has complete authority to manage the affairs of AAW between general meetings, subject, however, to direction by general meetings. The Executive Board may not act in any area where the Constitution specifies an action that must be taken at a general meeting. The president shall report all actions of the Executive Board conducted between general meetings to the next general meeting.

Article 7: Committees

Section 1: Standing Committees.
  1. The Membership Committee shall recruit new members.
  2. The Program Committee shall plan and execute activities (such as panel discussions, lectures, debates, showings of films and videotapes, and establishment and maintenance of a library) which are designed to make rationalism more accessible, understandable, and interesting to the general public. It shall also plan and execute AAW social events.
  3. The Publications Committee shall plan all publications, select editors, and coordinate the mechanics of publishing.
Section 2: Special Committees. Special committees may be established at a general meeting or Executive Board meeting. The motion creating the committee shall state its name, purpose, duties, number of members, and term of existence (which shall not be more than 1 year) and may authorize a budget for the committee.

Section 3: Members. Any AAW member may join any committee, up to the specified maximum number of members, by signing a written agreement to serve and filing it with the secretary at a general meeting or Executive Board meeting. A member may revoke the agreement to serve by notifying the secretary at any time. [Note: The following section has not yet been voted on by the general membership.]

Section 4: Chair. Immediately after the annual meeting for standing committees, and immediately after the creation of any special committee, the president shall appoint a temporary chair for the committee. At the 1st committee meeting, the members shall elect a permanent chair, who shall serve until the end of the following annual meeting for standing committees or a special committee's term of existence.

Article 8: Meetings

Section 1: General.
  1. Regular meetings shall be held each month.
  2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board or by a petition of any 10 members.
  3. All meetings shall be at a time and place designated by the Executive Board.
  4. 5 members or 10% of the membership, whichever is greater, constitute a quorum.
Section 2: Executive Board. Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be in May and September. Special meetings may be called by the president. All meetings shall be at a time and place designated by the president. 2 officers constitute a quorum.

Section 3: Committees. All committee meetings shall be called at a time and place designated by the committee chair.

Section 4: Meeting Rules. Insofar as possible, the presiding officer shall endeavor to allow full discussion of all issues. Discussion directed at personalities and motives shall be promptly ruled out of order. Where possible, decisions should be reached by consensus. Where necessary, a majority vote will be determinative. Debate may be terminated by a supermajority vote. The presiding officer must vote last on all motions.

Section 5: Notice. At least 14 but not more than 30 days in advance, the secretary shall send written notice to each member of any general meeting at which:

  1. Officers are to be elected.
  2. A proposed modification to the Constitution will be considered. The notice shall contain the text of the proposed modification.
  3. A member will be considered for expulsion.
  4. An officer will be considered for removal.
  5. The budget is proposed, adopted, or revised.
Section 6: Proxies. The notice under Section 5 shall contain a form which a member may use to give her or his proxy to another member solely for the meeting and the purpose specified in the notice. The form shall provide for 3 names to be entered in order of preference. Proxy voting is not allowed except as specified in this section.

Article 9: Finance

Section 1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall run from January 1 to December 31.

Section 2: Revenues.

  1. The membership categories and the amount charged for annual dues for each membership category shall be determined by majority vote of the members, including proxies, present at the December business meeting. Members shall not be assessed beyond the dues specified at the December business meeting. This provision does not preclude requests for voluntary donations or charges for services (such as admission fees).
  2. Revenues which are conditioned upon certain restrictions must be used solely for the purpose specified. The Executive Board may accept or reject such revenues as it sees fit.
Section 3: Expenses. The funds of AAW, however acquired, shall be expended in accordance with the provisions of Article 3. All expenses shall be paid by check and approved by the Executive Board either via Standing Policies or by specific motions.

Section 4: Budget.

  1. The Executive Board shall prepare a proposed annual budget and present it to the November business meeting for amendment. The budget shall be adopted by majority vote at the December business meeting.
  2. Any budget proposed or adopted must provide for a positive ending cash balance.
  3. The budget may be revised at any monthly business meeting for which notice of the revision has been given as outlined in Article 8, Section 5.
Section 5: Dissolution. If AAW should be dissolved, its assets shall be distributed as follows:
  1. All liabilities and obligations shall be paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provision shall be made therefor.
  2. Assets requiring return, transfer, or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason of the dissolution, shall be returned, transferred, or conveyed in accordance with such requirements.

Article 10: Authority

All AAW members are subject to the Constitution and to the Standing Policies. Any Standing Policy, Position Statement, other policy, or action which contradicts the Constitution is invalid.

Article 11: Modifications

Section 1: Constitution. The Constitution may be modified by a supermajority vote at a general meeting. A proposed modification may be amended at the meeting only to narrow its scope (that is, to make it more like the existing Constitution).

Section 2: Standing Policies. Standing Policies may be modified by a majority vote at any general meeting or Executive Board meeting.

Section 3: Position Statements. Position Statements may be modified by a supermajority vote at any general meeting.

Section 4: Numbers and Titles. The secretary is empowered to assign numbers and titles to the various subdivisions of the formal documents every time they are modified in order to maintain a rational and consistent method of organization and reference.

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Last modified Tue Oct 1 11:39:36 CDT 1996.