BYLAWS
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Adopted
December 12, 2009.
New Caucus Bylaws
Caucus
Principles
The New
Caucus encourages open debate and political integrity of all of its
members, including New Caucus members elected to the PSC chapter
offices and to PSC CUNY-wide offices. While the New Caucus expects
substantial agreement with the New Caucus's platform and general
support for New Caucus candidate slates, open democratic debate on
principled disagreements is encouraged and at no time will members
of the New Caucus be forced to vote against their will. The New
Caucus pledges to work cooperatively with all members of the PSC
without regard to caucus membership, for the best interests of the
PSC Union, our students, and CUNY.
Membership
Membership
in the New Caucus of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) is open
to all members of the PSC who are not members of another electoral
caucus. Members of the New Caucus forfeit their membership by
running for election on an opposition slate.
Dues
Members in
good standing must pay dues once each academic year. Changes in
dues shall be voted at a General Membership meeting and must
be approved by two-thirds vote of those present with a quorum of at
least 25 voting members. Changes in membership dues must be put on
the agenda and the membership notified at least two weeks prior to
the membership meeting at which it will be considered.
General
Membership Meetings
There shall
be at least one CUNY-wide general membership meeting of the New
Caucus each semester. Additional meetings may be called as often as
desired. Notice must be given of a general membership meeting in
writing at least 14 days in advance of the meeting. All members
shall be eligible to attend and vote at a general membership meeting
upon payment of their annual dues.
I. Functions:
A. Amend the New Caucus Platform
B. Elect the Governing Board, and the Treasurer
C. Nominate and ratify New Caucus slates for CUNY-wide offices
D. Change dues and amend the Bylaws.
E. Vote on financial contributions to other organizations, groups
or individuals
F. Address other major issues confronting the PSC including, but
not limited to, contract issues, CUNY restructuring, endorsements,
sponsorships, issue campaigns, trade union issues, legislative and
coalition building work.
II. Voting Procedures:
A. Only those members who have been members for at least two months
prior to the meeting shall be eligible to vote at a general
membership meeting. Members whose prior membership has lapsed
because of failure to pay dues shall become eligible to vote at a
general membership meeting upon payment of their dues.
B. To amend the New Caucus platform, to change the dues structure,
to amend the New Caucus By-laws, and to consider requests for
financial support from external organizations and individuals, the
item must be on the agenda prior to the membership meeting at which
it will be considered and a two-thirds majority of those voting is
required. In extraordinary circumstances, such as when timeliness
is a factor, three-fourths of those present at a
membership meeting can vote to place a financial contribution item
on the agenda for that meeting.
Campus Chapters
I. Constitution:
A. The basic unit is the Campus New Caucus chapter, including HEOs
and CLTs.
B. Each chapter will elect an executive committee of at least three
members to conduct New Caucus business at the campus level.
C. The campus chapter will attempt to achieve racial, gender,
full-time and part-time balance.
D. Campus chapters will operate within the framework of the
principles of the bylaws of the New Caucus.
II. Functions:
A. Faculty will nominate and elect a slate to campus chapter
elections; HEOs and CLTs will nominate slates for cross-campus
chapter elections.
B. Appoint Coordinating Committee
C. Be active in all campus PSC chapter activities.
D. Assist in the CUNY-wide New Caucus work groups.
E. Participate in the nomination and election of delegates to
NYSUT, AFT and AAUP Conventions.
Governing
Board
I. Constitution:
A. The Governing Board of the New Caucus shall consist of no fewer
than nine and no more than eleven members.
B. The Governing Board shall be elected at the first fall meeting
in the year following the general election of the PSC. The term of
office is three years. In the event that vacancies occur, leaving
the board with fewer than nine members, a special
election shall be held at the next general meeting to bring the
board membership to eleven members if possible. Representation will
be by different constituencies to the extent possible (racial,
gender, full-time and part-time teaching faculty, Higher Education
Officers, College Laboratory Technicians).
C. In the event that a Governing Board member becomes a member of
the EC, creating a majority of EC members on the Board, that member
shall resign from the Board.
II. Functions:
A. Serve as a slate nominating committee for CUNY-wide elections.
B. Meet in September (or more often) to recommend a course of
action to the Coordinators for the coming year. The Governing Board
will elect a convener and secretary at this meeting.
C. Appoint the Coordinating Committee members each year.
III. Nominating Process:
A. Candidates for the Governing Board may self-nominate or may be
nominated by someone else at the general meeting or in writing to
the coordinators at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
B. Nominees must be members in good standing of the New Caucus on
the day of the meeting.
C. At that meeting, nominees must either accept their nomination or
must have communicated their acceptance to the coordinators prior to
the meeting.
D. Notification of all elections for the Governing Board shall be
given in writing at least 14 days in advance of the meeting at which
they occur.
IV. Election Procedures:
A. Voting will be by secret ballot at the general meeting and
conducted by the Coordinators. Candidates may not participate in
the counting of ballots.
B. Members shall vote for up to eleven but for no fewer than nine
candidates or in the case of a special election to fill
vacancies, members must vote for no fewer than the number of
candidates needed to bring the board membership to nine.
C. Ballots that violate these requirements shall be void.
D. To be elected, a candidate must receive a simple majority of the
valid votes cast. If at least 9 candidates have not received a
majority vote on the first ballot, additional rounds of balloting
will be conducted consisting of those candidates who have not
received a majority. If more than eleven candidates receive a
majority vote, the candidates who receive the greatest number of
votes will be elected.
E. PSC Executive Council members shall not have a majority of seats
on the board. In the event that a majority of those elected are PSC
Executive Council members, those with the fewest votes shall be
disqualified until EC members constitute a minority of seats on the
Board.
F. In the event of a tie, if the candidates agree,
the winner(s) will be chosen by lot, otherwise, a runoff election
shall be conducted.
Coordinating Committee
I. Constitution:
A. A Coordinating Committee will be comprised of six members
appointed by the Board, plus an elected Treasurer.
B. At the first fall semester membership meeting each year, two
coordinators will be appointed for a term of three years. In the
event that a vacancy occurs leaving the Coordinating Committee with
fewer than six members, a replacement shall be appointed to fill the
unexpired term.
C. The Treasurer shall be elected for a three-year term at the
first fall meeting following the general PSC election.
D. Representation will be by different constituencies to the extent
possible (racial, gender, full-time and part-time teaching faculty,
Higher Education Officers, College Laboratory Technicians).
II. Functions:
A. Set an agenda for membership meetings and notify members of
meetings.
B. Manage such business as shall arise between meetings.
C. Publish a Membership Alert including notices of meetings,
minutes of past meetings and other matters of interest.
D. Establish committees and appoint members as needed and
supervise, support and coordinate their activities.
E. Authorize expenditures to carry out the activities of the New
Caucus.
F. Collect dues.
G. The Treasurer shall maintain accurate and timely records
regarding dues, membership and spending.
H. The Treasurer shall report regularly to the Coordinators and to
the membership at all meetings.
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