[EM] Group Model Bylaws, 12 Oct 1999

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

The below is to get indirect majority rule in various groups (especially 
proportional representation in legislative bodies).   Compare with the old 
style (circa 1880) model bylaws in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 
1990 edition, Sec. 55.   The officers of all organizations should be directly 
nominated and elected (i.e. the convention mentions in the below are meant to 
be temporary).
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Group Model Bylaws, 12 Oct1999
by Demorep1 at aol.com

Optional language in [brackets]

[Year] [Group Name] Bylaws

Art. 1 [Group Name]

Sec. 1. The name of this group shall be the “______".

Sec. 2. The purpose of this group is _____ .

Sec. 3. Membership shall be granted to any person who ______ and who has paid 
his/her annual dues which shall not exceed ____ [dollars].

Art. 2 ELECTIONS

Sec. 1. (a) The following officers shall be Members and shall be elected by 
the Members using a mail secret ballot on ____ of each year for a 1 year term 
starting at noon on ____ of each year-- [10] Representatives on the Legislativ
e Committee (hereafter LC) [from [2] districts having [5] members each], a 
Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer and [3] at large Judges on the 
Judicial Committee.
(b) LC districts shall exist at least [182] days before the election.
(c) Candidates shall be nominated by nominating petitions signed by between 
[0.25[ and [1] percent of the number of Members in the electoral area of the 
office as of [182] days before the election and which shall be filed at least 
[84] days before the election.
(d) A petition form shall be [on 3 inch by 5 inch cards], as follows: 
NOMINATING PETITION- I nominate (Name and Address of candidate) for (name of 
office) in (electoral area of office) at the (date) Election. (Date, 
Signature, Name and Address of Elector).

Sec. 2. (a) A Member may vote for 1 or more Representative candidates on the 
ballot in a district (plus not more than [2] write-in votes) by voting by 
voting “1”, “2” and so forth for his or her first, second and so forth 
choices. 
(b) If there are more than [5] candidates (or remaining candidates) in the 
district, then the candidate having the lowest number of votes shall be a 
losing candidate. 
(c) Each vote for a losing candidate shall be transferred to the Member's 
next choice (if any) who is a remaining candidate in the district. 
(d) The two prior steps shall be repeated until there are [5] remaining 
candidates in the district who shall be elected. 
(e) A lottery shall be held if tie votes occur in any step. 
(f) Each Representative (or his or her replacement) shall have a voting power 
in the LC and its subcommittees, in person or by written proxy, equal to the 
votes that the Representative finally receives in the election. 
(g) Example-
C = Candidates     Voting Power
C1   22      = 22 + 1  = 23
C2   20      = 20 + 5  = 25
C3   15      = 15 + 3  = 18
C4   12 +5 = 17        = 17
C5   12 +1 = 13 -13  =   0
C6   11 +3 = 14 + 2   = 16
C7     9 -9 =   0         =   0
VNT   0      =   0  +2   =   2
      101       101         101
 C7 Loses C5 Loses
VNT= Votes not transferred
(h) Any action in the Committee shall require a majority of the total voting 
power unless a higher or lower fraction is specified in these bylaws.
(i) Each Representative may specify his/her replacement during his/her term 
(except due to recalls).

Sec. 3. (a) A Member may vote for 1 or more candidates for each elective 
executive or judicial office (plus not more than 2 write-in votes for each 
office). 
(b) The candidate(s) receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. 
(c) A lottery shall be held if tie votes occur.

Sec. 4. (a) A recall election for the LC or any elected or appointed 
executive or judicial officer may be proposed by a petition signed by a 
number of Members in the electoral or appointive area of the LC or officer 
exceeding [25] percent of the number of Members in the area at the time of 
filing.
(b) A petition shall be signed within [91] days before being filed and during 
the term of office involved and may contain 1 or more reasons for the recall.
(c) A petition form shall be [on 3 inch by 5 inch cards], as follows: RECALL 
PETITION- I petition for the recall of (the LC or name and office of officer) 
in (the electoral or appointive area of the LC or officer) [(for the 
following reason(s): (reason(s))] (Date, Signature, Name and Address of 
Member). 
(d) A recall election shall be held between [49] and [63] days after a valid 
petition is filed if the term of office involved continues beyond the recall 
election date [and if the cost of verifying the petition and holding the 
recall election is paid for when the petition is filed]. 
(e) If a majority of the Members voting on a recall approve it, then the LC 
or officer shall be removed from office immediately.
(f) If the LC is recalled, then a special election for the LC shall be held 
within [182] days unless a regular election occurs within such period.

Sec. 5. (a) At least [10[, [8] or [5] percent of Members at the time of 
filing may respectively by petition propose a bylaws amendment, resolution or 
referendum.
(b) A bylaws amendment or resolution petition shall be signed within [2] 
years before being filed.  
(c) A referendum petition to approve or reject a LC resolution shall be 
signed and filed within [91] days after such resolution is enacted. 
(d) The full text of a proposal shall be filed and be given a number before 
the petition is circulated. 
(e) A petition shall be [on 3 inch by 5 inch cards], as follows: (BYLAWS 
AMENDMENT) (RESOLUTION) (REFERENDUM) PETITION- I have read the full text of 
Proposal (number) and I petition for it. (Date, Signature, Name and Address 
of Member). 
(f) A valid petition shall be submitted, at least [119] days after being 
filed, to the Members at the next regular election.

Sec. 6. (a) The LC by a [three-fifths] vote may propose a bylaws amendment.
(b) The LC may propose a resolution that requires Member approval before it 
takes effect.
(c) Each proposal shall contain the full text thereof and shall be submitted, 
at least [210] days after being filed, to the Members at the next regular 
election.

Sec. 7. (a) If a majority of the Members voting on a proposal approve it, 
then it shall take effect [at noon 21] days after the election.
(b) If 2 or more bylaws amendments (or resolutions) at the same election are 
approved and conflict, then the amendment (or resolution) receiving the 
highest affirmative vote shall prevail.
(c) A resolution approved by Members may only be amended or repealed by 
Members but the LC may propose to amend or repeal the resolution. 

[Sec. 8. Local committees, officers and convention delegates shall be elected 
as provided by general resolutions that conform with these bylaws.]

Art. 3 COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS

Sec. 1. The legislative power, not retained by Members or convention 
delegates, shall be vested in a LC.

Sec. 2. (a) The executive power, not retained by Members, shall be vested in 
a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and other executive officers 
provided by resolution appointed by 1 or more executive officers.
(b) The Vice-Chair shall fill any vacancy in the office of Chair.

Sec. 3. [a] The judicial power, not retained by Members, shall be vested in a 
Judicial Committee which shall decide cases involving alleged violations of 
these bylaws or resolutions. 
[b] [Disputed facts shall be tried by a jury of [12] impartial Members of 
whom [10] may have a general or special verdict.]

Sec. 4. A person may hold only 1 elective or appointive office.

Art. 4 CONVENTIONS

Sec. 1. (a) A convention shall be held [between ___ and ___] in years of 
[Group Name] national conventions to select delegates to such conventions.
(b) The LC may call a convention with at least [182] days notice.
[(c) A person who has never been a Member must become a Member at least [35] 
days prior to a convention before being allowed to vote at that convention.]
(d) The LC shall have supervision and management of a convention [prior to 
the start of the convention].
[(e) The elective executive officers shall be a convention’s executive 
officers.]

Sec. 2. (a) All Members who attend and register at a convention shall be 
delegates, unless there are more than ____ members as of [91[ days before a 
convention.
(b) In such case ____ delegates shall be apportioned among districts based on 
the number of Members in the districts as of [91] days before the convention.
(c) Each district shall consist of 1 or more political subdivisions or be a 
part of 1 subdivision and elect at least [3] delegates.
(d) Delegate nominations shall be made by a nominating petition signed by at 
least 1 percent of the Members in a district which shall be filed at least 
[56] days before the convention.
(e) Each Member may vote for 1 candidate at a mail ballot election to be held 
[21] days before the convention.
(f) The total votes in a district shall be divided by the number of delegates 
to be elected in the district rounded to the next highest whole number.
(g) If a candidate receives more than such ratio, then he/she shall be 
elected and may transfer such surplus votes to 1 or more remaining candidates 
who have less than such ratio.
(h) If all delegates are not elected, then the candidate with the lowest 
number of votes shall lose repeatedly and may transfer the votes that he/she 
received to a remaining candidate.
(i) The last remaining candidate(s) needed to fill all positions shall be 
elected.
(j) Example- elect 7 delegates, total votes 500, ratio = 71.43. A candidate 
gets 105 votes. He/she may transfer 105 - 72 = 33 votes to 1 or more 
remaining candidates. The lowest remaining candidate after all initial vote 
transfers gets 22 votes. He/she may transfer such 22 votes to a remaining 
candidate.
(k) Each delegate shall have 1 vote in a convention.
(l) If a delegate is unable to attend a convention, then he/she may give a 
written proxy to another Member.
(m) A majority shall rule at a convention, except [for resolutions which 
shall require a [three-fifths] vote of those present, or] as otherwise 
required by these bylaws.

Sec. 3. National convention delegates shall be elected only at a convention 
immediately prior to the national convention using Sec. 2 of this Article (as 
if such convention was 1 district).

TEMPORARY SECTION

(a) The election related changes in these bylaws shall take effect for the 
[Year] election.
(b) The prior bylaws shall be repealed [at noon _____] at which time this 
section shall be repealed.