Constitution

Article I

Name - State, Regional, and Local Chapters

Section 1. Name. The name of this State Association shall be the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, hereinafter referred to as "the Association". It is exempt from Federal income tax under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The Association's address is P.O. Box 140464, Austin, Texas 78714.

Section 2. Regional and Local Chapters. The Association is divided into six regions. Local and regional chapters are encouraged. These chapters must have at least ten (10) members representing more than two (2) institutions or agencies within the area to be represented. The chapter must submit the names of the charter members, a copy of their bylaws consistent with the state by-laws, and a list of their officers. The chapter must then be approved by a vote from the Executive Committee.

Article II

Purpose and Goals

Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Association shall be to provide a forum for the discussion of issues related to Chicanos in Higher Education and to cooperate in providing workable solutions in these issues.

Section 2. Goals. The Association is a professional organization committed to the improvement of educational opportunities for Americans of Mexican ancestry. Its goals shall be:

(a) Educational Advocacy. To articulate educational problems, needs, and issues related to Chicanos in higher education.

(b) Networking. To engage actively in network-building with local, state, and national organizations for the purpose of securing changes in those laws and policies detrimental to our constituencies.

(c) Recruitment/Retention. To assist in establishing effective institutional programs to recruit and retain Chicano faculty, students, and professional staff in higher education. To serve as a clearinghouse on information regarding Chicanos in Texas higher education.

(d) Cultural Promotion. To assist in the promotion of the history and culture of Chicanos for educational and public information purposes.

Article III

Membership

Section 1. Membership shall consist of faculty, professional staff, or students employed or enrolled in a public or private higher education institution or agency in Texas interested in the stated purpose and goals of the Association.

Section 2. Persons employed or associated with organizations which share the purpose and goals of the Association may become members.

Article IV

Membership and Voting privileges

Section 1. Membership Categories. The respective categories for membership in the Association shall be as follows:

(a) Professional Member. A professional member shall be an employee of a public or private higher education institution or agency in Texas.

(b) Associate Member. An associate member is a person who shares the purpose and goals of the Association.

(c) Student Member. A student member is a person enrolled in a Texas public or private higher education institution.

(d) Honorary Member. An honorary member is an individual identified by the Executive Committee who has performed services which coincide with the Association's purpose or who retires while actively engaged in the field of higher education.

(e) Institutional Member. An institutional member is any public or private higher education institution or agency in Texas that supports and furthers the goals of the Association. Institutional members may include up to five professional memberships.

Section 2. Voting Privileges. Only professional members of the Association shall have the right to vote in elections and business transactions of the organization.

Article V

Dues and Finance

Section 1. Dues. Annual dues and membership year shall be set annually by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Finances. Membership dues and all contributions received shall be used only for the general operating expenses of the Association as determined by the Executive Committee.

(1) Travel reimbursement. Travel reimbursement and honoraria, if any, shall be set by the Executive Committee, but no member of the Executive Committee may vote on any question involving travel reimbursement or honoraria to be paid to him/her.

(2) Association Accounts. Association accounts shall be audited once a year by a duly authorized accountant appointed by the Executive Committee.

(3) Budgets. Annual and amended budgets shall be prepared by the Finance Committee and presented to the Executive Committee for its adoption.

Article VI

Board, Executive Committee, and Regional Representatives

Section 1. Board. The Board consists of the officers and six regional representatives. It is the primary governing body of the Association. In order to conduct official business, notices must be disseminated to all board members at least two weeks before regular meetings and at least 72 hours before emergency meetings. Those in attendance will constitute a quorum, and decisions may be made by a simple majority of those present.

Section 2. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers: President, Immediate Past-President, President-elect, Vice President for Communications, Vice President for Membership, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee can meet to discuss and develop the agenda for the Board, but must have approval for action by the Board.

Section 3. Regional Representatives. The Regional Representatives consist of one vote representative from each of the six stae regions. Any region may elect a co-representative to share responsibilities. The co-representative is not a voting alternate for the Regional Representative.

Article VII

Duties of Officers (Executive Committee) and Regional Representatives

Section 1. President. The President shall perform all duties proper to the office and appoint the standing committee chairpersons subject to confirmation by the Board. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees with voting privileges except the Nomination Committee. The standing committees will be determined by the President subject to approval by the Executive Board. The President shall authorize all formal communication and policy statements in the name of the Association. (See Article XII, Section 1.). The President is authorized to enter into contractual arrangements binding the Association only with the explicit approval of the Board or through resolutions enacted by the general membership at the official annual conference.

Section 2. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall preside in the absence of the President and shall serve as Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee the annual conference.

Section 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep an official record of the proceedings of all business meetings of the Association, the Board, and standing committees. The Secretary shall preserve all records in permanent files. As required by the President, the Secretary shall conduct Association correspondence and perform other assigned duties. The Secretary shall be responsibile for updating the revised by-laws and providing copies at the annual conference to the membership.

Section 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies of the Association. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures and provide for appropriate audit of accounts. The Treasurer also has the responsibility for compliance with the IRS Code. Funds shall be deposited in a bank designated by the President. Dues shall be kept by the Association upon receipt from state members. The Treasurer shall release to his/her successor within ten days of vacating office, all books, records, and papers and receive a listed receipt therefore from the incoming Treasurer.

Section 5. Vice President for Communication. The Vice President for Communications shall be responsible for preparing publications, newsletters, and any other communications called for by the Board. The Vice President is also responsible for the TACHE Website.

Section 6. Vice President for Membership. The Vice President for Membership shall be responsible for retaining and recruiting members to the Association. He/she shall work with such other members of the Board as appropriate.

Section 7. The Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall serve on the Board. He/She will assist the' President in making the transition into a new term of office and will assist in special projects as assigned.

Section 8. Regional Representatives - The Regional Representatives shall be elected by the members of the respective regions to facilitate communication between the region and the state, and to aid in the recruitment of members. Any of the regions may elect "co-representative" to share responsibilities. However, the "co-representative" is not a member of the Board.

Article VIII

Tenure and Vacancies

Section 1. Tenure. The President and President-Elect are elected for one year. The Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President for Communications, Vice President for Membership and Regional Representatives are elected for a two year term. With the exception of the President and President-Elect, members of the Executive Committee may hold the same office for an indefinite period of time provided they are duly elected or re-elected to the respective office at the annual election of officers meeting. Tenure of President and President-Elect is limited to two consecutive years.

Section 2. Vacancies. If any office shall become vacant, the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint another member to fill such office to complete the term of office. The vacancy of the President shall automatically be assumed by the President-Elect. The vacancy of the President-Elect shall be filled only at the next annual convention.

Article IX

Records

Section 1. Records. Files of records shall be transferred by each officer to his/her successor at the close of the term of office. After two years the original records shall be deposited at Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas, Austin Campus.

Article X

Duties of Standing Committees

Section 1. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer as the Chairperson, Secretary, and three active members of the Association. This committee shall be responsible primarily for the preparation of the annual budget which shall be presented for adoption by the Executive Committee. (See Article V, Section 3).

Section 2. The Nomination Committee. The Nomination shall consist of the Regional Representatives of the six regions. Their responsibility is to formulate a slate of candidates for each office to be presented and voted on at the annual convention. (See Article XVI, Section 1).

Section 3. The Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Membership Coordinator as Chairperson and six Regional Representatives who will have the responsiblity of conducting membership drives and assisting in the publication of the Membership Directory.

Section 4. The Program Committee. The Program Committee shall consist of the President-Elect as Chairperson or his designee at his/her discretion and four or more active members. The committee shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of the program at the time of the annual or other meetings of the Association.

Section 5. The Constitution Committee. The Constitution Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and five active members of the Association, all appointed by the President. Its function shall be to consider proposed amendments or changes to the constitution and by-laws of the Association. (See Article XVIII, Section 1).

Section 6. The publication Committee.  The Publication Committee shall consist of the Publication Editor as the Chairperson and three other active members selected by the Publication Editor and approved by the Executive Committee. The Committee' 5 responsibility is to prepare and issue publicationsu newsletters, and any other mass distributions called for by the Executive Committee. This committee can assist the Membership Committee in the publication of the Membership Directory.

Section 7. Other Standing Committees. Other standing committees can be appointed by the President, as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

Article XI

General Responsibluties of Committees

Section 1. In addition to the foregoing specific duties prescribed for committees of the Association, each committee shall perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as may be delegated by the Executive Committee or General Assembly.

Section 2. The Chairperson of each committee may participate fully in committee discussions and deliberations and may vote as does every other member except specifically stated to the contrary.

Section 3. Each committee shall select its own secretary who shall prepare a report of each meeting and file one copy with the Secretary of the Association and one copy with each member of the Committee, and one copy with each regional representative. No committee member may vote on an issue or item of pecuniary benefit to him/her.

Article XII

Public Statements

Section 1. Public Statements. No statement, news release, public announcement, circular letter, or other communication concerning a state policy statement or opinion shall be issued on association stationery or under the Association's logo or in the name of the Association or any of its of fficers or committees unless it shall have been specifically authorized and approved by the President or the Executive Committee.

Article XIII

Task Force

Section 1. Task Force. The President with the approval of the Executive Committee shall appoint a Task Force(s) to explore and develop position papers on any issue(s) deemed necessary. Specific stipulations drafted by the President and the Executive Committee shall be transmitted to the Task Force at formulation.

Article XIV

Voting

Section 1. Voting. A simple majority of the professional members voting is required for passage of business transactions and election of officers.

Article XV

Nomination of Officers

Section 1. The Nominations Committee shall submit to the general membership of the Association at the convention a slate of candidates for the office of President-Elect each year, and a slate of candidates for the office of Secretary, Treasurer, Publication Editor, and Membership Coordinator every other year. The report shall include a professional profile on each candidate nominated for office.

Section 2. Names of other candidates may be put before the membership from the floor upon submission by them, or in their behalf (and with their consent).

Article XVI

Election of Officers

Section 1. Election of Officers. Election of officers shall be by secret ballot and by simple majority. If no candidate receives a simple majority of the whole number of votes cast, the paid membership shall ballot a second time between the two candidates receiving the highest votes on the first ballot. If the votes should be evenly divided between the two runoff candidates, balloting continues until the one receiving the most votes shall be the winner.

Article XVII

Nomination and Election of Regional Representatives

Section 1. Members from respective designated regions shall caucus at the annual convention and at this time nominate and elect a Regional Representative. The winner(s) shall receive a simple majority of votes cast. The votes are to be cast by verbal declaration or show of hands. If votes are to be secret, then provisions must be made by regional members present.

Article XVIII

Process of Amendment

Section 1. Amendments of this Constitution shall be submitted in written form by their proponents to the Executive Committee of the Association through the Constitution Committee at least three calendar months prior to the annual convention of the Association. The Constitution Committee shall submit all proposed amendments to the annual meeting~of the Association. All amendments shall be adopted upon a simple majority of the paid members present and voting at the annual convention.

These revised and updated by-laws must then be filed with the secretary of state. Future revisions must be submitted as amendments and will be listed separately and attached to the constitution and by-laws.

Article XIX

Rules of Procedure

Section 1. The Association shall have authority to make its own rules of procedure in the conduct of its business. When not otherwise provided, Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall govern parliamentary procedures.

By-Law Amendments

Article II

Mission, Purpose, and Goals

Section 1. Mission. The mission of TACHE is "A Professional Association committed to the Improvement of Educational and Employment opportunities for Hispanics in Higher Education.

Section 3. Goals. The Association is a professional organization committed to the improvement of educational opportunities for (Americans of Mexican ancestry) Hispanics.

Article IV

Membership and Voting Privileges

Section 1.

Educational Institutional Member.

Corporate Member. A corporate member is a private noneducational business or organization that supports and furthers the goals of the Association. A corporate member may include one professional membership.

Article V

Dues and Finance

Section 2.

Association Accounts. Association accounts shall be audited (once a) every other year and reviewed during alternative years by a duly authorized accountant appointed by the Executive committee.

Corporate Member. A corporate member is a private noneducational business or organization that supports and furthers the goals of the Association. A corporate member may include one professional membership.

Article VI

Officers

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Publication Editor, Membership Coordinator, the Immediate Past President, and (six) at least one Representative from each of the six state regions. All officers must be active members of the Association.

Article VII

Duties of Officers

Section 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer . . . All checks written for the amount of $250 or more shall be signed by both the President and the Treasurer . . . The Treasurer will be duly bonded at the beginning of each term of office or immediately upon such time that the Association accumulates $100,000 or more in assets.

Section 9. The Executive Committee. The Executive . . . and Regional Representatives shall transact the business of the Association in the interim . . . .

Article X

Duties of Standing Committees

Section 7. The Development Committee. The Development Committee shall consist of the current and former Presidents with the Immediate Past President serving as the Chairperson. The Committee's responsibility shall be to research and seek external funding sources for the benefit of the Association.

Article XIV

Voting

Section 2. On-site Absentee Voting. Provisions shall be made for on-site absentee voting by professional members who register for the conference but who are unable to attend the business meeting.