Constitution & Bylaws - The United Societies

Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️

Constitution

Article 1
SECTION 1
Name
The name of this society shall be the: Name of The United Societies™️ (TUS).
SECTION 2
Object
The United Societies™️ is a not-for-profit web-based membership dedicated to benevolent human advancement and pragmatic peace.
SECTION 3
The societies shall be non-political and non-sectarian in all of their relationships.
SECTION 4
Charter
The societies shall maintain a charter in the state of Hawaii as a not-for-profit organization.
Article 2
SECTION 1
Membership
All persons interested in human advancement and/or constructive peace shall be eligible for membership subject to the approval of the United Council - Board of Directors. Applicants must be willing to abide by the Constitution and By-Laws and must maintain an interest in the activities of the T.U.S.
SECTION 2
Officers
There shall be the following officers elected every four (4) years: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Sergeant-at-arms by the United Council.
SECTION 3
Qualifications of Officers
Any candidate for office must be a member in good standing, must be twenty-five (25) years of age or older, and must have been a member of the societies for a minimum of twelve (12) months.
SECTION 4
Election of Officers
Candidates for the office of the presidency shall be presented by the nominating committee at the regular meeting in May. Nominations from the floor will be taken before voting at the regular meeting in June. Candidates must have given their permission to run, verbally to three (3) members of the United Council or in writing. The President shall be elected by ballot by 51% of the United Council and installed at the regular July meeting.
1 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️

Article 3
SECTION 1
Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the President, and duly elected officers.
SECTION 2
Board of Directors
The United Council - Board of Directors shall consist of an independent board elected by the membership to a five-year (5) term, and consist of the last active Past President, and All Founders.
SECTION 3
Board of Trustees
The Societal Court - Board of Trustees an ethical body shall consist of an independent board appointed indefinitely by the acting or present President, and All Founders, approved by the United Council.

ARTICLE 4
SECTION 1
Each member of the United Council - Board of Directors will keep an accurate accounting of duties and records of yearly activities. These records will be forwarded to the incoming United Council - Board of Director's successor in an orderly fashion at the July United Council - Board of Directors meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the outgoing President and the incoming President to oversee these transmissions.
SECTION 2
An accurate inventory of all physical assets (except society funds) and their location will be kept in duplicate. One copy is to be retained with the Treasurer records and one copy is to be retained with the Recording Secretary records. This inventory will be reviewed at least once annually at the July United Council - Board of Directors meeting and verified. It shall be the duty of the current President to delegate the locations of these properties with the approval of the United Council - Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 5
Meetings
The society shall hold regular meetings once a month at a time and place designated by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall meet at their discretion. The United Council - Board of Directors shall meet at least once a month at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors. The Societal Court - Board of Trustees shall meet at least once a month at a time and place designated by the Societal Court - Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE 6
PUBLICATION
The T.U.S. shall have the authority to publish a journal that shall be known as Unified Chatter. It shall be distributed to all societies members, exchange clubs, and non-member donors.
ARTICLE 7
Logo
The T.U.S. shall have the authority to establish a club logo.
ARTICLE 8
SEAL
The society seal shall be kept by the Treasurer, to be used as required.
- 2 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️.
ARTICLE 9
Signing Officials
The only societies members authorized to use their signature for societies business are as follows (except as noted elsewhere in the Constitution):
A. Checks drawn upon the funds of the societies shall require the signature of the Treasurer and/or the President or the Vice-President.
B. Withdrawal of any other societies funds from the repository shall require two (2) signatures: Treasurer and the President or Vice-President.
C. Any document committing the societies too, a plan of action requires two (2) signatures, a member of the societies with temporary authorization of the United Council - Board of Directors and the President or Vice-President.
D. Signing societies members shall not be related by marriage, blood, or cohabitation.

ARTICLE 10
Affiliations
The T.U.S. may enter into an affiliation with the approval of the general membership.
ARTICLE 11
Amendments
Any proposed amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing to any elected officer. Such proposed amendments must be signed by five (5) active members of the societies before being submitted. They will be referred to the United Council - Board of Directors for investigation and recommendation. Proposed amendments will then be published within sixty (60) days and will be read and voted upon at the next regular meeting after publication. They shall become a part of this Constitution only if approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting at said meeting.
ARTICLE 12
Parliamentary Authority
All business of the societies shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order (Revised). The protested business will not become binding until ruled upon by the Sergeant-at-arms.
- 3 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️

Bylaws

Bylaw 1
SECTION 1
Membership
All prospective members must submit a written application accompanied by membership dues. Said application to be approved or rejected by the United Council - Board of Directors. If rejected, the membership chairperson shall provide an explanation and a full refund will be made.
SECTION 2
Dues
Dues are on a twelve (12) month basis from the meeting date of application. The Board of Directors will review the dues schedule each November. Their recommendations will be presented at the general meeting for approval.
SECTION 3
Types of Membership
Unifier Membership:
Unifier consists of adults and related children under eighteen (18) living under one roof.
Friend Membership:
A friend with a responsible member sponsor, any person eighteen (18) or older.
Neighbor Membership:
A member is entitled to voting and Publications only.
Honorary and/or Life Membership
At the discretion of the United Council - Board of Directors. The United Council - Board of Directors has the final approval on the classification of membership.
SECTION 4
Reinstatement
If any member drops out or is expelled from the societies for a one-year or more period and wishes to rejoin, he or she may rejoin the societies. At the discretion of the United Council - Board of Directors, full former membership rights and privileges may be reinstated. No cancellations or refund of dues shall be paid if a member resigns before the close of his or her's membership year.
SECTION 5
Non-Payment of Dues
Non-payment of dues by a member shall be considered equivalent to a resignation. The name will be dropped from the membership rolls unless extenuating circumstances are given or known.
SECTION 6
Membership Benefits
The privileges of membership are those of voting and participation in all functions of The United Societies™️.
A. Voting: Eligibility to vote is limited to members in good standing (two (2) votes per family in the societal membership).

4 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️.

All voting is decided by a simple majority except where specifically noted in the Constitution and By-Laws. The Responsibility of conducting the balloting rests with the Sergeant-at-arms. He or she may appoint assistants. The ballots must be retained by the secretary for sixty (60) days, after which time the votes may no longer be challenged.

Bylaw 2
Duties of Officers
President
The President shall preside at all general meetings, Executive Board meetings, and Board of Directors meetings at which he is present, shall exercise general supervision over the affairs and activities of the societies, and shall serve as a member ex-official on all committees except the nominating committee.
Also, the President appoints all committee chairpersons, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. He/she also serves in any other capacity as required elsewhere in the Constitution and Bylaws.
SECTION 2
Vice-President
In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President.
SECTION 3
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive all society funds and keep them in a bank or repository selected or approved by the Executive Board. Accurate records must be kept of all monetary transactions. The Treasurer shall require a bill or signed voucher for all disbursements and will issue receipts for all incoming funds. The Treasurer must present a monthly financial report at each Board of Directors and general meetings. All records will be audited annually within sixty (60) days of the July regular meeting and kept for a minimum of five (5) years.
SECTION 4
Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary shall keep the original minutes in duplicate of all Board of Directors, Executive and general meetings of the society, which shall be an accurate and official record of all business transactions. One copy shall be retained by the President. The Recording Secretary shall maintain a current membership list and all other records as directed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5
Corresponding Secretary
The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the societies. He/she shall communicate with donators and make three (3) copies of all donations received. One copy will be filed with the President, one with the Sergeant-at-arms and one shall be retained by the Corresponding Secretary. All donations and mail of the society shall be sent to a place approved by the United Council - Board of Directors.
5 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️.

SECTION 6
Sergeant-at-Arms
The primary function of the Sergeant-at-arms is to see that all general meetings and other functions, as directed by the Board of Directors, are conducted in an orderly manner and to render assistance in any capacity for which he/she may be called upon. The Sergeant-at-arms shall be the official parliamentarian.
BY-LAW 3
Vacancy of an Elected Office
In the event of a vacancy of any elected office (as defined in the Constitution) for any reason, the Board of Directors shall appoint a successor to serve the unexpired term within thirty (30) days of the vacancy.
BY-LAW 4
Voting Regulations
For a member to vote on any issue, he/she must be present at the time the vote is taken and meet all the qualifications of the Constitution. In cases where a member holds multiple positions on the United Council - Board of Directors, the member will be allowed only one vote.
BY-LAW 5
SECTION 1
Expulsion
The United Council - Board of Directors, by two thirds (2/3) majority vote, can expel any member of the societies for the following reasons:
A. Conduct unbecoming a member of the societies.
B. Malfeasance in office.

SECTION 2
Elected officers may be expelled from office for failing to attend two (2) consecutive board meetings without extenuating circumstances.
BY-LAW 6
SECTION 1
Committees
The standing committees are:
A. Program
B. Publication
C. Website
D. Membership
E. Audit and Budget

The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint the chairpersons from the general membership. The chairpersons may establish their committees from the general membership, subject to the approval of the United Council - Board of Directors.
SECTION 2
The president shall establish or dissolve such special committees, with the advice and consent of the United Council -Board of Directors, as from time to time may be required, to sustain the functions of the societies.
- 6 - Constitution and Bylaws of The United Societies™️.
SECTION 3
The nominating committee shall be composed of two (2) elected officers, one (1) appointed member of the United Council - Board of Directors, and two (2) members from the general membership, all of whom shall be appointed by the President. The chairperson shall be selected by the committee from its membership. The committee shall meet at the chairperson's convenience before the May Board of Directors meeting. Their report shall be presented as prescribed in the Constitution.
SECTION 4
Voting
Each standing committee will be allowed one (1) vote at United Council - Board of Directors meetings, except as noted elsewhere. Nominating and ad hoc committees have no vote.
BY-LAW 7
Quorum
One-fourth (1/4) of the membership, with a minimum of ten (10) shall constitute a quorum at the regular meetings of the societies requiring a vote. At Executive Board meetings, two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Board of the societies shall constitute a quorum. At the Board of Directors meetings, two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Board and one-half (1/2) of the standing committees shall constitute a quorum. Ad hoc committees and the nominating committee do not count for quorum.
BY-LAW 8
Order of Business
The order of business at all meetings of the societies shall be as follows:
1. Call the meeting to order.
2. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting, unless published.
3. Reading of the Treasurers' report.
A. At the United Council - Board of Directors—full report.
B. At the general meetings—condensed report except for unusual transactions.
4. Old business.
5. New business.
6. Program.
7. Any other societal functions.
8. Adjournment.

BY-LAW 9
Amendments
Proposed amendments to the By-laws will be submitted in writing to the United Council - Board of Directors, signed by three (3) active members. The board will investigate and make their recommendations at the next general meeting. Voting will proceed at a said meeting with a simple majority of eligible members present and voting required for passage.
BY-LAW 10
Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the societies, any remaining funds and other assets will be donated to the United Nations Children's Fund located in New York, New York USA.
BY-LAW 11
This Constitution and By-Laws shall supersede all previous documents and effective January 01, 2020.