Proposed bylaws
From E-Democracy.Org
Our current Articles of Incorporation allow for bylaws. This is the page for drafting new by-laws by the Board.
DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT
Draft Bylaws
1. Name - Minnesota E-Democracy shall be known to the public as E-Democracy.Org. Officially recognized local chapters and steering committees or other affiliates as allowed in these by-laws may be known as "City Name E-Democracy," further a consortium of local chapters in a geographic region may use the title E-Democracy.Org Country/State Name/Abbreviation.
2. Local Chapters - Local Chapters represent the fundamental local organizing unit of E-Democracy.Org. As an official and legal part of E-Democracy.Org they exercise management and leadership over their local Issues Forum and related community content and initiatives.
2.1 Recognition - The Board shall recognize Chapters when presented an acceptable local constitution and assurance that all local activities shall be non-partisan, non-profit and within the parameters set out in section X of the Articles of Incorporation.
2.2 Requirements - The E-Democracy.Org Board, in consultation with existing chapters, may establish minimum requirements for a Local Chapter to remain in "good standing." This may include but is not limited to minimal programmatic activities, outreach presentations in neighboring communities to foster the creation of new chapters, sharing of a percentage (20 percent?) of donations received through online facilities provided by E-Democracy.Org for organization-wide needs, and/or a yearly contribution for overall technical and administrative support.
2.3 Financial Matters - The Board Treasurer shall report the amount of funds raised and reserved for use by a local Chapter on a quarterly basis. The Board may not spend or borrow funds dedicated to local purposes.
2.4 Forum Governance - The Chapter shall appoint/replace/remove a Forum Manager, adopt/amend the Forum Charter(s), and appoint a politically fair committee to hear appeals from forum rule violators. This committee may overrule the Forum Manager. Chapters may establish additional online forums, content, and online event/consultations on E-Democracy.Org. They may involve partner organizations in these additional forums on a non-partisan, non-advocacy basis.
3. Local Steering Committees - Prior to the establishment of a Chapter, the Board Chair or his or her designee, may appoint the chair(s) of a start-up local Chapter. Alternatively, a local steering committee in formation may elect their steering committee chair(s) at their second organizational meeting and notify E-Democracy.Org of their choice. A steering committee has 18 months from the selection of a chair(s) to apply for full Chapter status. Steering Committees shall operate as Chapters under these by-laws and must be in good standing up recognition as a full Chapter. Steering Committees must become full chapters within 18 months of opening their Issues Forum (or within 18 months of the approval of these bylaws) or enter the dissolution process per the Board's direction.
4. Recognized Affiliates - The Board may recognize independent affiliates of E-Democracy.Org. All affiliates must operate on a non-partisan, non-profit basis within the mission of E-Democracy.Org and may include projects or initiatives of non-governmental organizations, universities, and governments. An affiliate must carry a logo on the home page of their organization's website that links to the proper entry page on E-Democracy.Org. Affliates must have their own legal status and fiscal arrangements. Donations made online to E-Democracy.Org may not be transferred to affiliates. Any online service provided to an affiliate must be charge at the market rate or at a level agreed to in writting with the Board.
5. Legal Status - All Chapters and Steering Committees are legally part of E-Democracy.Org. Those in the United States share in the 501.c3 non-profit status granted by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. Recognized chapters and steering committees outside the United States may use a charitable fiscal agent/umbrella organization approved by the Board if required to maintain legal charitable or voluntary status assuming no national E-Democracy.Org charity is registered in that country. Steering committees and chapters operating a fiscal level below that which requires
6. Suspension, Dissolution, Separation - A Chapter, Steering Committee, or Affiliate may be suspended if their Issues Forum or other activities are inactive for six months. Dissolution may take place after three months from the date a warning is sent to the known leaders of the group and posted publicly in their primary online forum. The current leaders of a Chapter or Steering Committee may legally seperate from E-Democracy.Org and its forum/online host only after the Board is given three months to give existing participants an opportunity to lead activities as a part of E-Democracy.Org. If insufficient local interest exists in remaining part of E-Democracy.Org, the full Issues Forum membership list after an opt-out opportunity, shall be given to the leader of the previous group for possible use on external online services.
7. Forums of the Whole - E-Democracy.Org may opt to host forums, announcement services, and online content at a state, national, or international level based on volunteer capacity. The Forum Manager shall be appointed by the Board Chair and appeals of rule violation shall be heard by the Board or a committee designated for such purpose.
