ARTICLE I. CHAPTER

A. Dues

1. Each Active Member of EMU-AAUP shall pay nine-tenths (.9) of one (1) percent of total salary in dues. These dues shall include national and state AAUP dues as well as local dues.

2. Associate Members shall pay the appropriate national and state AA UP dues and four (4) dollars in local dues.

3. The Executive Committee may propose alterations in the dues structure. Ratification of proposed changes in the dues structure shall require a majority vote of those Active Members- who cast ballots on the changes. Voting shall be by secret, mail ballot.

4. A Special assessment may be proposed to the membership of' EMU-AAUP by means of a Chapter-wide referendum as specified in Article XI of the Constitution.

5. Dues for bargaining unit members on reduced base salary because of sabbatical or other leave shall be reduced accordingly.

6. Dues levied according to Article I.A. 1 shall be payable by dues deduction.

B. Officers of the Chapter

1. Elections: Election of Chapter Officers and Members At-Large of the Executive Committee shall take place in the Fall term. New officers, and Members At-Large shall take office on January 1 of the following year. From the date of their election until they formally assume office, officers and Members At-Large-elect shall be non-voting members of the Executive Committee.

2. Election Procedures: Prior to the end of the Winter term (i.e., in April), the Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominations and Elections Committee to present at the September meeting nominations for each elected office of the Chapter. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at either of the regular September or October Chapter meetings. The balloting shall follow the October meeting as closely as possible. In addition, nominations may be made by petition, signed by at least fifteen (15) Active Members and presented to the Nominations and Elections Committee prior to the regular October Chapter Meeting.

C. Meetings: The Chapter shall hold regular meetings for the months of September, October, November, January, February, and March of each year. In September of each year, the Executive Committee shall provide the Chapter with a calendar specifying the dates and times of the regular meetings. The Executive Committee may call special meetings of the Chapter as it deems necessary. The Executive Committee shall call special meetings of the Chapter upon petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the Active Members; such a meeting must be called within two (2) weeks after the Executive Committee receives the petition.

D. Agenda: The Chapter Secretary (with the advice of the President) shall determine the agenda for each regular Chapter meeting. Items of business may be placed on the agenda by petition signed by at least fifteen (15) Active Members and presented to the Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to a regular Chapter meeting. The secretary shall distribute the written agenda to the membership of the Chapter at least two (2) days prior to each regular meeting.

E. Quorum: At meetings of the Executive Committee, and the Chapter, those members present shall represent a quorum.

F. Parliamentary Procedure: Parliamentary procedure at all meetings shall be in accord with the latest revision of 'Robert's Rules of Order", except when these "Rules" conflict with the Chapter Constitution or By-Laws.

G. Parliamentarian: The Chapter President shall appoint a parliamentarian whose rulings on procedural matters shall be binding on the Chapter.

ARTICLE II. BARGAINING COUNCIL

A. Term of Office of the Bargaining Council: The Bargaining Council shall disband when a contract is ratified, unless the Active Members attending the next regular Chapter Meeting after ratification request the Bargaining Council to remain in existence. Dissolution of such a Bargaining Council which remains in existence after ratification of a contract shall require a majority vote of the Active Members in attendance at a regular Chapter Meeting.

B. At least six (6) months prior to the expiration date of the contract then in force or prior to the date that a salary adjustment would take effect (i.e., a salary re-opener), the Bargaining Council shall, if necessary, be reconstituted as specified in Article IX of the Constitution.

ARTICLE III. AMENDMENTS

Any Active Member may propose an amendment to the By-Laws at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter. The proposed amendment must be submitted at a meeting in writing. If the Active Members in attendance at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter agree by majority vote to consider the proposed amendment, it must then be submitted to the Active Members for ratification. Ratification shall require a majority affirmation vote of those Active Members who cast ballots on the proposed amendment. Voting shall be by secret, mail ballot.

(Constitution and Bylaws effective December 5, 2003)