Council Constitution

Constitution of the National Youth Action Council
Revised December 22, 2000

• Article I: Purpose and Mission
• Article II: Membership
• Article III: Duties
• Article IV: Meetings
• Article V: Voting
• Article VI: Governing Structure
• Article VII: Committees
• Article VIII: Amendments

Article I: Purpose and Mission

Section 1:

We shall be known as the National Youth Action Council.

Section 2: Mission Statement

The mission of the National Youth Action Council is to support and recognize positive youth action and to ensure youth voices are represented at the national level.

Section 3:

The National Youth Action Council (NYAC) recognizes that they are sponsored by Foundation of America (FOA), and it shall reserve the power to review and veto any and all National Youth Action Council decisions and actions.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Composition

1. The council shall composed of 16 to 24 year old young Americans from youth-serving organizations; and unaffiliated leaders.
2. Shall consist of at least fifteen and no more than eighteen members at any given time
3. The council reserves the right to select its own membership
4. The council shall strive to create a representative and diverse group of young people

Article III: Duties

Section 1: Communication

Responsibilities of NYAC members will include but are not limited to:

1. Council members shall be present, unless previously excused, at Council functions and yearly meetings, as described in Article IV
2. Members shall check in online weekly, as described in Article IV

Section 2: Programs

1. Youth In Action Awards
1. Members shall determine Youth in Action Award selection criteria
2. Members shall review applications and select Youth in Action Award recipients
2. The Council shall determine if and they wish to participate in other Youth In Action Programs
3. The Council reserves the right to sponsor its own programs towards the fulfillment of its mission

Section 3: Outreach

1. Members shall be committed to raising awareness of and creating support for the Council and youth voices in America
2. Members shall approve all outreach contacts, excluding Presidential candidates
3. Members shall represent the Council at youth-related and other media events

Section 4: Term Limits

1. Each member is committed to serving a term of 3 years.
2. In order to fulfill a 3-year commitment, a member must be selected on or before his/her 22nd birthday.

Section 5: New Members

1. one-third of council members will rotate annually
2. the nomination committee will make recommendations as described in Article VI, Section 2

Section 6: Removal of Members

NYAC members will be removed if

1. they miss two consecutive annual meetings
2. they miss three consecutive weekly check-ins without prior communication to the council chair
3. misrepresent the mission or purpose of the NYAC as determine by the council majority
4. reach a maximum of three years of council service or turn 25 years old

Article IV: Meetings

Section 1: Frequency

1. General meetings shall be held in person no less than one time a year.

Section 2: Emergency meetings

Dependent upon available funds, emergency meetings (in person) of the Council shall be convened:

1. by the Executive Director of Foundation of America: Youth In Action
2. by the Board of Directors
3. by a majority vote of Council members

Section 3: Electronic and Telephone Meetings

1. All members of the Council shall be required to check-in via e-mail at least once a week
2. Council members shall determine the day of the week for checking in
3. Phone conferences or on-line chats, arranged by the Council Coordinator, shall occur as necessary

Article V: Voting

Section 1: Process

1. Voting shall be done on-line, face to face, or via telephone meeting
2. A quorum shall consist of 60% of the membership
3. A fist-to-five will be taken before all votes when possible
4. A three-quarter vote of members present and voting is needed to pass any proposal
5. On-line voting must take place within six days, unless otherwise specified; unresponsive members are abstaining

Article VI: Governing Structure

Section 1: A Council Coordinator:

1. shall organize face-to-face and telephonic meetings
2. shall work with the Chair to create an agenda
3. shall track Council member's involvement, including weekly check-ins, participation in meetings and completion of assigned tasks
4. shall monitor all financial matters for the Council
5. shall perform operational day-to-day tasks for the Council, including managing current programs
6. shall have salary-based compensation
7. shall be selected by the council
8. shall develop ideas on how to involve more young people and Youth in Action (Friends of NYAC)

Section 2: A Council Chairperson:

1. shall be elected from the Council by a simple majority one month prior to each meeting;
2. shall chair or facilitate the meeting and set the agenda in conjunction with the coordinator
3. shall serve for the duration of one meeting

Section 3: A Recording Secretary:

1. shall be elected from the Council by a simple majority
2. shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings, and distributing them to the members
3. shall be responsible for turning in all documents to the Executive Director of Youth In Action for the purpose of record keeping
4. shall serve for a term of one year

Article VII: Committees

Section 1: Temporary and Standing Committees:

The Council is empowered to form temporary and standing committees as deemed necessary.

1. Structure is left open to the body of the committee.
2. A committee spokesperson shall be designated by the committee to report back to the NYAC.
3. All committees shall be approved by a simple majority of the Council.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1: Procedures:

1. A proposed amendment to the Constitution shall only be considered when:
1. in written form
2. when cosponsored by one third (1/3) of the voting membership.
2. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of NYAC membership is required for adoption of a Constitutional amendment.
3. Approved amendments shall take effect upon closing of the meeting, or when all on-line votes are tallied and reported to the NYAC.