Midwestern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments

Transcription

1 Midwestern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments RULES As Last Amended August 12, 2009* RULE I -- NAME The name of this organization shall be the Midwestern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments. RULE II -- PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES The purposes and objectives of the Conference shall be to foster and encourage intergovernmental cooperation in the Midwest through joint consideration of common problems, the interchange of information, the sharing of knowledge and experience and, where desirable, the development of joint programs, to the end that state government may be strengthened and improved. RULE III -- MEMBERSHIP The conference membership shall consist of the legislatures of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin, hereinafter referred to as the "member states." Conference membership may, upon the approval of the Executive Committee, be expanded to include other North American legislative bodies, including, but not limited to, those of the Canadian provinces. Affiliate status may be discretionarily conferred by majority vote of the Executive Committee upon other such legislative bodies, hereinafter referred to as "MLC affiliates." Subject to the provisions and limitations of these rules, MLC affiliates shall be accorded such rights and privileges as may be determined by the Executive Committee. RULE IV -- PARTICIPATION Conference voting privileges are reserved, subject to the provisions of Rule XVI, to the elected legislators representing the member states. However, unless otherwise restricted by action of the Executive Committee,

2 - 2 - participation in conference activities shall be open to all elected and appointed state officials, their staffs, MLC affiliate representatives, the media, the private sector and other invited guests. RULE V -- OFFICERS The officers of the conference shall include a chairperson, a first vice chair, a second vice chair, and the immediate past chairperson, all of whom shall be member state legislators. Except for the immediate past chairperson, all officers shall be elected by the conference at the Annual Meeting, provided that in the event of a mid-term vacancy, the Executive Committee may, as provided herein, select a new officer to complete the remainder of the term. Newly elected officers shall assume their duties at the last Executive Committee meeting of the calendar year in which they are elected, or, in the event that the Executive Committee does not meet in the month of December, on January 1 of the following calendar year. All elected officers shall serve until the installation of their successors. Succession of the chairperson to the office of immediate past chairperson shall be automatic upon the installation of a new chairperson. In the event that a conference officer's service as an elected legislator from a member state should end before the term of the conference office, the conference office shall be deemed vacant. In the event that a conference office, except the office of immediate past chair, is vacated for any reason, the Executive Committee, in consultation with the appropriate appointing authorities in the member state represented by the outgoing officer, may select a successor who will serve for the remainder of the term. In the event that the office of immediate past chairperson shall be vacated for any reason, it shall remain vacant for the remainder of the term. RULE VI -- OFFICERS: POWERS AND DUTIES The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the conference and shall perform such other duties as may be required by these rules. The first vice chair shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the chairperson and shall perform such other duties as may be required by these rules. The second vice chair and the immediate past chairperson shall perform such duties as may be required by these rules. The officers of the conference shall also serve as officers of the Executive Committee, and the chairperson shall serve as principal liaison between the Executive Committee and the conference staff. RULE VII -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: AUTHORITY AND MEMBERSHIP General authority over the resources and activities of the Midwestern Legislative Conference shall be vested in an Executive Committee comprised of the chairperson, the first vice chair, the second vice chair, the immediate past chairperson, former chairpersons not otherwise appointed to the committee, two delegates from each member state, (one from each chamber in those states that have bicameral legislatures), who shall be appointed, and reappointed or replaced at will, by the appropriate intergovernmental appointing authorities for the legislatures in which they serve, up to five delegates, who shall serve one-year terms, appointed at large by the chairperson, and one delegate from each MLC affiliate. Incumbent legislators from Midwestern Legislative Conference member states who are affiliated with either The Council of State Governments or the National Conference of State Legislatures as incumbent national officers, incumbent national executive committee members representing MLC, or past national chairpersons, and incumbent MLC legislative staff representatives serving as members of the national CSG Executive Committee shall also be entitled to serve as members of the MLC Executive Committee. Unless otherwise provided in these rules, the chairpersons of all conference committees and other entities authorized herein shall also serve as Executive Committee members. Notwithstanding the potential for multiple representative capacities, individual committee members are each entitled to one vote. RULE VIII -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: POWERS AND DUTIES The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson and shall have general responsibility for the management of all conference resources and activities. The committee shall, with the advice and assistance of the conference staff, supervise the planning and execution of all meetings and other activities of the conference, its committees and other entities provided for in these rules. In pursuit of this responsibility, the committee may, as necessary, appoint subcommittees and/or assign specific duties to the officers, members and staff of the conference.

3 - 3 - The Executive Committee shall carry out all duties assigned to it by these rules or by action of the conference as a whole. Such duties shall include, but are not limited to, the appointment of various committees and other conference entities as provided in these rules, the quadrennial nomination of a Midwestern candidate to serve as a national CSG officer, and the annual recommendation of conference representatives for service as members on the national executive committees of The Council of State Governments and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The nomination of a candidate for national CSG office shall occur at the last Executive Committee meeting prior to the national CSG meeting during which the officer is to be elected, provided that members of the Executive Committee shall be notified of the need to make the nomination at least six months prior to the Executive Committee meeting during which the nomination is to be made. National committee appointments shall be made in accordance with all applicable membership requirements, as determined by CSG and NCSL. Interim appointments to such national committees may be made by the Executive Committee when necessary to fill vacancies. The conference chairperson shall appoint the officers of all committees and other conference entities provided for in these rules. Such appointments shall be made annually, or when necessary to fill vacancies, unless otherwise specified herein. The conference chairperson shall also, when appropriate, make ad hoc appointments on behalf of the conference and the Executive Committee to other intergovernmental groups seeking conference representation. RULE IX -- MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCE The Midwestern Legislative Conference shall meet annually as provided in these rules and at such other times as the Executive Committee may determine. The dates and locations of annual meetings shall be determined by vote of the conference. The conference shall also sponsor periodic regional issue conferences, the focus and frequency of which shall be determined annually by the conference chairperson. Each regional issue conference shall be chaired by a lead legislator, who shall be appointed by the conference chairperson. RULE X -- ANNUAL MEETING: COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall establish an Annual Meeting Committee to assist the conference staff and the appropriate host site committees in planning and executing the Annual Meetings of the Midwestern Legislative Conference. Committee membership shall be open, in such numbers as may be determined by the Executive Committee, to legislators, legislative staff, other elected or appointed state officials, MLC affiliate delegates, and private sector representatives, but the committee chairperson shall be a legislator from a member state. Appointments to the Annual Meeting Committee shall be made by the conference chairperson, or, at the request of the conference chairperson, by the Annual Meeting Committee chairperson, in consultation with the appropriate appointing authorities representing the member states and MLC affiliates. Conference officers shall also be entitled to Annual Meeting Committee membership. In addition to participating in the planning of individual annual meetings, the committee shall be responsible for developing and updating general guidelines pertaining to site selection, host site committee responsibilities, budgeting, fund raising, program development, private sector participation and other aspects of annual meeting planning. Such guidelines shall be consistent with the provisions of these rules. RULE XI -- ANNUAL MEETING: PLANNING AUTHORITY The Annual Meeting Committee, in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to Rule X, shall recommend to the conference any future Annual Meeting sites and dates to be determined. The committee shall also approve the Annual Meeting budget and shall monitor and assist the planning efforts of the conference staff and the host site committee in preparation for the next immediate Annual Meeting. The conference staff shall assist the host site committee as necessary, and shall be primarily responsible for the development of the substantive program. The host site committee, which shall be structured and appointed by the appropriate appointing authority representing the member state or MLC affiliate that will next host the Annual Meeting, shall be primarily responsible for developing the budget, raising all necessary funds, and planning the social program.

4 - 4 - RULE XII -- ANNUAL MEETING: FUND RAISING All tax deductible contributions solicited in support of the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting and in reliance upon the tax exempt status accorded The Council of State Governments pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be deposited in an Annual Meeting account administered by The Council of State Governments. Funds not expended in support of the Annual Meeting for which they were raised will be retained by the Council for use in support of other Midwestern Legislative Conference activities, subject to the prior approval of the Executive Committee. RULE XIII -- STANDING COMMITTEES The conference or the Executive Committee may from time to time establish standing committees or task forces in substantive areas of continuing or special interest to the member states and MLC affiliates. The purposes and responsibilities of such committees and task forces shall be defined, and revised as necessary, by the Executive Committee. The members of standing committees, including at least one representative from each member state and MLC affiliate, shall be appointed, in such numbers as shall be determined by the Executive Committee, by the appropriate appointing authorities representing the member states and MLC affiliates. The MLC Chair may appoint up to one additional at-large member from each state to each committee. The members of task forces shall be appointed in such numbers and by such means as may be determined by the Executive Committee or by the MLC Chair. Unless otherwise specified by the Executive Committee, standing committee and task force membership shall be limited to legislators from the member states and MLC affiliates, and the committee or task force chairperson shall be a member state legislator. All standing committees and task forces shall report to the Executive Committee and to the conference as a whole at such times as may be determined by the Executive Committee. Any policy statements, resolutions, or other recommendations generated by standing committees and task forces are subject to the approval of the conference and, as appropriate, to prior review by other conference entities authorized herein. All committees and task forces appointed pursuant to this rule are subject to dissolution at any time by the Executive Committee. RULE XIV -- ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES In addition to the standing committees and other conference entities authorized by these rules, the Executive Committee may establish such other administrative committees as it deems necessary. The purposes of such committees, which may be either short term or continuing in nature, may include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, budget oversight, staff review, the screening of conference resolutions, the nomination of candidates for conference offices and other internal conference matters. Administrative committee chairpersons shall be member state legislators, and unless otherwise provided by the Executive Committee, administrative committee membership shall be limited to member state legislators. Appointments to administrative committees shall be made by the conference chairperson, or, at the request of the chairperson, by the members of the Executive Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Executive Committee, administrative committees need not include representatives from all member states, and their chairpersons, unless otherwise entitled to Executive Committee membership, shall not be deemed members of the Executive Committee. All administrative committees shall report to the Executive Committee as directed. Any recommendations generated by administrative committees are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee or, when appropriate, the conference as a whole. Administrative committees are subject to dissolution by decision of the Executive Committee or upon the discharge of their duties. RULE XV -- RESOLUTIONS Any resolution or other statement of any kind that purports to be the policy of the Midwestern Legislative Conference shall be adopted by the conference as a whole during the Annual Meeting. Prior to such approval, resolutions adopted by any committee or other conference entity are only to be considered resolutions of the adopting committee or other entity. Conference resolutions may be proposed by any conference entity or any individual legislator or group of legislators from one or more of the member states.

5 - 5 - Before a proposed resolution may be considered by the conference, it must first be approved by the Executive Committee, or by a resolutions committee to be appointed as provided in Rule XIV. Resolutions that are reviewed but do not receive such prior approval and resolutions not previously reviewed as provided herein may only be considered by unanimous consent of the conference. Resolutions are deemed properly submitted for preliminary review and conference consideration when they are received by the conference staff prior to the Annual Meeting or during the Annual Meeting but prior to a deadline to be determined by the Executive Committee. In the event the Executive Committee or a duly appointed resolutions committee recommends the approval of multiple resolutions during an Annual Meeting, the committee s report to the conference as a whole shall include a recommendation for the approval en bloc, and without debate, of a consent docket containing those resolutions deemed likely by the committee to prove non-controversial when submitted to the conference for final approval. Upon the request of any eligible voter, as defined in Rule XVI, any such resolution contained on the consent docket shall be removed for separate consideration, and shall be subject to debate, by the conference as a whole. The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, establish additional guidelines and procedures governing the format, submission and preliminary committee review of proposed resolutions. Unless otherwise specified by their terms, all resolutions approved by the full MLC shall automatically sunset three years after their adoption. RULE XVI -- VOTING Except as otherwise provided in these rules, all actions on motions, resolutions or other business of the conference, its committees and other conference entities, shall be by voice vote of the eligible voters present. Upon the request of any eligible voter, voting shall be conducted by a show of hands instead of by voice vote. Eligible voters for the election of conference officers, and for any other business taken up by the conference as a whole, shall include all elected legislators representing the member states. Unless otherwise provided by these rules or specified by the Executive Committee, eligible voters for matters under consideration by any conference committee or other conference entity shall be limited to those members of such committees or entities who are also legislators representing the member states. MLC affiliate representatives and other duly appointed, nonlegislative members of such committees or entities shall be considered nonvoting members. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, a simple majority of the votes cast shall determine the matter under consideration. In the event a roll call vote is requested on a matter before a committee or other conference entity, each individual voting member of the committee or other conference entity shall be entitled to one vote. Roll call voting is not permitted on matters taken up by the conference as a whole. RULE XVII -- CONFERENCE STAFF The Midwestern Office of The Council of State Governments shall serve as the Conference staff. It shall assist the officers and committees in carrying out the purposes of the Conference. The director and staff of the Midwestern Office shall be employed in accordance with the terms of the Council's Articles of Organization. The director's salary shall be reviewed and determined annually by the Midwestern Legislative Conference Executive Committee. A performance appraisal and salary information for the director shall be provided to the chairperson by the Executive Director of The Council of State Governments. RULE XVIII -- RULES: ADOPTION, AMENDMENT, REPEAL AND SUSPENSION The rules of the Midwestern Legislative Conference may be adopted, amended, or repealed at any Annual Meeting by a two-thirds vote of all member states present and voting. These rules shall not be suspended at any time, except by unanimous consent of the conference. * Revised Rules adopted July 21, 1965; amended July 17, 1968; amended August 4, 1971; amended September 10, 1973; amended August 6, 1975; amended July 8, 1976; amended July 11, 1979; amended July 14, 1982; amended July 10, 1985;

6 - 6 - amended August 24, 1988; amended July 17, 1991; amended July 22, 1992; amended August 2, 1995; amended July 21, 1999; amended August 1, 2001; amended August 27, 2003; amended July 13, 2008; amended August 12, 2009.