CULTURAL DEBATE CLUB
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Tidewater Community College Cultural Debate Club, hereafter referred to as the Debate Club.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the Debate Club is to provide for and establish the skills required to participate in intelligent, reasoned debates, and to promote a sense of teamwork among its members. This offers positive contributions of the members to political discourse and quality of life through the development and argumentation of evocative issues.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any Tidewater Community College student in good standing shall be eligible to become a member of the Debate Club. Although NOT a prerequisite, it is recommended that the highly motivated student possess some public speaking/oral communication skills.

Section 2. The Debate Club members shall vote by ballot on each application for membership. A minimum three-fourths (3/4) vote is required for acceptance of the candidate into the Debate Club.

Section 3. The accepted application for membership shall be endorsed by the Debate Club President or Vice-President and forwarded to the Student Activities Coordinator for final approval.

Section 4. To promote a true sense of camaraderie, any member may continue their affiliation through various classes of membership listed below:

A. Active Members - Only current Tidewater Community College students can be considered Active Members.

B. Alumni Members - Any active members in good standing shall become Alumni Members upon graduating from Tidewater Community College. These members may participate in the Debate Club, as well as possess the right to vote in matters of the Debate Club.

C. Honorary Members - Any Debate Club officer may nominate an Honorary Member that the Debate Club must elect with a minimum three-fourths (3/4) vote. These members may participate in the Debate Club, but shall have no right to vote in matters of the Debate Club.

ARTICLE IV - SCORING

A points system shall be established, in order to recognize the various degrees of success of each participating member. Points may be earned through competition and through public speeches/appearances with a minimum of 15 adults in attendance. The Debate Club members shall receive a certificate of completion for each degree of accomplishment throughout their membership to be determined in accordance with sections 2 through 7.

Section 1. Points system - The following charts delineate the scoring sequence during the competitions of the Debate Club, and public speeches/appearances:

COMPETITION
1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 5th Place Others
Originality 6 5 4 3 2 1
Interpretation 5 4 3 2 1 1
Delivery 4 3 2 1 1 1

PUBLIC SPEECHES/APPEARANCES
Any student speaking publicly, with attendance of 15 adults or more, shall be awarded 7 points. The length of the speech shall be 5 minutes, at a minimum. Proof of the speech can be established through electronic media, or by eyewitness accounts of fellow members.

Section 2. Recognition - A member receiving 30 points, including a minimum of 10 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Recognition.

Section 3. Significance - A member receiving the Certificate of Recognition and 60 points, including a minimum of 20 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Significance.

Section 4. Honor - A member receiving the Certificate of Significance and 100 points, including a minimum of 40 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Honor.

Section 5. Excellence - A member receiving the Certificate of Honor and 200 points, including a minimum of 80 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Excellence.

Section 6. Distinction - A member receiving the Certificate of Excellence and 350 points, including a minimum of 125 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Distinction.

Section 7. Superiority - A member receiving the Certificate of Distinction and 500 points, including a minimum of 200 points in competition shall receive the Certificate of Superiority.

ARTICLE V - COMPOSITION

The Debate Club shall consist of an Executive Committee and the members of the Debate Club. Members can be active, alumni, or honorary in accordance with Article III.

Section 1. Executive Committee - The executive power of the Debate Club shall be vested in the Executive Committee and shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This committee shall meet bi-weekly to discuss matters of the Debate Club.

A. The Debate Club President shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To call and preside over all meetings of the Debate Club;

2. To uphold and execute the constitution and the by-laws of the Debate Club, and in pursuance thereof, to appropriately utilize all powers to carry out the function of the office of President;

3. To veto any action of the Debate Club that does not support the best interest of the Debate Club and/or the campus;

4. To attend all Inter Club Council meetings and report on matters of the Debate Club.

B. The Debate Club Vice-President shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To assume the office of President in the event that it is vacated;

2. To discharge all duties as assigned by the President.

C. The Debate Club Secretary shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To record the minutes of all Executive Committee meetings;

2. To record the minutes of the Debate Club meetings, excluding any debates or panel discussions;

3. To maintain a permanent list of all members of the Debate Club and to update all contact information on this list, every semester;

4. To maintain a record of all award points earned by each member of the Debate Club;

5. To report to the Debate Club President the status of all member award
points and to provide the necessary certificate of completion for each
level achieved by the Debate Club member.

D. The Debate Club Treasurer shall have the following duties and responsibilities.

1. To report to the Student Activities Coordinator on all financial expenditures and income and assist in maintaining the necessary documentation of the Debate Club budget;

2. To submit a budget report to the Debate Club, monthly, or at the request of the Debate Club President;

3. To assist the Debate Club President in recommending the expenditures of the Debate Club budget to the Student Activities Coordinator for approval.

Section 2. Members of the Debate Club - The various degrees of membership in the Debate Club and their duties and responsibilities are listed below.

A. Active Members - Active members shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To formulate and adopt rules, standards, and regulations pursuant to the constitution that pertains to all student affairs of the Debate Club.

2. To compose its by-laws in accordance with the constitution;

3. To recommend to the Executive Committee any budget expenditures of the Debate Club;

4. To meet as necessary to provide for and participate in Debate Club competitions and to promote the belief of fairness in competition;

5. To participate, whenever possible, in public speeches/appearances in order to act as ambassadors of the Debate Club;

5. To override a veto of the Debate Club President by a two-thirds (2/3) vote;

6. To be the judge of improper conduct by any Debate Cub Officer, and to remove any Officer, if appropriate, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. The faculty advisor shall be notified of any intent to remove an Officer prior to the submission of any vote.

B. Alumni Members - Alumni members shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To vote on matters of the Debate, providing the Alumni member has adequate knowledge of the issue that will be determined by the faculty advisor;

2. To provide for and participate in Debate competitions, whenever possible, and to promote the belief of fairness in competition;

3. To be called upon as guest speakers at Debate functions, when availability and schedules permit.

C. Honorary Members - Honorary members shall have the following privileges:

1. To provide for and participate in Debate Club competitions, whenever possible, and to promote the belief of fairness in competition;

2. To be called upon as guest speakers at Debate Club functions, when availability and schedules permit.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION

Section 1. The elections of the Debate Club officers shall be conducted by September 30th of each year. In the case of a vacated office, elections will be conducted as time and schedules permit. The Student Activities Coordinator shall have final approval authority in all elections. This is necessary to ensure each candidate is in good standing while attending Tidewater Community College.

Section 2. The terms of Debate Club officers shall be one year from the date of their certification. The Debate Club President and Vice-President may not run for re-election in the same office. The Debate Club Secretary and Treasurer may run for re-election. All Debate Club officer candidates/incumbents must remain in good standing while attending Tidewater Community College.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any Debate Club member.

Section 2. Proposed amendments shall be tabled for a period of two weeks, during which time the proposed amendment may be discussed.

Section 3. Following the tabling period, the proposed amendment must be approved by a majority vote of the Debate Club members. All active members shall be required to vote on the proposed amendment. In extreme cases, determined by the Faculty Advisor/Student Activities Coordinator, Debate Club members may submit an absentee ballot that will be held by the Student Activities Coordinator until voting occurs. Alumni members may vote, but must possess adequate knowledge of the proposed amendment and be available to cast their vote. No absentee ballot vote will be accepted from an alumni member.

ARTICLE VIII - RATIFICATION

Section 1. Ratification shall be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee. Once ratified, this constitution shall supercede and take precedence over all previous Debate Club constitutions.

Section 2. In the case of conflict between other previously existing Debate Club documents and the present constitution, the provisions of the latter shall govern.

Section 3. Ratification shall occur by October 31st of each year, or after an amendment has been added.

First Ratification:
The Tidewater Community College Cultural Debate Club Constitution has been ratified with a minimum two-thirds (2/3) acceptance vote of the Debate Club Executive Committee, containing eight (8) Articles and Amendments on this day of in the year, .

Faculty Advisor:
Signature Print

President:
Signature Print

Vice-President:
Signature Print

Secretary:
Signature Print

Treasurer:
Signature Print

BY-LAWS

Chapter 1. Every chapter of the Debate Club may appoint additional officers to support their cause as needed. This will be accomplished in accordance with By-Law Chapter 2.

Chapter 2. The election and voting procedure for the Debate Club shall be as follows:

1. All voting shall be done on official ballots and maintained by the Debate Club
Secretary. Official ballots will be decided upon and written by each Debate Club Chapter.

2. The Debate Club Secretary will provide the necessary ballots to the Chapter
President and Faculty Advisor for endorsement of the election or issue.

3. Voting shall be performed only on the day agreed upon by all members, and shall be completed that day. No extensions on voting will be allowed.

4. A quorum (majority of members) must be reached prior to voting of elections or issues. Abstention is an acceptable vote.

5. Official ballots shall be submitted to and counted by the Faculty Advisor and/or the Student Activities Coordinator. The Debate Club President shall be informed of the results of the voting, and shall announce the results to the members of the Debate Club. Results may be posted depending upon the decision of the Debate Club Chapter.

6. Secret ballots may be requested for sensitive issues, but must be approved by the Faculty Advisor/Student Activities Coordinator prior to the vote. The results of the voting shall be recorded and all pertinent documentation surrendered to the Faculty Advisor/Student Activities Coordinator.

Chapter 3. These By-Laws can be amended by each Debate Club Chapter as necessary
to stimulate teamwork and fair play.

Chapter 4. If a By-Law is deleted during an amendment process, the chapter number
shall also be deleted.

Chapter 5. If an active member transfers his/her degree prior to graduation from Tidewater Community College to a local (geographical area) college/university, that member may become an alumni member upon proof of graduation from the transfer college/university.

Chapter 6. Officers of the Debate Club Executive Committee may in no way use the powers of their office to intimidate any Debate Club member, or influence the outcome of any issue/election. Violations of this may be considered as improper conduct and will result in removal from office. Campaigning for issues/elections shall not be considered abuse of power and is therefore acceptable.

Chapter 7. Any candidate requesting admittance into the Debate Club shall be invited to two (2) meetings in which he/she may participate in panel discussions/debates. After such time, acceptance into the Debate Club shall be determined in accordance with Article III, Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution.

Chapter 8. Officers of the Debate Club Executive Committee shall designate a substitute to attend external meetings in the case of the absence of the officer in question.

Chapter 9. In the event of the absence of the Debate Club President, the Executive Committee shall be chaired by the Vice-President, or the Secretary, if the Vice-President is absent. If all three are absent there shall be no meeting due to the inability to establish a quorum.

Chapter 10. It is important to note that the Debate Club encourages expression of a wide range of views among its members, and to ensure that the Debate Club members' lives will be enriched by public speeches/debate competitions.