BYLAWS OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAPTER OF
THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
(Incorporating amendments of March 1996 and June 2005)

1. NAME: This group shall be known as the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.

2. PURPOSE: The purpose of the Chapter shall be to maintain and promote in Suffolk County, as a local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, free speech, free press, free assembly, due process, equal protection of the laws, and other civil rights and liberties consistent with and in furtherance of the principles and purpose of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and to take all legitimate action in furtherance of such purposes.

3. MEMBERS: Membership in the Chapter shall consist of those persons who reside in or are engaged in business in Suffolk County who have joined the New York Civil Liberties Union or the American Civil Liberties Union by signing an application for membership and paying their dues.

4. CHAPTER: This Chapter is a subdivision of the New York Civil Liberties Union by virtue of its having been certified as a Chapter by the Board of Directors of the New York Civil Liberties Union. The Chapter shall act in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and Policies of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Inc.

5. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall consist of up to twenty-three members elected for two-year terms.

A Director must be a member in good standing of the New York Civil Liberties Union and of the Chapter.

The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall make every effort to nominate no fewer than three more candidates than there are vacancies. The list of nominees shall be prepared by March 1. Candidates may also be nominated by petition signed by no fewer than ten members submitted by April 1. There shall be no distinction in the manner in which the several slates are presented to the membership. No one serving on the Nominating Committee may be a candidate for election.

Directors shall be elected by written ballot of the members at the annual meeting held in May or June of each year. Up to eleven two-year terms shall be filled in odd numbered years and up to twelve two-year terms in the even numbered years. Ballots shall be included in the announcement of the annual meeting and may be submitted at the annual meeting or returned as proxy ballots by mail. Such proxy ballots shall be sent in anonymous inner envelopes, and shall be opened and counted only at the Annual Meeting at the same time as the ballots submitted at that meeting.

In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors during the year, the Board may, by majority vote, appoint a successor to fill such vacancy until the next regular election when the members shall fill the vacancy by election for the unexpired term, as provided above. The winning candidate(s) with the fewest votes shall fill the short term(s); ties shall be broken by a majority vote of the members present in person at the annual meeting at which any such tie(s) take(s) place.

6. COMMITTEES: The President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, shall appoint standing and such special committees, as he or she deems necessary for the furtherance of the purposes of the Chapter.

There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and that member of the Board designated as the Chair of the Legal Committee. The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, add up to two additional Directors to the Executive Committee. The members of the Executive Committee shall hold that office for a one-year term of office starting at the organizational meeting following the annual meeting.

During the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by law. The Executive Committee shall promptly report its actions to the Board of Directors and in no event later than the earlier of the first meeting of the Board following any such action by the Executive Committee or two weeks after that meeting.

7. MEETINGS: There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter in either May or June of each year, and, in addition thereto, there may be additional general meetings of the Chapter during each year at such time and place as the President and Board of Directors may decide and upon due and proper notice to all members of the Chapter. Special meetings shall be held whenever called by the President or Board of Directors, or by a written petition signed by at least ten members of the Chapter, provided one week's notice is given to the members by mail. Non-members may attend Chapter meetings but not vote.

8. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY: “Robert's Rules of Order” shall govern business meetings of the Chapter and the Board of Directors, except when suspended by a two-thirds vote of the members present. The President may, from time to time, appoint a Parliamentarian with the approval of the Board if he or she deems it desirable to do so.

9. QUORUM: One-third of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum thereof. Twenty members of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum at a general or special meeting of the Chapter.

Absence of any Director from three consecutive regular meetings of the Board, or from more than half of the meetings in one year, commencing with the first meeting following the election of the Directors, without the grant of leave of absence by the Board, shall constitute a resignation from the Board, provided however, that the Board, in its discretion, may reinstate any Director who has resigned in such a manner.

10. PROXY VOTES: Except as provided in Section 5, no proxy vote shall be permitted at any meeting of the Chapter or its Board of Directors.

11. DUTIES OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall:

(a) Hold meetings at such times and places as they deem proper, but no less than quarterly;

(b) Take such action as they deem necessary and proper to promote the purposes of the Chapter as provided for herein, and to further the purposes of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

(c) Exercise such powers as have not been specifically delegated to the members at large of the Chapter in the furtherance of the purposes of the Chapter.

12. OFFICERS: Within one month of the election, the Board of Directors shall elect from among their own number by majority vote of the Directors present at the meeting a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall act as the officers of the Chapter for a one-year term. There shall be no prohibition against the members of the Board of Directors or officers succeeding themselves in such positions.

13. DUTIES OF OFFICERS:

(a) President: The President, in addition to the duties provided for elsewhere in these By Laws, shall call such regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors as is deemed necessary for the furtherance of the purposes of the Chapter and upon reasonable and ample notice thereof. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the Board of Directors, shall be a member ex officio of all standing and special committees, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

(b) Vice-President: In the case of the President’s absence or inability from any cause to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the office of the President and such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

(c) Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to attend all meetings of the Chapter and the Board of Directors and keep a written record of their doings, and to perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

(d) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall, consistent with the policies and procedures of the New York Civil Liberties Union, keep an account of all monies received and expended for the use of the Chapter, shall make disbursements upon vouchers approved in writing by the President or the Vice-President, and shall deposit all Union funds (i.e., non-Foundation funds) received in a bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors and the New York Civil Liberties Union, and shall make a report of the Chapter’s finances at the annual meeting of the Chapter or when called upon to do so by the President. The funds, books and vouchers in the Treasurer's hands shall be at all times under the supervision of the Board of Directors and of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and subject to their inspection and control. In addition to the expenditure of regularly budgeted items the President and Executive Director are authorized to spend up to $500 per quarter. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

14. BUDGET: In the month before the start of the fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall meet and create an income and expenditure budget. The Treasurer shall then provide quarterly updates as to the status of meeting that budget.

15. AMENDMENT: These bylaws may be amended, subject to approval of the Chapter’s Board of Directors, and the Board of the NYCLU, by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting of the Chapter, provided written notice has been given to the membership ten days prior to the meeting of the nature of the amendment to be offered.

Certified as being a true, complete and correct copy of the Bylaws of the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, as amended by a vote of the Chapter’s members at its Annual Meeting held on June 3, 2006.

___________________________, Secretary

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 6 OF THE BYLAWS OF
THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAPTER OF
THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, and two other Directors. Such two other Directors shall be elected by a majority of the Board of Directors at the organizational meeting following the annual meeting, and their term of office shall be one year.

During the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by law. The Executive Committee shall promptly report its action to the Board of Directors and in no event later than the earlier of the first meeting of the Board following any such action by the Executive Committee and two weeks after the meeting.

Amendment to Chapter Bylaws, Section 6,
Approved 3/12/97, at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter
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AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5 OF THE BYLAWS OF
THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAPTER OF
THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board with the approval of the Board of Directors. The committee shall make every effort to nominate no fewer than three more candidates than there are vacancies. The list of nominees shall be prepared by March 1. Candidates may also be nominated by petition signed by no fewer than ten members submitted by April 1. There shall be no distinction in the manner in which the several slates are presented. No one serving on the nominated committee may be a candidate for election.

Directors shall be elected by written ballot of the members at the annual meeting in May or June of each year. Up to Eleven two-year terms shall be filled in odd numbered years and twelve two-year terms in the even numbered years. Ballots shall be included in the announcement of the annual meeting and may be submitted at the annual meeting or returned as proxy ballots by mail. Ballots shall be counted at the annual meeting.

In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors during the year, the Board may, by majority vote, appoint a successor to fill such vacancy until the next regular election when the members shall fill the vacancy by election, as provided above, for the unexpired term. The winning candidate(s) with the fewest votes shall fill the short term(s). Ties shall be broken by a majority vote of the members present at the annual meeting at which any such tie(s) take(s) place

Amendment to Chapter Bylaws, Section 5,
Approved 6/6/05, at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter
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AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7 OF THE BYLAWS OF
THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAPTER OF
THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter between May and June of each year, and, in addition thereto, there shall be additional general meetings of the Chapter during each year at such time and place as the President and Board of Directors may decide and upon due and proper notice to all members of the Chapter. Special meetings shall be held whenever called by the President or Board of Directors, or on petition of at least ten members of the Chapter, provided one week's notice is given to the members by mail. Non-members may attend Chapter meetings but not vote.

Amendment to Chapter Bylaws, Section 7,
Approved 6/6/05, at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter
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AMENDMENT TO SECTION 13(d) OF THE BYLAWS OF
THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAPTER OF
THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

The Treasurer shall keep an account of all moneys received and expended for the use of the Chapter and shall make disbursements upon vouchers approved in writing by the President or the Vice-President. The Treasurer shall deposit all sums received in a bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors and make a report at the annual meeting of the Chapter or when called upon to do so by the President. The funds, books and vouchers in the Treasurer's hands shall be at all times under the supervision of the Board of Directors and subject to its inspection and control. In addition to the expenditure of regularly budgeted items the President and Executive Director are authorized to spend up to $500 per quarter. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

Amendment to Chapter Bylaws, Section 13(d),
Approved 6/6/05, at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter
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