World Languages Council Constitution

CONSTITUTION of the WORLD LANGUAGES­ COUNCIL
of the CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be “The World Languages Council of the California State University.”

Article II: Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to encourage the advancement and effective teaching of World Languages in the CSU and the State of California.

Article III: Nature of Organization
The World Languages Council is an independent professional organization of professors of world languages in the CSU. To insure participation in world languages matters in California and the nation, the Council is affiliated with the California Language Teachers Association (CLTA) and the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages (ADFL).

Article IV: Voting Membership
1. Voting membership on the World Languages Council shall be made up of no more than two (2) full-time faculty members from each campus, one of whom shall be a Department Chair or Coordinator or his/her designated replacement. If a representative cannot attend a meeting, the campus may send an alternate.
2. Membership of the second departmental representative to the Council shall be for two (2) academic years.
3. On campuses where languages are taught in only one department all Council representatives shall be elected from that department.
4. On campuses where languages are taught in more than one department, the departments involved, through consultation, shall decide how the two campus representatives are to be distributed among the departments.

Article V: Officers of the World Languages Council
1. The officers of the World Languages Council shall be:
President
Vice-President
Secretary/Treasurer
Representative-at-large (North)
Representative-at-large (South)
2. The officers shall be elected by the membership of the Council. The President and Vice-President shall be elected in odd-numbered years and the two Representatives-at-large in even-numbered years. The term of office shall be three (3) years for the Secretary/Treasurer and two (2) for all other officers. The term of office for each officer shall normally begin with the close of the spring meeting. In the event of special elections to fill vacated offices, the officer shall assume his/her duties immediately upon election. At least one of the Representatives-at-large shall be faculty member from a language other than French, German, and Spanish.
3. Nominations will be solicited at the fall meeting. An announcement will be made via mail before the meeting when voting will occur.
4. If no nominations are received in the fall, officers may be nominated and elected from the floor at the spring meeting.
5. The President shall preside over all meetings of the Council and Executive Committee, and direct the affairs of the organization.
6. The Vice-President shall carry out duties assigned to him/her by the President, and shall preside in the absence of the President.
7. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep accurate records of the membership and proceedings of the organization, and shall have custody of these records. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all Council funds, shall keep an accurate record of these funds, and shall prepare an annual financial report. The fiscal year shall be the academic year.
8. The Representatives-at large shall serve as a liaison between the Executive Committee and campuses, and shall facilitate the planning of the agenda for Council meetings.
9. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume that office through the current academic year. Any other vacancy among the officers shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee until the next regular election.

Article VI: Recall of Officers
1. If an officer does not carry out his/her duties, and by such neglect places the work of the Council in jeopardy, he/she shall be notified by the Executive Committee about the initiation of the recall process.
2. At least 25% of the voting membership shall be required to initiate the recall process. A signed written petition shall be sent to the Executive Committee.
3. Two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership of the Council shall be required to vote in favor of the removal of an officer to complete the recall.

Article VII: Operation of the Council
1. The Executive Committee of the Council shall be composed of the five elected officers, plus the (non-voting) immediate past president. The Executive Committee shall set the agenda for meetings, manage the budget and conduct the affairs of the organization.
2. The President in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint such additional committees and their chairs as needed to conduct the affairs of the organization.
3. The Council shall hold two (2) meetings annually one in the fall and one in the spring.
4. Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, or by written petition from the majority of the membership to the Executive Committee.
5. A quorum shall exist when a majority of the campuses are represented at a meeting.

Article VIII Fiscal Affairs
1. Changes in the amount of the annual dues shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and voted on by the Council at the fall or spring meeting. The annual dues for the Council shall be by campus. Dues shall be collected by the Secretary/Treasurer.
2. A registration fee for each meeting may be required of each Council member attending the meeting.

Article IX: Amendments to the Constitution
1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed at any meeting or by written petition to the Executive Committee by at least 25% of the membership.
2. An amendment to the Constitution shall be adopted when two thirds (2/3) of the membership of the Council vote in favor of it.
3. Voting will be by mail, the schedule and procedures of which shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

Article X: Representation from the Chancellor’s Office and the Academic Senate of the CSU
The World Languages Council may invite to Council meetings, the Chancellor of the CSU and the Chairman of the Academic Senate of the CSU, or their designated representatives, to serve as ex-officio, non-voting members.
This Constitution was ratified by the voting membership of the World Languages Council at its April 24, 1987 meeting in Los Angeles, California
It was amended on October 23, 1998.
It was amended on October 23, 2015.