Constitution

Article 1: Name

The name of the organization is Wasatch Anarchist Organization

Article 2: Organization

A. Meetings

i. Meetings will be held once a week.

ii. The entire membership must be informed about meetings through the listserv.

iii. Meetings function as a direct democracy with equal power among members.

iv. 50% of the membership must be present to meet quorum and hold an official meeting

B. Facilitator

i. The position of facilitator is elected each meeting. The facilitator is responsible for guiding the meeting in an unbiased way, and making sure any other positions are filled, such as note taker and timekeeper.

C. Voting

i. Voting will be held if consensus can not be reached.

ii. Any vote taken must have a 75% majority to pass.

iii. Proposals must be seconded by a member to be discussed and voted on.

D. Working Groups, Delegates, & Caucuses

i. Working Groups & Caucuses may be established by a group of at least 3 interested members.

ii. Working Groups may develop draft policies to present to any official meeting, or carry out projects and other organizing work.

iii. A delegate is an individual member who has been elected by the group to carry out a responsibility or task.

iv. A Caucus is a working body which is equity-seeking or based around identity. Caucuses have the right to limit their membership based on identity or other qualification which they define. Caucuses are responsible for electing their own delegate from the membership of that caucus for submitting a report to each general meeting.

E. Positions

Officer positions are rotated every month.

Secretary: The secretary is responsible for maintaining the communication infrastructure of the organization, including the email, listserv, and any social networking. The secretary is expected to send out notification of the meeting location and time. They must also make sure minutes are taken at each meeting and are sent out to members within a few days after the meeting. The secretary is responsible for finding a substitute if they cannot attend a meeting.

In addition, the secretary is responsible for maintaining a binder of past meeting’s minutes and other organization material like the principles & aims, constitution, etc. They will bring the binder to each meeting so members can look over minutes.

Treasurer: The treasurer is responsible for collecting members’ dues, issuing money according to the organizations decisions, keeping track of financial transactions, and giving financial reports in the general meetings. If the treasurer can not attend a meeting, it is the treasurer’s responsibility that the information is relayed through another member.

Electing and Recalling Officers: Nominations and proposals to recall will be made one meeting in advance. An election or recall will be facilitated by the facilitator of the meeting (if the facilitator is one of the nominees, then a new one should be delegated). 75% of the vote is required for election or recall proposals to pass. If more than two nominations are made, then a runoff vote is held.

Article 3: Membership and Dues

There are two types of participation within Wasatch Anarchist Organization: members and supporters

Members

a. Members must agree with the aim and principles of the organization.

b. Members must abide by the constitution

c. Members must work toward and advocate the policies of the organization in their public political activity.

d. Where members disagree with existing policy they are free to argue within the organization for a new policy. They are also free to express disagreement as part of public debates and informal discussions where they indicate they are speaking in an individual capacity.

e. Members are free to engage in any political activity which does not contradict existing policy.

f. Members must attend at least one meeting per month, unless a good reason is given (work, out of town, etc.)

g. New members must be approved by a 75% vote of the general assembly

h. A member who violates the constitution or acts contrary to the interests of the organization may be expelled. The member must be given one month’s notice prior to the meeting where the issue will be discussed, where they will be given an opportunity to offer a defense. Expulsion requires a 75% majority vote of all members.

i. Dues are $5 a month for members.

j. Members in prison or unemployed without assistance do not need to pay dues.

k. Members who fail to pay dues for two months, or fail to attend one meeting per month, lose their voting power. Members more than three months behind in dues, or do not show up to any meetings are considered inactive. Members who re-join are not required to pay previously owed dues.

Supporters

a. Supporters generally agree with the aims and principles of Wasatch Anarchist Organization and are willing to participate in certain activities and organizing efforts carried out by the organization.

b. Supporters do not have to pay dues, and must be willing to make an effort to attend/participate in events or campaigns organized by Wasatch Anarchist Organization.

c. Supporters are free to attend meetings but do not have voting power.