In order to participate in the House of Delegates, all affiliates must submit to the TABE office the Annual Filing for Local Affiliates Form , a copy of the affiliate’s constitution and/or by laws, and the filing fee ($10.00) by June 30^th. 

ARTICLE VI
GOVERNING BODIES

SECTION 1:  THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

A.       COMPOSITION

The House of Delegates shall be composed of the State Executive Board, local affiliate presidents, and elected local affiliate delegates.

B.       ALLOCATION OF DELEGATES

1.       Local affiliates shall elect one delegate for each ten (10) members or major fraction thereof, based on local affiliate’s membership on August 31^st, the end of the TABE membership year, for the year immediately preceding the House of Delegates.

2.       Local affiliates not qualifying for a delegate may cluster with other local affiliates to qualify for a delegate.

3.       If even a cluster agreement is not feasible, a local affiliate may request the State Executive Board to authorize a delegate.

4.       The local affiliate shall submit delegate information to the Executive Board at least seven (7) days before the House of Delegates meeting at the annual conference.

C.      MEETINGS

1.       The House of Delegates shall meet annually during the State TABE Conference.  Two separate House of Delegates meetings will be scheduled for the purpose of: 1) receiving reports from officers and committees, and 2) adopting resolutions and taking up new business.

2.       The President of TABE shall preside at the annual House of Delegates meeting unless there is an emergency or extenuating circumstances.

3.       A quorum shall be majority of the delegates certified at the House of Delegates.

D.      FUNCTIONS

The House of Delegates shall:

1.       Act as the highest decision making body of TABE except when this Constitution and By Laws give exclusive powers to the Executive Board;

2.       Adopt the rules and agenda for the House of Delegates;

3.       Establish goals consistent with local affiliates’ charters and this Constitution;

4.       Amend this Constitution and By Laws;

5.       Receive reports from and act on recommendations of the officers, the Executive Board, and the Standing and Special Committees;

6.       Authorize expenditures from the Permanent Fund of TABE by three-fourths (3/4) vote and;

7.       Enact other measures as may be necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of TABE….

BY LAWS

RULE 1:  HOUSE OF DELEGATES

A.       All voting members who have been properly certified to the House of Delegates shall wear the proper identification badges at all times during and in order to be admitted to the House of Delegates meeting(s).

B.       The order of business may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting.

C.      Only certified voting delegates may present motions and/or vote

D.      Any member wishing to speak must rise, address the Chair, be acknowledged by the Chair, and give his/her name and the name of the local affiliate of which he/she  is a member, before being assigned the floor, whether speaking as an individual or as the representative of a group.

E.       No member shall speak in debate more than twice to the same question during the same meeting, nor longer than five (5) minutes at one time, unless permission is granted by a majority vote of those members present.

F.       All motions shall be in writing, signed by the maker and a seconder, and sent immediately to the Chair.

G.      Previous question shall require a majority vote.

H.      All items of new business shall be presented in writing to the Chair within one hour after the adoption of these Rules of Procedures and will be considered in the order presented.

I.         All resolutions not in the Constitution Committee report shall be presented in writing to the Chair within one hour after the adoption of these Rules of Procedure and will be considered in the order presented.

J.        Any rule herein provided may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting.

K.       A member shall not speak for or against a motion and move to close debate on the same until he/she receives recognition from the Chair.

L.       The sessions of the House of Delegates shall be conducted in accordance with provisions of this Constitution and By Laws.  Matters not specifically addressed in these documents shall be governed by ROBERT’S RULE OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED (latest edition).

RULE 2:  RESOLUTIONS

A.       Resolutions may be submitted by any member of the Association.

B.       Resolutions submitted at least sixty (60) days before the annual conference will be printed in the agenda booklet of the House of Delegates

C.      Resolutions may be presented in writing to the Chair at the House of Delegates meeting within one hour after the adoption of the Rules of Procedure, and they shall be considered at the subsequent House of Delegates following Sections A and B of Rule 2 of the By Laws.

D.      Resolutions adopted at the meeting of the House of Delegates shall require a majority vote.

E.       Resolutions adopted by the House of Delegates shall be assigned to an appropriate committee by the Secretary.  It shall be the responsibility of the committee assigned to carry out directives of the House of Delegates adopted resolutions until their intent has been achieved or changed by a subsequent House of Delegates’ action.

F.       A committee chairperson and/or designee and the Secretary shall report to succeeding House of Delegates any action taken to achieve the purpose of the resolutions previously passed.

RULE 3:  PLATFORM

A.    Amendments to the TABE Platform shall be submitted to the Committee no later than thirty (30) days prior to the House of Delegates meeting at the annual conference.

B.       The Constitution Committee shall put proposed amendments to the Platform into proper form and language and shall submit each proposed amendment, with its recommendation, to the Executive Board at its winter meeting.

C.      All platform amendments submitted to the Constitution committee and/or the Executive Board shall be submitted to the House of Delegates and adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

D.      Amendments to the Platform shall become effective immediately after adoption.