Constitution

Constitution of the Beth Jacob United Synagogue Youth

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be Beth Jacob United Synagogue Youth. This organization may be herein referred to as BJUSY, and USY may refer to the words “United Synagogue Youth.”

Article II: Purpose

As Beth Jacob Congregation is committed to Conservative egalitarian Judaism with an emphasis on traditional values and practices, the purpose of this organization shall be as follows:

a) Maintain a safe, caring, and respectful environment in which all Jewish youth feel free to explore their connection to Jewish beliefs, rituals, and culture.

b) Promote a strong sense of community within the Jewish youth of Beth Jacob.

c) Provide opportunities for Jewish youth to join together in socialization and leisure activity.

d) Provide opportunities for Jewish youth to engage in study of Jewish thought, history, texts, and ideals.  BJUSY will also promote exploration of relevant and topical issues to youth as viewed through a Jewish lens.

e) Encourage awareness of and connection to the people, culture, history, land, and politics of the state of Israel.

f) Teach about and promote the Jewish value of Tikun Olam (repairing the World) through social action, Gimilut Chasadim (acts of loving-kindness), and Tzedakah (charity).

g) Provide leadership training, development, and opportunities.

h) Provide opportunities to meet and establish relationships with Jewish youth from the larger community- from around the Twin Cities, across Emtza Region, and from around the United States and other countries.

Article III: Source and Exercise of Power

Section 1: Source of Power

This organization derives its power from Beth Jacob Congregation and is affiliated with Emtza Region United Synagogue Youth and International United Synagogue Youth.  BJUSY will conduct all affairs in accordance to the standards and policies of both Beth Jacob Congregation and Emtza Region USY.

Section 2: Execution of Power

Decisions will be made and implemented by the Executive Board and/or Chapter General Board, as appropriate. If it is deemed necessary, the Executive Board may bring a matter to the General Assembly of BJUSY for consideration. The Beth Jacob Youth Director has the authority to veto any decision, but must provide adequate justification for this action. The Beth Jacob Youth Committee will act as an advisory body to the Youth Director, as will the Beth Jacob Rabbi, and the Youth Director will act in accordance to their recommendations.

Article IV: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility

All Jewish youth in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) may be members of this organization. A member in good standing will be considered to be one who has paid appropriate dues.

Section 2: Denial and Revocation of Membership

The Youth Director may deny or revoke membership to anyone as they see fit, although they must have adequate justification for this action.

Article V: Dues

All members are to pay dues once each school year. The amount will be set by the Executive Board and Youth Director. A portion of these dues will go to Emtza Region USY and International USY.

Article VI: Leadership

Decisions will be made and implemented by two (2) bodies: The Executive Board, and the General Board. The Executive Board will oversee the General Board.

Article VII: The Executive Board

Section 1: Offices

a) The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected positions in order of succession:

1. President

2. Executive Vice President (by appointment)

3. Israel Affairs Vice President

4. Social Action / Tikun Olam Vice President

5. Religious / Education Vice President

6. Membership / Kadima Vice President

7. Communications Vice President

8. Freshman Representative (by appointment)

b) Any member of BJUSY who is also a member of the regional board or international board may serve on the BJUSY Executive Board in an ex officio (non-voting) capacity.

c) Appointed positions:

  • Exec VP shall be appointed by outgoing board, immediately following elections.
  • Freshman Representative – or the duties thereof – shall be appointed by incoming board, at the first meeting of the new board.
  • Both positions of Exec VP or Freshman Representative may be held by any other standing member of the Executive Board in addition to their position.

Section 2: Officer Duties

a) The Executive Board will meet regularly, as stated on the candidate information form.

b) The Executive Board will abide by standards regarding attendance and behavior, as stated on the candidate information form.

c) In addition the officer duties stated above, each office will have duties specific to it, as stated on the “Beth Jacob USY Executive Board Position Descriptions and Responsibilities” sheet

Section 3: Meetings

a) Meetings will be conducted by the officer present that ranks highest on the hierarchy.

b) Meetings will follow the agenda set forth by the President.

c) Meetings will follow parliamentary procedure.

d) A quorum will consist of more than one-half of voting board members.

e) No vote may be conducted without a quorum present.

Article VIII: General Board

Section 1: Composition

a) The General Board shall be composed of the following:

1) The appointed Chairs of Va’adot (committees), as stated on the “BJUSY Chapter General Board Position Descriptions” sheet.

2) Members of the Executive Board.

Section 2: Appointment

The General Board shall be appointed by the Executive Board that serves the term of office concurrent with the term of appointment.

Section 3: Officer Duties

a) The General Board will meet regularly, as stated on the “Beth Jacob USY Chapter General Board Application.”

b) The General Board will abide by standards regarding attendance and behavior, as stated on the Beth Jacob USY Chapter General Board Application.

c) Each va’ad (committee) Chair position shall have duties specific to it, as stated on the “BJUSY Chapter General Board Position Descriptions” sheet

Section 4: Meetings

a) Meetings will be conducted by the officer present that ranks highest on the hierarchy.

b) Meetings will follow the agenda set forth by the President.

c) Meetings will follow parliamentary procedure.

d) A quorum will consist of more than one-half of voting board members.

e) No vote may be conducted without a quorum present.

Article IX: General Assembly

 

There shall be at minimum two (2) meetings per school year of the assembled members of BJUSY at which business will be conducted.  One meeting shall be assembled near the end of the school year, the primary business to be conducted being the election of the following school year’s Executive Board.  The other meeting shall be assembled in autumn between the beginning of the school year and Thanksgiving weekend, during which Emtza Region USY is held.  Other meetings may be called by the President as deemed necessary.

Article X: Elections

Section 1: Frequency

Officers shall be elected annually at the Candidate Membership Training weekend.  If there is a reason that elections at such a time are unfeasible, the Executive Board may designate an alternate time in late spring.

Section 2: Terms of Office

Officers shall serve from their installation to the installation of their successors.

Section 3: Voting

  1. All BJUSY members in good standing who will be in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) during the term of office for the officers being elected may vote.
  1. All members of Beth Jacob Congregation who will be in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) during the term of office for the officers being elected will be notified of the policy stated in item a) at least two weeks in advance of elections.
  1. The BJUSY President will not vote, except at such time that this action becomes necessary to break a deadlocked vote.  The President must then vote, even if the President will not be in grade nine (9) through twelve (12) during the term of office for the officers being elected.
  1. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot, unless a vote of acclimation has been called, and counted by the President and the Youth Director, and anyone else the Youth Director deems necessary who is not a voting member of BJUSY.
  1. If a candidate is running unopposed, they may call for a vote of acclimation if they so desire.
  1. To be elected to office, a candidate must receive a majority vote of approval.

g) Offices will be elected in the order in which they are listed in article VII, section 1.a

h) In the event of a vote in which a majority is not attained, there will be a runoff vote between the candidates with the two (2) highest vote totals.  If this does not produce a candidate with a majority of votes, counting abstentions, the ballots will be recast.  If this still does not produce a candidate with a majority of votes, the ballots will be recast and abstentions will not count toward a majority.  If the vote remains deadlocked, the President will then vote privately and break the tie.

i) In the event that the President is running for an Executive Board position, the Executive Vice President will act as President, not voting except to break a tie.  If both the President and Executive Vice President are running for an office, the tie-breaking responsibility will continue down the chain of succession.

Section 4: Running for Office

a) Each candidate shall be a member in good standing.

b) Each candidate shall decide in advance for which office they will run, and nominations shall not be accepted from off the floor unless an office is vacant. 

c) Each candidate shall fill out a “Candidate Information Form” prior to elections.

d) To run for President or Executive Vice President, the candidate must fulfill one (1) of the following:

  1. Be in 11th or 12th grade during the term for which they are running. 
  1. Have served on the USY Executive Board for at least one (1) year.

e) The Ninth (9th) Grade Representative shall be in ninth (9th) grade during the term for which they are running.

f) Only one person may be elected to each office, unless that office would vacant otherwise.

g) If not elected to an office, the president may drop down to run for another office one (1) time.

h) Each candidate will have the opportunity to make a speech.  This speech will not exceed five (5) minutes in length for the office of President, and three (3) minutes for all other offices.

i) Each candidate must be nominated and the nomination must be seconded by someone other than themselves.  The time allotted for a candidate’s speech includes the nomination.

j) Candidates shall speak in the order in which they were nominated.

k) If a candidate cannot be present at elections, they may run in absentia and a speech or presentation consistent with X.4.h, above, may be read or presented on their behalf.

Section 5: Vacancies of Office

a) If the President resigns or is removed by the Youth Director, the Executive Vice President will assume the Presidency.  If the Executive Vice President cannot or does not wish to become President, a special election will be called to fill the position.  Executive Board Members may run in this election.  If an Executive Board Member is elected, they resign their former office.

b) If another officer resigns or is removed by the Youth Director, the President will call a special election to fill the position.

c) BJUSY members will be given at least two (2) weeks notice of a special election.

Article XI: Emergencies

The President and/or Executive Board, with the approval of the Youth Director, may take action in areas not provided for in this constitution when such action is deemed necessary for the welfare of BJUSY.

Article XII: Amendments

Section 1: Distribution of amendments to be considered

Proposed amendments must be distributed to all BJUSY members at least 2 weeks before they are to be considered.

Section 2: Ratification

a) Proposed amendments may be revised before taking a final vote.

b) An amendment shall become part of the Constitution immediately following a two-thirds (2/3) vote in favor of the amendment by either the:

1) Executive Board

2) General Board

3) General assembly

The body that will vote on a proposed amendment is at the discretion of the amendment’s author.

c) Any member in good standing may submit an amendment for consideration by the Executive Board or General Board.  For consideration by the General Assembly, the amendment must be submitted to the Executive Board, and the President shall then call a meeting of the General Assembly to consider the amendment.

Section 3: Interpretation

In the event of a dispute as to the meaning or intent of this Constitution, it shall be interpreted by the President, Executive Vice President, and the party bringing the dispute, in consultation with the Youth Director.

Section 4: Publication

This Constitution shall be published upon the ratification of a new amendment.