NEA BAT Caucus By-Laws (Adopted 7/6/17)

Article I – Title and Purpose

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the National Education Association BAT Caucus.

Section 2: The NEA BAT Caucus is established for the purpose:

A. To promote and defend public school educators nationwide.

B. To affect pro-public school education policies and lobbying efforts by NEA.

C. To advocate the principle that the primary expertise in curriculum and other educational matters are

classroom teachers

Article II – Membership

Section 1: Categories of Membership & Voting Rights

A. Active membership shall be open to all persons who are active members of the NEA, employees of

NEA and its state and local affiliates, or life members of the NEA. Active membership has full voting

rights

B. Student membership shall be open to all student NEA members. Student membership has full voting

rights

C. Retired membership shall be open to all NEA-retired members. Retired membership has full voting

rights

D. Membership shall become effective upon payment of dues and membership year runs from the day

after the gavel drops to close NEA RA through the last day of NEA RA.

E. In order to vote in the current election, membership must be purchased prior to the end of RA

business on the day before caucus elections. (Exceptions will be made in the founding year)

Section 2: Members agree to support the mission and goals, and be in good standing on the FaceBook

Page, if on FaceBook, of the National BATS FaceBook group and agree to be the members of the caucus

attending official caucus meetings during the NEA-RA.

Article III – Authority

Section 1: The decision-making authority on all issues before the NEA BAT Caucus will be the members

of the caucus attending official caucus meetings during the NEA-RA.

Section 2: Between NEA-RA conventions, such authority shall be vested in the caucus officers.

Article IV – Officers

Section 1. Duties and Responsibilities

A. The Chair shall call and preside at meetings and make committee appointments as necessary.

B. The Vice-Chair(s) shall preside at meetings when the Chair is absent in order of seniority (seniority

being determined by attendance at consecutive caucus meetings immediately prior to the current

meeting), organize staffing of caucus exhibitions and promotional tables, and perform other duties as

assigned by the chair.

C. The secretary shall record the minutes of each meeting, keep attendance records, and be responsible

for keeping an accurate record of the By-Laws, and perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

D. The treasurer shall receive and have custody of all funds collected by the caucus, pay bills as

authorized by the caucus, and provide for an annual financial statement at the NEA-RA (including a

budget for the ensuing year), and perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

E. The parliamentarian shall be appointed by the caucus chair at their discretion. The parliamentarian

shall ensure that the meetings of the caucus adhere to Robert’s Rules of Order-newly revised, and

perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

Section 2. The terms of office for each of the officer positions shall be two years with the exception of

the parliamentarian, who serves at the pleasure of the chair.

Article V – Committees

Section 1: There shall be the following standing committees: Communications, Floor Strategy, Social,

Membership, and Endorsement

Section 2: The Chair shall have the authority to create ad hoc committees as needed.

Section 3: Committee members shall elect committee chairs by secret ballot

Section 4: The Chair is an ex-officio member of every committee.

Article VI- Meetings

Section 1: There shall be at least three meetings of the NEA BAT Caucus during the NEA-RA.

Section 2: A quorum shall consist of the active members present at each meeting.

Article VII – Nominations and Elections

A. Nominations for officer positions shall be made verbally before adjournment the second caucus

meeting

B. Elections will be held during the next to last caucus meeting of the NEA-RA. If no candidate for any

specific office receives a clear majority of the votes cast, a run-off election between the top two

vote-getters will be held during the last caucus meeting of the NEA-RA.

Article VIII – Vacancies

Section 1: In the event that an elected officer is unable or unwilling to fulfill their duties, the ranking

officer shall appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term.

a. If the elected chair is unable or unwilling to fulfill their duties, the vice-chair with the most seniority

as determined by number of consecutive caucus meetings attended prior to the current meeting will

assume the duties of chair.

Article IX – Finance

Section 1: Regular Membership Dues shall be $10 per year

Section 2: Contributing Membership dues shall be $20 per year, conferring the same rights but

with additional benefits to be determined by the NEA BATS Officers.

Article X-Parliamentary Authority

Section 1: The most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority on all questions of

procedure not specifically stated in these By-Laws or in the Standing Rules.

Article XI – Amendments

Section 1: Amendments to these By-Laws must be submitted in writing to the secretary no later than the

end of the first caucus meeting of the current RA.

Section 2: Amendments will be presented and considered at the meeting immediately following their

submission.

Section 3: Voting on amendments shall be by secret ballot, and requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the

active members in attendance.

Section 4: Proposed amendments become effective at the close of business at the end of the current RA.

Section 5: By-laws will be available for review and reference at caucus meetings.

Article XII – Endorsements

Section 1: Endorsement interviews shall be conducted by the endorsement committee on the NEA

designated day and reports shall be shared with the caucus by the endorsement committee.

Section 2: The BAT Caucus shall endorse candidates for office who receive 60% or more of the votes

cast. Every ballot will have a “No Endorsement” option.

NEA BAT Caucus Officers (2021-2023)