District Six Constitution
American Forensic Association
National Individual Events Tournament
ARTICLE I: NATURE AND PURPOSE
AFA-NIET District Six consists of colleges, junior colleges and universities in the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Kentucky. District Six sponsors forensics events understanding that forensics competition is beneficial to our students, our institutions and our nation. The participants in these events are sharply honing the very skills necessary to uphold the finer principles of public communication, academic excellence and good citizenship. By their participation in forensics all involved exemplify learning and leadership. In addition to these goals, this group is responsible for certifying students who qualify from among its member schools to participate in the annual American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament. In order to complete this task, the group must plan and direct the District Qualifying Tournament. In addition, the district members should promote membership and conduct any other activities that are relevant to these purposes.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Membership in District Six is open to all two and four-year colleges and universities located within the geographic boundaries of the district.
Section 1:
All schools are eligible to become subscribers upon payment of the AFA-NIET fee, as determined by the National Committee. All subscribers are eligible to send students to the district qualifying tournament and to participate in any other methods for qualifying students to compete in the AFA-NIET which may be determined by the National Committee.
ARTICLE III: DISTRICT CHAIR
Section 1: ELECTION
The chair shall be elected from among the membership of district six schools at the district qualifying tournament.
Section 2: TERM
The term of office is two years, beginning May 1st in the year of election.
Section 3: AFA-NIET REPRESENTATIVE
The chair shall be the district�s representative to the AFA-NIET and therefore must be a subscribing member of the American Forensic Association.
Section 4: DUTIES
The chair shall be responsible for convening all meetings of the district committee, for directing the district qualifying tournament, for performing the duties of the AFA-NIET representative which may be designated by the AFA-NIET committee, and for executing actions stipulated in the constitution and by-laws. In addition, the chair will continually promote the integrity and growth of the district.
Section 5: REMOVAL
The chair may be removed from office by a vote for removal on the part of five or more coaches of the district.
ARTICLE IV: DISTRICT QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
The qualifying tournament is held for the purpose of determining which students (who have not yet qualified for the AFA-NIET at large) are eligible for competition at the AFA-NIET. All rules for the district qualifier shall strictly comply with AFA-NIET guidelines.
ARTICLE V: RATIFICATION
This document will be effective when approved by a two-thirds vote of all district six subscribing schools in attendance at the district qualifying tournament.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENT
This document may be amended by a two-thirds vote of subscribing schools who vote on the amendment. Amendments may be initiated by any district six subscriber. For any amendment to be considered, it must be presented for discussion at the open coaches meeting at the qualifying tournament.
ARTICLE VII: BY-LAWS
By-Laws may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the district committee.
DISTRICT SIX
DISTRICT QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
RULES AND BY-LAWS
SECTION ONE: ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION
� This tournament is open to any subscribing member of district six. Each school may enter a maximum of five students in each event subject to the rules developed by the National Individual Events Tournament (NIET).
� Any student may enter a maximum of six events with no more than two events in a single conflict pattern.
� As long as a student can be classified as an undergraduate student (as defined by the NIET) she or he may compete at the qualifying tournament. Part-time students are also eligible to participate.
SECTION TWO: DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS
� The tournament shall employ the event descriptions established by the AFA-NIET.
SECTION THREE: ELIGIBILITY FOR JUDGING
� Each school attending the district qualifier shall be encouraged to provide one qualified judge for every six entries. Hired judges should be requested in advance of the tournament date.
� The host will hire the requested number of judges. All hired judges should be well versed in intercollegiate forensics. Every effort should be made to secure the most impartial and non-biased hired judging pool possible.
SECTION FOUR: ELIMINATION PROCEDURES
� If a student has competed in two or more preliminary rounds, the following is the order of criteria for advancing to the elimination rounds:
Total rankings (lowest total is best).
Total speaker ratings (highest total is best).
Total number of first place rankings.
Judges preference if two contestants have met.
� In order to determine the final order of finish, the following formula shall be utilized:
Total rankings (lowest is best).
Total speaker ratings (highest total is best).
Total number of first place rankings.
Judges preference if two contestants have met.
SECTION FIVE: BALLOTS
� Ballots should be designed to use a ranking system of 1-5 in preliminary rounds and first through last speaker in elimination rounds. There will be no ties in ranking except that no speaker will be ranked lower than fifth in preliminary rounds. A ranking of one is best.
� Ballots should utilize a rating system of 70 through 100 with 100 being the best possible score. Speakers may be tied on ratings although rankings and ratings should match with the top speaker being rated as high or higher than any other speaker in the round.
SECTION SIX: QUALIFYING FOR THE NIET
� Ten percent of the students entering (and completing) all preliminary rounds at the qualifying tournament will advance to the NIET with the number rounded off to the highest whole number. Regardless of total entries in the district tournament, the top three individuals in each event will be considered qualified for the national tournament.
� If a student completes a third leg at the district tournament and qualifies for the NIET by this method, all other students in the final round are moved up for purposes of determining qualifications for the national tournament. Utilization of this procedure does not alter final rankings in the event for purposes of determining awards.
� Students that do not qualify through districts shall be ranked in order as alternates. If a student who has qualified receives a third leg at a tournament following the district tournament and qualifies for the NIET by this method prior to the deadline for submission, then an alternate(s) shall be deemed to have qualified. If a student that qualifies at district cannot attend nationals, then his/her qualification will then be bumped down to alternates.
� Students may not enter an event in which he/she is already qualified but may enter other events in the conflict pattern.
SECTION SEVEN: ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES
� Bids for future district qualifiers should be solicited by the district chair with every effort being made to designate a host for the following year by the end of the current qualifier.
� Nothing in these by-laws should be interpreted to violate rules or conflict with rules set by the AFA-NIET Committee. If by-laws are deemed in conflict with those of the NIET, the rules of the later apply.
� These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of subscribing district members.