AVERY HOUSE CONSTITUTION
Agenda for “Step Zero” Meeting, Thurs Dec. 2, 2004

Adoption of Rules and Agenda

I § 1, 2, 5 – Clarify.  Retain membership after leaving the house?  What about people who are forced to live here and don’t want to pay dues?

*II § 2a,c – Method of getting Council members (elected vs. petition vs. …)  Alley Reps plus petition?  Also, Council membership cap?

II § 2c – “Waiting period” for Council members.

II § 2d – Returning members must satisfy attendance record?

II § 2 – Tie votes of Council?  (Does Chancellor get vote?)

II § 2 – Can other House members attend Council meetings?  Speak?

II § 3 –Requirement of already being on Council?

*II § 3 – Split Chancellor and President roles?

II § 4 – Vice Chancellor not appointed?  (Second place in Chancellor vote?  Separate election?  Appointed by Council?)

II § 5,6 – Appoint “by motion”

II/III – Establishing candidacy?  (Esp. of Chancellor)

III § 6b – Council/Officers cannot stall votes originating by House petition

*IV § 1,2 – Distribution of rooms for these three categories?  Should Avery remain unaffiliated?  Should we ensure space for these?

IV § 3 – Officers get guaranteed on?  Some officers?  None?

V § 1 – How is an amendment proposed?  Clarify to use III § 6.

- Administration/IHC Relations (Federalism Clause)

- Nondiscrimination Clause

- Council derives power from members, all other powers reserved.

- Lady Liberty statue.  Avery members are known as “WR’s.”  Just kidding.
Timing: 5 minutes per item, except starred items, which get 15 minutes.  (Debates can be extended through Suspension of Rules procedure.)

I § 1, 2, 5 – Clarify.  Retain membership after leaving the house?  What about people who are forced to live here and don’t want to pay dues?

As written:
	“Sec. 1  Membership in Avery House may be obtained in the following ways:
		“a.  Residency.  Anyone living in Avery House shall be considered a Member of Avery House.
		“b.  Membership Petition.  Anyone not living in Avery House wishing to become a Member may present the Council with a petition signed by ten Members of Avery House.  In exceptional circumstances, the Council reserves the right to deny Membership by a unanimous vote.
	
	“Sec. 2  Non-resident members wishing to drop their membership must notify the Secretary in writing.”

General Amendment (changes underlined):
	“Sec. 1  Membership in Avery House may be established in the following ways:
		“a.  Residency.  Anyone living in Avery House shall automatically become a Member of Avery House.
		“b.  Membership Petition.  Anyone not living in Avery House wishing to become a Member may present the Council with a petition signed by ten Members of Avery House.  In exceptional circumstances, the Council reserves the right to deny Membership by a unanimous vote.
	
	“Sec. 2  Any members wishing to drop their membership must notify the Secretary in writing.  Membership is not automatically dropped by a member terminating their residency in Avery House.”

II § 2c – Method of getting Council members; Alley Reps plus petition?

General Amendment:
Add the following clause between 2b and 2c:
“Within one month from the beginning of the fall term each year, each Alley shall meet and select that Alley’s representative to the Avery Council.  If an Alley does not select a representative by this deadline, or the Alley chooses to not have a representative, in forfeits its choice of a Council member.  Any spots on the Council not filled in this way shall be available to be filled as specified in the following section.”

- Administration/IHC Relations (Federalism Clause)

General Amendment:
“Neither the Administration nor any other outside body may force the clauses of this Constitution to be violated, nor may they induce others to relinquish the rights granted in this Constitution.  The Avery Council or other House officials must not be forced to partake in any action contrary to its will, binding arbitration and court action excepted.”

- Nondiscrimination Clause

General Amendment:
“Sec. 1 This Government may not discriminate with regard to age,
disability, ethnicity, financial status, gender, national origin, physical
appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation, views and beliefs, nor any
means heretofore or hereafter devised, either for or against minorities.
“Sec. 2 The use of the pronoun “he” in this Constitution does not in any way
imply that said persons must be male.”

- Council derives power from members, all other powers reserved.

General Amendment:
“The Avery Council and all other House officials derive their authority from the Members of the Avery House.  All powers not granted in this Constitution are reserved to the people.”
And append the following to II § 2b: “The Avery Council may take any action necessary and proper to carry these out.”