By-Laws (Articles of Organization)

By-Laws (Articles of Organization)
The Florida State Council, Knights of Columbus
Amended on May 25, 2024 and approved by the Supreme Council Board of Directors August 2, 2024

ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this Council shall be "The Florida State Council, Knights of Columbus."

ARTICLE II. OBJECTS
The objects of this Council shall be those aims and purposes set forth in the Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Knights of Columbus.

ARTICLE Ill. MEMBERSHIP & MEETINGS
Section 1. The membership shall consist of the following State Officers to wit: STATE DEPUTY, STATE SECRETARY STATE TREASURER, STATE ADVOCATE, STATE WARDEN, STATE CHAPLAIN, and also the last living PAST STATE DEPUTY, and two DELEGATES from each Subordinate Council in the State of Florida jurisdiction and who have presented themselves and the credentials provided for in these By-Laws to the Credentials Committee, and who have been seated as provided in these By-Laws. Said Delegates shall be elected by the subordinate Councils at a Business Meeting to be held not earlier than January 1 nor later than the first Regular Business Meeting held in the month of March, prior to the State Council Meeting (which is the State Convention, hereinafter known as the "Annual Meeting") and as provided for in the Constitution and Laws of the Order and any further amendments thereto.

Section 2. At all Annual Meetings of this Council, third degree members of the Order (in good standing) shall be admitted upon presenting the officially issued convention badge (Badges will be issued during convention registration upon showing a current (valid) membership card and government issued photo I.D.). PAST STATE DEPUTIES, other than the last living PAST STATE DEPUTY, and District Deputies, shall be permitted the privilege of membership in the State Council, but without the right to vote therein. The privilege of membership includes the right to make motions and nominations and to speak on them. Any member of the Order who desires to speak on any matter before the State Council may do so upon receiving a favorable vote from the membership of the State Council. By a majority vote the members may, at any time, limit debate on a specific question.

Section 3. When a member is about to speak, he shall rise and address the Chair, giving his name and Council Number. The Presiding Officer shall announce the name of the member entitled to the floor. The member shall then confine his remarks to the subject under consideration. No member shall speak longer than five minutes without permission of the Chair, nor more than once upon any question until all others who desire to speak have spoken.

Section 4. Procedure and debate shall be in accordance with the Constitution, Laws, and Rules of the Supreme Council, these By-Laws, and the Rules of Parliamentary Law known as "Roberts Rules of Order."

Section 5. All committee reports shall be typewritten and signed by a majority of the members presenting them.

ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES
The State Deputy shall appoint the following committees no later than May 1st immediately preceding the date of the Annual Meeting:
(a) Credentials Committee
(b) Resolutions Committee
(c) Budget Committee
(d) Audit Committee
(e) Annual Meeting Activities Committee, and such other committees as he deems necessary.
Section 1. CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE. The Credentials Committee shall inspect the credentials (Including current membership card and photo government I.D.) of all persons and shall report to the assembled membership as quickly as possible, the number of qualified members of the State Council registered for the annual meeting. In case of a contest on the credentials of any representative or alternate, one member on each side may appear and present evidence and arguments before the committee, with the time fixed by the committee. The Credential Committee shall include guards who will inspect the officially issued badges of all persons entering the chamber.
Section 2. RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE. Prior to a vote thereon, the Resolutions Committee must review all proposed resolutions, and shall, if necessary, conduct hearings relating to such resolutions, submitting a report to the Annual Meeting on all resolutions, approved or rejected, with recommendations, if any. The Committee may refuse to consider any resolution that is neither submitted through electronic means by completing and properly submitting the form on the Resolutions Template on the Florida State Council Website or if by paper submittal, the resolution shall have been typed, contain the Council seal, and submitted to the State Advocate. All resolutions shall be submitted or postmarked to the State Advocate forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. Late resolutions may be accepted after the postmarked due date but will not be included in the State Convention Report Book and will require the submitter to supply the original and seven-hundred (700) copies of the resolution for distribution to the convention delegates. No resolutions will be accepted after 12:00 Noon of the first day of the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. BUDGET COMMITTEE. The Budget Committee shall determine the gross membership of each Subordinate Council as of April 1st next preceding the date of the Annual Meeting (whether or not such Council is in good standing). It shall also recommend the sums to be appropriated during the ensuing year. The Budget Committee, together with the State Treasurer, shall ascertain the amount of expense allowable to each member for attendance at the Annual Meeting. Passage of the report of this Committee shall constitute adoption of the budget and appropriation of the sums budgeted including the per capita assessment.
Section 4. AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee shall, at least once a year at the time of the Annual Meeting, make a thorough examination of all the accounts and financial affairs of the State Council, and of all receipts and expenditures of every kind and nature whatsoever, and shall report the results of their investigation to the delegates assembled prior to adjournment.
Section 5. ANNUAL MEETING ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE. Composed of the State warden, as Director, and five sub-committee chairmen appointed by the State Deputy: shall be responsible for the planning and scheduling of support of all Annual Meeting Activities.

ARTICLE V. FINANCES
The annual expenses of this Council shall be assessed on a per capita basis against all Subordinate Councils located in the Florida State Council jurisdiction (whether or not such Subordinate Councils are in good standing) on the basis of the membership recorded by Supreme Council of each Subordinate Council as of April 1st next preceding the Annual Meeting. Honorary life and disabled members, as listed on Supreme Council rolls, are exempted from the council's per capita obligations. Such assessment shall be due and payable July 1st following the Annual Meeting, and a penalty of one per centum shall be assessed to Subordinate Councils August 1st and each month thereafter on remaining unpaid balances. No membership credentials shall be issued to delegates from Subordinate Councils that fail to pay any assessment dues fifteen days prior to the Annual Meeting held subsequent to the levying of the assessment. The State Council shall make a rebate to college councils in its jurisdiction of twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual per capita tax assessed against and paid by the membership of said councils, and said councils shall use said funds for Catholic and fraternal programs. Subordinate Councils assigned to the Florida State Council jurisdiction but located outside of the geographical boundaries of the State of Florida will not be subject to the State per capita assessment.

ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
Section 1. At the Annual Meeting there shall be elected for a term of one year commencing July 1st, following election, by a majority vote of the members present and voting, the State Officers and the representatives and alternates to the Supreme Council Annual Meeting.
Section 2. A ballot (either electronic or printed) with the name or names of the candidates voted for, written or printed thereon, shall be used. Any ballot for delegates which shall contain a greater number of names of nominees than the full number of delegates to be elected shall be invalid.
Section 3. Three tellers shall be appointed by the Chair to survey the process to ensure proper procedures are followed and if printed ballots are used, canvass the ballot and report the result of their canvass to the Chair.
Section 4. Unless candidates are elected by acclamation, a roll call system shall be used with electronic or written ballots. If electronic voting is used, the tellers shall scan each delegate's badge prior to his voting a selection. At the conclusion of the voting, the ballots will be tallied and matched with the number of delegates. If paper ballots are used, the Secretary shall call from the permanent roll, the names of the District Deputies, and they shall. After ensuring that all the members present are eligible to vote, report on the number of delegates present from their District, by Council, members present, and total delegates eligible to vote. The Secretary shall report, after computation, the total number of delegates present and eligible to vote. This process shall be completed prior to each ballot, if the Annual Meeting or Caucus resumed normal business during the ballot count and members entered or departed the chambers.
Section 5. All balloting for State Officers and Supreme Delegates shall be done in closed session.

ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS
Section 1. The State Officers shall, as soon as practicable after being elected and qualified, establish goals and objectives for the ensuing year.
Section 2. The STATE DEPUTY shall preside at all meetings, be the Chief Executive of the Order in the Florida jurisdiction, the representative of the Board of Directors and the Supreme Knight, be ex-officio member of all committees, have the power to divide the jurisdiction into districts as found necessary, appoint district deputies, shall have all rights and powers conferred on district deputies, and make a written report of the condition of the Order, in the jurisdiction, to the State Council at its Annual Meeting. In the interim between annual sessions, when circumstances demand, he is empowered to appoint special committees, who shall report at the Annual Meeting. All proper expenses of this office are to be paid by the State Council.
Section 3. The STATE SECRETARY shall record and keep the minutes of all meetings, employing, if necessary a competent stenographer, who must be a 3rd degree member of the Order; shall notify Subordinate Councils of the annual state per capita levy on or before July 1st, of each year; shall ascertain from the Supreme Secretary the membership of each Florida jurisdiction Subordinate Council as of April 1 of each year; shall notify Subordinate Councils during February of each year to elect the representatives provided for in the Constitution and Laws of the Order; shall issue to such elected representatives prior to or at the Annual Meeting, formal credentials evidencing membership in the State Council; shall account for all State Council funds, enter in his records and then transmit them to the State Treasurer; shall draw all warrants upon the State Treasurer; which warrants shall be countersigned by the State Deputy, and shall act as secretary to the State Deputy in all matters pertaining to the Florida State and Subordinate Councils.
Section 4. The STATE TREASURER shall be custodian of the funds of this Council; shall deposit such funds in a bank account requiring his signature and the counter-signature of the State Deputy to disburse; shall obtain from the Supreme Secretary, before July 1st of
each year, a fidelity bond on himself and a depository bond on the bank in which Council funds are deposited; such bonds to be in the sums fixed by the State Deputy; shall disburse funds in accordance with warrants drawn by the State Secretary, shall prepare and submit
to the State Deputy and the State Secretary the annual budget fixed by the Budget Committee (as approved by the members); and shall perform such other duties as his office may require.
Section 5. The STATE ADVOCATE shall be the legal officer of the State Council, shall represent the State Council in all legal matters; shall render opinions in regard to the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the State Council and shall perform as directed by the State Deputy other duties incidental to his office. He shall notify all Councils to submit all resolutions either by electronic means through the Resolutions Template on the State Council Website or typewritten in triplicate to the State Advocate at least 45 days prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting.
Section 6. The STATE WARDEN shall be the official guardian of the meeting place of the State Council; shall be the custodian of all paraphernalia of the State Council; shall assure that the meeting chambers are properly prepared, secured and equipped; shall check all membership cards; shall see that proper decorum is observed at all meetings; shall be the Annual Meeting Activities Committee Director, and shall perform such other duties as his office may require.

ARTICLE VIII. PER DIEM & TRAVEL
Section 1. For the annual Florida State Council Meeting (also known as the State Convention) the State Officers, Directors, Chairmen, Committeemen, District Deputies, representatives of Subordinate Councils, who have been certified by the Committee on credentials as delegates to the annual meeting and diocesan representatives invited by the State Deputy, shall be reimbursed for expenses in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each day of actual attendance at the meeting and for travel expenses of twenty-five cents (0.25) per mile for the shortest road mileage to and from the meeting place of his Subordinate Council. Mileage shall not be payable as authorized when distance is less than 50 miles round trip. However, representatives of Subordinate Councils that are not subject to the per capita assessment as defined in Article V are not entitled to reimbursement for attending the Florida State Council Annual Meeting. District Deputies of these Councils are also not entitled to reimbursement by the Florida State Council.

Section 2. Any member who shall absent himself from meetings in the aggregate of more than two hours during any one day, shall forfeit the per diem expense allowance of one day for each such offense. This forfeiture may be waived in whole or in part by the State Deputy,
whenever, in his opinion, such waiver is justified. Any Council wishing to have one delegate exercise the powers of both delegates, may do so, only as provided in Chapter 2, Section 12( e) of the Constitution of the Order. In the event only one delegate is granted the powers
of both, expenses will only be allowed for one.
Section 3. The State Officers, committee chairmen, and other members who attend regularly called meetings of the State Officers or of the Service Program, at the request of the State Deputy, shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in attendance at such meetings; provided however, that such expenses shall not exceed the total allowance provided for in Section 1 above.

Section 4. The State Officers and members of the Board of Directors who attend regularly called meetings of the State Officers or of the Service Program, at the request of the State Deputy, shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in attendance at such meetings.
State Deputy may waiver the fifty dollars per diem and twenty-five cents per mile travel for invited guests to such mentioned meetings in Section 1, 2, and 3 above, and to pay actual expenses incurred by the State Council, if it is the best interest of the State Council.

ARTICLE IX. ANNUAL MEETING SITE SELECTION
The site of future annual meetings shall be decided by the State Officers. The State Deputy shall appoint a committee to seek information and report to the State Officers full particulars regarding the specific accommodations, rates, facilities, and other information which will aid the State Officers in their selection.

ARTICLE X. STATE ANNUAL MEETING EXPENSE
The State Council shall be responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with the holding of the State Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE XI. QUORUM
A majority of the members of this Council shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE XI. CONTINGENCY FUND
An emergency fund may be provided and available for the use of the State Deputy, for Promotion, development of new Councils, and other expenses necessary for the good of the State Council.

ARTICLE XII. CONFLICTS
Any portion of these By-Laws conflicting with the existing or future provisions of the Charter, Constitution. and Laws of the Order shall be null and void.

ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended by any Annual Meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of The member’s present and voting, subject to necessary approval of proper Supreme Council Officers.

ARTICLE XV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The State Officers shall constitute an Executive Committee, and as such shall be vested with authority to exercise full powers in necessary matters during the interim between Annual Meetings of the State Council; provided, however, that such power and authority shall be exercised only in emergency situations.