Diplomatic Congress Bylaws

Article 1: Election Regulations

Section 1: Candidate Eligibility and Ballot Access

Candidates for Executive Board, all Senatorial Positions, and Class Presidents must:

1. Be a full-time student in good standing with the College
2. Not hold a concurrent voting position on the Diplomatic Congress

To appear on the ballot in an Officer election, candidates must:

1. Draft and submit a Candidate Statement of no more than 200 words via email to the Election Committee via the form disseminated by the Congress
2. Sign and acknowledge acceptance of these Election Regulations

Note: Write-in candidates will only be permitted in cases of uncontested elections.

Section 2: Election Oversight

An Election Committee will be duly appointed by the Congress to oversee the election. Election Committee members must not be contesting a position in the election, must sign an agreement of impartiality, and are prohibited from publically expressing support for any candidate. The Election Committee has full discretion to address all concerns election regulation violations. Concerns regarding the impartiality of an Election Committee member may be addressed to the Congress Advisor.

Any candidate found in violation of a campaign regulation is subject to appropriate penalties at the discretion of the Election Committee, which may include loss of campaigning privilege or forfeiture of candidacy. Candidates may also be referred to Facilities and Operations for misuse of campus spaces or to the Office of the Dean of the College for actions in violation of the Student Code. Candidates found in violation of Regulations after voting has closed may be subject to vacation of their results.

Appeals to the decision of the Election Committee must be made by email to the Congress President within 24 hours of the Committee's decision. If a student suspects a violation of these Campaign Regulations has occurred, they should report that violation immediately to the Election Committee at diplomatic.congress@fandm.edu, including photographic evidence if it is available.

1. Upon reasonable evidence of elections fraud, Executive Board has the power to void a contested election if two-thirds of all members present vote to do so.
2. Any student may protest any specific election result by registering a complaint in writing to a member of the Elections Committee. This protest shall be heard in a meeting of the whole Executive Board.

Section 3: Campaigning

Campaigning dates shall be determined by the Election Committee for each election cycle. No campaign activities may be publicized in any way outside of these dates and times. When the campaign period has begun, candidates may campaign using posters, flyers, dorm storming, gatherings, social media, or other means within the following constraints:

1. Congress Members cannot use any congressional resources to campaign for themselves or another candidate.
2. There will be no campaign parties of any kind. Candidates may not publically express support for any other candidates for positions on the Diplomatic Congress.
3. Candidates are permitted to attend pre-scheduled meetings of campus organizations to gain support, however to host any event for the purpose of gaining support, candidates must request authorization from the Election Committee. All events hosted by or for a candidate must be open to the entire electoral body, and held in spaces reserved through the College Reservation System (reservations.fandm.edu).
4. Physical or electronic mailings to any premade administrative list of students (i.e. a class, College House, sports team, etc.) or to the members of those lists individually are prohibited. Candidates must CC or BCC the Election Committee (diplomatic.congress@fandm.edu) on all campaign advertisements transmitted electronically. No materials may be placed in student mailboxes.
5. Candidates must respect the quiet hours restrictions of each College House.
6. All physical posters must be approved by the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership via the Election Committee before posting. Candidates must adhere to the College's guideline regarding posting of materials. No materials may be posted on painted or glass surfaces, or on the ceiling or floor.
7. Tampering with, obstructing, or removing the campaign materials of other candidates, or encouraging others to do so, is strictly prohibited.
8. All posted campaign materials, physical or electronic, must be respectful and decent. Personal attacks on other candidates or campus groups, pornographic or otherwise sexually explicit materials, depiction of illegal activity, lewd humor, and foul language are prohibited in all campaign materials. The Election Committee has sole discretion to assess the respectfulness and decency of a post.
9. No candidate for any office may spend in excess of twenty five dollars for President and Vice President and fifteen dollars for all other offices (Senators, Class Presidents) on campaign purposes. The fair market value of any items donated to the candidate's campaign or provided at a discounted rate unavailable to other candidates for the same position shall count towards this total. Candidates must submit all receipts of purchases and documentation of the fair market value of any donated items within two (2) business days of any purchase or donation to the election committee.
10. Each candidate will be afforded this amount of money through the Diplomatic Congress Budget. In order to receive reimbursement, Candidates are required to submit itemized receipts to the treasurer of the Diplomatic Congress. Exact deadlines and procedures for this are at the discretion of the Diplomatic Congress Treasurer, who will notify the candidates before the election cycle begins.
11. On the day of the election all campaign activities shall be suspended. It is permitted to post the voting link to social media, but candidates cannot promote themselves after the campaigning window has closed. Candidates may enter the Steinman College Center for the purpose of voting, passing through, or attending a pre-scheduled gathering (i.e. getting food from the café, checking mail, attending a meeting, etc.), however they may not remain in the Atrium while the polls are open. Any behavior that the Election Committee may reasonably perceive as bribery, fraudulent voting, or voter intimidation is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.

Section 4: Election Day

On Election Day, the Election Committee will circulate an email announcing the election and including the statements from each candidate in alphabetical order by last name. Voting will take place from 8:00AM to 5:00PM at a booth in the Atrium of the Steinman College Center, as well as by an electronic poll sent out over email. Students must present their Student IDs to vote both online or in person. Candidate names will be listed alphabetically by last name on the ballot, and candidate statements will be made available at the voting booth and in the email.

Section 5: Outcomes

The winner of the election will be the candidate who receives a majority. The Election Committee will notify the candidates of the election outcome in private as soon as possible. Percentage outcomes may be made available to candidates at their request, however they will not be publicized. After notifying all candidates, the results will be announced by email to the campus. The Elections Committee shall notify the student body of the election results within 48 hours of the conclusion of voting.

Article 2: Proposal Process

Section 1: Introducing Proposals

All Proposals received by the Congress within the calendar week before the General Assembly meeting will be introduced at that week's General Assembly Meeting.

1. When a proposal is introduced, it will first be explained by its author (when applicable).
2. After, a discussion about the merits of the proposal will commence.
3. During this time, Amendments to the Proposal may be introduced.

Section 2: Voting on Proposals

The Proposal will be voted on after an additional period of debate in the meeting immediately following the one in which the proposal was originally introduced.

Section 3: Fast Track Authority

The Officers may make a proposal exempt to the standard timeline laid out in this proposal with unanimous consent of the General Assembly.

All voting members of the Congress are eligible to vote on proposals brought before the General Assembly.

Article 3: GA Order of Proceedings

Meetings shall be called either by the President, or by a petition of one-third of the General Assembly.

Diplomatic Congress Meetings shall proceed in the following order:

1. Call to Order by the Presiding Officer
2. The Parliamentarian calls the Roll
3. Public Comment Period
4. Officer Reports
5. Old Business
6. New Business
7. Committee Reports & Updates
8. Open Forum
9. Adjournment

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Ratified by the 11th Diplomatic Congress on April 18, 2019