ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1.

The name of the association shall be Texas Justice Court Judges Association, Incorporated.

Section 2.

The association may be referred to as “JCJ” in these Bylaws or in other association literature or materials.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of JCJ is to:

1. Advance the interests of Justices of the Peace as officials of their respective counties and the State of Texas.

2. Provide continuing education for Justices of the Peace and Justice Court personnel.

3. Publish and distribute reports, data, legislative updates and other information related to Justice Courts.

4. Promote effective justice for the people of Texas.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS

Section 1.

Every person who holds the office of Justice of the Peace and every person serving as a Clerk or Deputy Clerk in the office of any Justice Court in the State of Texas shall be eligible for REGULAR MEMBERSHIP. Such persons may join JCJ by paying the annual dues established by the Board of Directors of JCJ and shall be a member in good standing for the calendar year in which the dues are paid unless membership is canceled as provided in these Bylaws.

Section 2.

Any person eligible for Regular Membership in Section 1. shall be eligible for LIFE MEMBERSHIP by paying the lifetime dues established by the Board of Directors of JCJ and shall be a member in good standing for life unless membership is canceled as provided in these Bylaws.

Section 3.

The President may annually award to not more than two people, HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIPS. No fee may be charged for this category and no rights or privileges granted to other categories shall be available to this class of membership.

Section 4.

Any person that is not a Regular Member of JCJ may be appointed as an ASSOCIATE MEMBER by the Board of Directors of JCJ upon payment of a fee set by the Board of Directors, but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. 

Section 5.

Any member in good standing with JCJ who has legally retired under the Texas District and County Retirement System shall be eligible to maintain Regular or Life membership with all rights and privileges granted by JCJ except for holding elected office. RETIRED MEMBER or RETIRED LIFE MEMBER status shall begin at retirement.

Section 6.

CANCELLATION OF MEMBERSHIP shall only be done by the Board of Directors of JCJ by a majority vote. Any member who has been convicted of any offense above a Class C misdemeanor or found to have conduct unbecoming a member of JCJ may be removed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1.

The PRESIDENT of JCJ shall be the chief executive officer and shall take office for a two-year term at the annual business meeting of JCJ in even-numbered years. The President shall have been elected to a two-year term as President-Elect by vote of the membership at its annual business meeting and shall move into the President’s position after the President-Elect term.

Section 2.

The PRESIDENT-ELECT of JCJ shall be elected to a two-year term by vote of the membership at its annual business meeting in even-numbered years and will become President as stated above. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect, if present, shall preside, or if the office of President shall become vacant, the President-Elect shall fill the vacancy.

Section 3.

The VICE-PRESIDENT of JCJ shall be elected to a two-year term by vote of the membership at its annual business meeting in even-numbered years. In the absence of the President and President-Elect, the Vice-President, if present, shall preside.

Section 4.

The SECRETARY-TREASURER of JCJ shall be appointed to a two-year term by the Board of Directors at the annual business meeting in even-numbered years such as 2002, 2004.

Section 5.

The PAST-PRESIDENT shall succeed to this office upon completion of a normal two-year term as President to provide advice and counsel to the President and Board of Directors and shall serve in this capacity until the next President shall become Past-President. If this position becomes vacant, the President may appoint, as a replacement, one of the earlier past-presidents with the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 6.

There shall be five regional DIRECTORS elected to two-year terms by the membership at its annual business meeting, except that, initially, three Directors shall be elected to one-year terms in the year 2002 to represent Regions 1, 3 & 5. After that, three Directors shall be elected to two-year terms in odd-numbered years to represent Regions 1, 3 & 5. Two Directors shall be elected to two-year terms in even-numbered years to represent Regions 2 & 4.

Section 7.

There shall be one DIRECTOR elected to a two-year term by the clerks at the annual business meeting in even-numbered years that shall represent Court Clerks.

Section 8.

With the exception of the Director listed in Section 7. representing the Court Clerks, all OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS shall be Justices of the Peace.

Section 9.

Should a VACANCY occur in any office other than President or President-Elect, the President may appoint a qualified member to fill the vacancy. A vacancy of a Regional Director shall be filled by a member from that region. Such appointments shall be approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 10.

Should any Officer or Director CEASE TO QUALIFY for Regular Membership or Life Membership; their office shall automatically become vacant.

Section 11.

REMOVAL OF AN OFFICER OR DIRECTOR by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors shall be based on a recommendation of an Investigative Committee of five members representing the five regions. Each regional director shall submit three names of members from the region to the Board for consideration to serve on the Investigative Committee. If a regional director is being considered for removal, the President shall submit three names for that region. The Board of Directors shall then select a five-member Investigative Committee with a representative from each region. The criteria for removal from office shall be the inability or refusal to perform the prescribed duties for the office.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.

The eleven Officers and Directors described in Article IV above shall constitute the BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A majority of the Board of Directors (6 members) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of JCJ business. The Board of Directors shall have the management and control of JCJ and shall transact all business, subject to limitations or directions by a vote of the membership.

Section 2.

BOARD MEETINGS shall be called at each annual business meeting with one day’s reasonable expenses to be reimbursed by JCJ to each Board Member attending. The President may call a Board Meeting at any time and place he or she deem necessary. Members of the Board of Directors may call a Board Meeting with a two-thirds vote (8 members) in favor of such meeting at any time and place. Action taken at any Board Meeting shall be reported to the membership in a JCJ newsletter in its next issue (within 90 days, generally.)

Section 3.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT shall include but not be limited to:

1. Presiding at all meetings of the general membership of JCJ and at Board meetings.

2. Co-signing all checks and vouchers with the Secretary-Treasurer.

3. Signing all membership cards and certificates (by facsimile).

4. Calling meetings of the general membership and Board of Directors.

5. Appointing replacements for Officer or Director vacancies in accordance with Article IV, Section 9., with the concurrence of a majority of the Board of Directors.

6. Serving Ex-Officio on every committee of JCJ unless otherwise noted in these Bylaws.

7. Appointing members to all standing committees within 90 days after the annual business meeting to be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors at the next Board Meeting.

8. Performing all other duties pertaining to the office of President or prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

Section 4.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT shall include but not be limited to:

1. Presiding at all meetings of the general membership of JCJ and at all meetings of the Board of Directors in the absence of the President or at the call of the President.

2. Assuming the office of President on the occasion of a vacancy in that office.

3. Serving Ex-Officio on every committee of JCJ unless otherwise noted in these Bylaws.

4. Performing all other duties as assigned by the President or prescribed in the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

Section 5.

DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT shall include but not be limited to:

1. Presiding at any meeting of the general membership of JCJ or at any meeting of the Board of Directors in the absence of both the President and President-Elect.

2. Serving on such committees as assigned by the President and chairing the Justice of the Peace Education Committee.

3. Performing all other duties as assigned by the President or prescribed in the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

Section 6.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER shall include but not be limited to:

1. Keeping minutes of all meetings of the general membership and the Board of Directors.

2. Maintaining all records, books and reports of JCJ within the fiscal year beginning April 1 and ending the following March 31 of each year.

3. Reporting monthly to the President the financial status of JCJ including cash on hand, expenses incurred, receipts of funds, disbursements of funds and all assets and liabilities.

4. Paying all bills and obligations of JCJ as directed by the Board of Directors by preparing checks and vouchers as necessary.

5. Maintaining membership records, issuing membership cards and advising the Board of Directors of the standing of each member.

6. Obtaining a surety bond payable to JCJ in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors. JCJ shall pay for this bond.

7. Performing all other duties as assigned by the President or prescribed in the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

Section 7.

DUTIES OF DIRECTORS shall include but not be limited to:

1. Attendance at all meetings of the Board of Directors if possible.

2. Contacting the members of their regions or represented groups at the direction of the President or Board of Directors concerning JCJ matters of business.

3. Posting their names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses (if available) in the next issue of the JCJ newsletter after election or appointment with a listing of the counties represented if a regional Director.

4. Performing all other duties as assigned by the President or prescribed in the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

Section 8.

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall be five Regular or Life Members in good standing and chosen by the Board of Directors at a board meeting preceding the annual business meeting by at least three months. This committee shall meet and review all applications, requests and nominations submitted to it. The committee shall then report to JCJ at its annual business meeting with a single nomination for each office, if possible. The President and President-Elect shall NOT serve on the nominating committee. Nominations from the floor are not precluded by the selection of the Nominating Committee and shall be in accordance with the parliamentary authority adopted in these bylaws.

ARTICLE VI - ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Section 1.

The ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of JCJ shall be conducted each year at a Board-selected location.

1. Cities or local host committees may submit written bids for the annual business meeting to JCJ not later than May 31 of the year prior to the bid year.

2. The Board of Directors shall make the selection of the annual business meeting site and announce the site at the Annual Business Meeting one year prior to the date.

3. The annual business meeting shall be held between June 15 and September 15 each year. The Board of Directors may modify this if necessary.

4. An Oversight committee may be appointed by the President to operate under the direction of the Secretary-Treasurer. This committee shall also be responsible for all program features of the annual business meeting.

5. A Local Host committee may be organized locally to provide the necessary day-to-day contact and coordination to assist the Oversight committee.

Section 2.

VOTING MEMBERS at the Annual Business Meeting shall be those Regular and Life Members in good standing as certified by the Secretary-Treasurer who are in attendance at the Annual Business Meeting, and they shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1.

The following COMMITTEES (Standing committees) will be appointed by the President within 90 days after the Annual Business Meeting and ratified by the Board of Directors at their next meeting:

1. Justice of the Peace Education
2. Justice Court Clerk Education
3. Auditing
4. Bylaws
5. Legislation
6. Public Relations
a. Membership
b. Notification
c. Promotions
7. Resolutions, Scholarships, & Awards
8. Other committees as need by the President

Section 2.

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE is specified in Article V, Section 8. above.

Section 3.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS of all committees except the Nominating Committee shall be the President and President-Elect unless excluded by other provisions of these bylaws

Section 4.

EDUCATION COMMITTEES shall be responsible for developing the curriculum and standards for the education of their respective groups to meet statutory requirements and shall monitor the implementation of the education programs throughout the year to insure effectiveness.

A. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE EDUCATION COMMITTEE shall consist of six Justices of the Peace who shall serve terms of three years each, with two members’ terms expiring each year. The chair of this committee shall be the Vice-President.

B. JUSTICE COURT CLERK EDUCATION COMMITTEE shall consist of three Justices of the Peace and three Justice Court Clerks who shall serve terms of three years each, with one Justice of the Peace and one Court Clerk term expiring each year. In addition, the Director representing the Court Clerks shall serve on this committee. The chair shall be appointed each year by the President from the three Judges on the committee.

Section 5.

The TRAINING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE shall consist of the Board of Directors of JCJ. The chair of the Justice Court Clerk Education Committee shall serve as an advisor without vote to this committee.

Section 6.

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Past-President, and Secretary-Treasurer (the five officers) and shall act for the Board of Directors between its meetings and under the guidelines established for it by the Board. All actions of the Executive Committee are subject to ratification by the full Board of Directors.

Section 7.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS shall be Regular Members and Life Members in good standing appointed by the President to serve one-year terms. Each committee shall have a chair, vice-chair, and secretary designated by the President. Any appointed member of any committee may be removed by the President without cause with approval by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 8.

There shall be one DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES appointed by the President for a two-year term beginning January 1, of odd-numbered years with that term to expire December 31. Qualifications, appointment and removal shall be in the manner prescribed in Section 1 and Section 7 of this Article. This appointment is contingent on acceptance by TAC.

Section 9.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS shall be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary authority adopted by these bylaws.

1. Members in good standing may address any committee in any open meeting when recognized by the chair.

2. The chair of any committee may limit discussion or debate on any subject to provide for orderly and efficient meetings.

3. Each committee shall report its workings at the Annual Business Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, Newly Revised, Current Version, shall be the parliamentary authority for all meetings and operations of JCJ unless specifically detailed in these bylaws.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

Section 1.

These Bylaws may be AMENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE of the voting members at an Annual Business Meeting on a motion to amend submitted at least 60 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting to the Chair of the Bylaws Committee in writing.

Section 2.

These Bylaws may be AMENDED BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE of the voting members at an Annual Business Meeting on a motion to amend submitted less than 60 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting or on a motion to amend submitted from the floor at the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 3.

These Bylaws may be AMENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE of the members actually voting BY MAIL on a motion to amend submitted to each member by mail allowing at least 30 days for the return of the ballot.

Said voting deadline shall be stated on the ballot. A mail ballot procedure will only commence after approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.

All BYLAW CHANGES will take effect upon adjournment of the Annual Business Meeting at which adopted, except those adopted by mail which take effect when ordered by the Board of Directors but not more that 30 days after the ballot voting deadline.

ARTICLE X – TERMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

Section 1.

TERMINATION OF THE TEXAS JUSTICE COURT JUDGES ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED shall occur on the majority vote of the membership after 30 days notice to the membership by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASSETS AND ALL FUNDS OF THE ASSOCIATION on its termination shall be to the State of Texas through the Office of the Comptroller.

Section 3.

ADDITION OF THIS ARTICLE X is made administratively by the Board of Directors to comply with the legal requirements to incorporate.

Ratified by the membership 07.16.04.