Section II
Voting and Conduct of Business
Article 7. Convocation
1.The regular meeting of the National Fraternity shall
be the annual meeting of the National Council called by the National Minister.
2.The National Executive Council meets at least twice
during the period between annual meetings of the National Fraternity
Council.
3.The National Fraternity Council meets for the purpose
of elections once every three years.
4.The National Fraternity shall celebrate a National Congress
at least once every five years, at a time and place determined by the National
Executive Council and confirmed by the National Fraternity Council.
5.The Minister of each Regional Fraternity shall receive
at least two months' notice of the place, day and time of the annual National
Fraternity Council meeting.
Article 8. Voting Rights
1.All members of the National Fraternity Council
as defined I Article 3, Par. 1 have active voice and may vote.
2.The Minister of each Regional Fraternity has the primary
responsibility for casting the vote of the Regional Fraternity in all elections
and on all business which may come before the
National Fraternity Council.
3.In the event a Regional Minister is impeded from attending
the National Fraternity Council meeting, then the delegate of the Regional
Fraternity shall be the Vice Minister pursuant to the
provisions of Article 6, Paragraph 2a.
If both Regional Minister and Regional Vice
Minister are so impeded, then a member of the Regional Fraternity Council
elected by that body shall attend and exercise all of the powers
of a delegate for the Regional Fraternity.
4.No Regional Fraternity may cast more than a single vote
on any issue or in any election.
5.Even if a person has a right to vote in his or her own
name by more than one title, such person may cast only one ballot. [10]
Article 9. Quorum; Majority; Counting Ballots; Procedure
1.No official business may be transacted at a National
Fraternity Council or National Executive Council meeting unless a quorum
is present. A quorum consists of a majority of the number enrolled as attending
the meeting.[11]
2.A majority, sometimes denominated an absolute majority,
is more than half of the total number of votes cast. A relative or simple
majority is the highest number of votes cast on a motion or in an election.[12]
3.Where questions arise concerning procedure which are
not covered by the Code of Canon Law, the General Constitutions or the
National Statutes, reference may be made to Robert's Rules of Order. The
Presiding Officer, after taking advice, retains the power to determine
any matter of procedure.
Article 10. Elections
1.The National Fraternity Council elects the National Minister,
the National Vice Minister, the National Secretary, the National Treasurer,
at least one Councilor, the International Councilor and a substitute delegate
for the International Councilor.[13]
2.Elections shall take place according to the norms of
the law of the Church,[14] of the General Constitutions
for the Secular Franciscan Order of 1990, of the Statutes of the International
Fraternity, OFS, and of these statutes.
3.In tallying votes which are conducted by secret written
ballot, each elector shall submit one vote. Then all ballots, including
blanks, shall be counted to assure the validity of the vote.[15]
Article 11. Convocation and Nominations
1.At least four months prior to elections, the National
Executive Council shall appoint a Chairman for a Nominations Committee
which will, acting according to norms established by the National Executive
Council, present a slate of nominees for the offices to the members of
the National Executive Council. This presentation shall be made approximately
two months prior to the date set for the elections.
2.To be eligible as a candidate for election to office
in the National Fraternity, one must be a permanently professed active
member in the Secular Franciscan Order, and should be convinced of the
validity of the Franciscan evangelical way of life, attentive to a broad
and encompassing vision of the life of the Church and of society, open
to dialogue and ready to give and receive help and collaboration.[16]
3.It shall be the duty of the Nominations Committee to
ensure that each candidate meets the qualifications for the office which
(s)he is proposed, has reviewed the duties of that office, and is willing
to serve if elected.
4.Any individual who is elected to a national office may
not hold an elected office at the Regional Fraternity or the Local Fraternity
level.
5.The provisions of Article 76 of the General Constitutions
shall be followed for convocation of the National Fraternity Council meeting
for the purpose of elections.
a. The National Minister shall in timely fashion
contact the Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order, requesting
that (s)he or a delegate preside over forthcoming elections.
b. The National Minister shall in timely fashion
contact the President of the Conference of General Spiritual Assistants,
requesting that he or a delegate attend forthcoming National Fraternity
elections as a witness.
Article 12. Right to Vote at Elections
1.All of the provisions of Article 8 above apply also
to the right to vote at elections.[17]
2.During those meetings of the National Fraternity at
which elections occur, the members of the outgoing and of the incoming
National Executive Council, upon election, are members with
full rights of the National Fraternity Council until the end of said
meeting.[18]
Article 13. Terms of Office
1.The provisions of Article 79,1 of the General Constitutions
shall be followed concerning term of office and third successive term election
procedures as to the National Ministers.
2.The National Councilor(s) are elected for a term of
three years.
3.The International councilor who, according to the Statutes
of the International Fraternity, represents NAFRA on the International
Council of the Secular Franciscan Order, is elected
for a term of six years.
4.For a third successive term for National and International
Councilors, a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voices of those present
is required.
Article 14. Procedure in Voting
1.The vote shall be taken and completed as to each office
before proceeding to the next, commencing with the office of National Minister.
Persons not elected to the first office voted
upon may be nominated for remaining offices.
2.Further nominations shall be received from the floor
at the elections.
3.The provisions of Article 72, sec. 4 and Article 78
of the General Constitutions shall be followed as to procedure at the elections
of the National Fraternity Council. Supplemental norms may be established
by the National Executive Council.
Article 15. Provisions for Vacancies, Resignations, and Removals
1.The provisions of Article 81 and 83 of the General
Constitutions shall govern the procedure to be followed in the event any
elected officer resigns or is impeded from performing the duties of the
office.
2.The provisions of Articles 84 of the General Constitutions
shall govern the procedure to be followed to secure the removal for cause
of the National Minister or members of the National
Fraternity Council.
3.An appeal in writing from any such removal from office
may be lodged within thirty days before the Council of the next higher
level to that which imposed the sanction; and may also be carried in succession
to the other levels of the Order.
Endnotes
[10] CCL, Can . 168.
[11] Robert's Rules of Order, S64.
[12] CCL, Can. 119.
[13] STATS SFO, Art. 22.2
[14] CCL, Can. 164-179.
[15] CCL, Can. 173,2.
[16] CNS SFO, Art. 31,3.
[17] Refer to Footnote 9 for definition of
active and passive voice.
[18] CNS SFO, Art. 79, 3. |