Bylaws of the Louisiana Parent Congress

Article I

Name
Section 1.
The name of this non-profit organization shall be the Louisiana Parent Congress [now referred to as LPC].

Article II

Purpose:
Concerned citizens building partnerships to address critical issues that will have an impact on education. The organization is strictly prohibited from any involvement in political races. The LPC will not make any political endorsements.
Section 1.
To assure that the LPC shall have input into national, state and regional legislation affecting services in schools in Louisiana.
Section 2.
To serve as an advocate and voice for all children.
Section 3.
To coordinate and initiate sound and meaningful ideas for program improvement for all schools in Louisiana.
Section 4.
To encourage local educational programs [LEAs] to work harmoniously with family, school, business, community and friends of education. Also, to establish a partnership promoting educational improvement in Louisiana.

Article III

Steering Committee
Section 1.
The Steering Committee shall be the governing body of the LPC. This includes All activities of the Congress.
Section 2.
The Steering Committee shall consist of members, officers and chairpersons of the standing committees, consisting of no more than twenty-five members.
Section 3.
Members of the Steering Committee shall appoint a chairperson to preside over the business of the Committee.
Section 4.
The Steering Committee will schedule meetings accordingly, and upon request of the President.

Article IV

Membership
Section 1.
Membership in the LPC shall consist of the following:
  • Family: Parents, Guardians, Grandparents
  • Schools: All Schools, Educators, Students, Day Care Providers, Head Start Agencies, Pre-K Service Providers, Vocational Technical Schools, Even Start Agencies, Institution of Higher Learning
  • Business, Community, and Friends of Education: Chamber of Commerce, Department of Health & Hospitals, Department of Social Services, Churches, Civic and Social Organizations, Print and Electronic Media, and other related Literacy Providers

Article V

Officers
Section 1.
The officers of the LPC shall be:
  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
Section 2.
All candidates for office shall be active members in good standing of the LPC.
Section 3.
The term for all officers shall be two years commencing in even-numbered years. No member shall hold more than one office at the same time.
Section 4.
If an office becomes vacant, the Steering Committee and the President shall appoint a replacement.

Article VI

Duties of Officers
Section 1.
President:
  • Shall be an active member and the chief executive officer of the LPC.
  • Shall preside at all sessions of the LPC provided that he/she may appoint any member to serve as presiding officer for a limited period, which shall not extend beyond adjournment each day.
  • Shall cause the LPC to proceed with its business in the proper order under the rules, if a quorum is present, and to announce the business before the LPC as the LPC proceeds upon each order of business.
  • Shall speak on points of order, in which case he/she shall have preference over other members.
  • Shall decide all points of order, subject to these Bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order.
  • Shall recognize members who seek the floor for the purpose of speaking in debate or otherwise.
  • Shall cast a vote when the Congress is equally divided; otherwise shall not be required to vote.
Section 2.
Vice-President:
  • Shall be an active member of LPC and serve ex-officio as a member of each committee.
  • Shall at the discretion of the President, assist in his/her duties.
  • Shall in the absence of the President, preside or call a member of the Steering Committee to preside as Acting President.
Section 3.
Secretary and Treasurer:
  • The duties of the secretary and treasurer of the Congress shall be an active member of LPC and those duties that are usually & customarily assigned & outlined in Robert's Rules of Order.

Article VII

Advisors to the Congress
Section 1.
The Advisors to the Steering Committee / LPC shall consist of the following:
  • Representative(s) from the State Department of Education in the area of Parent Involvement / Family Literacy and/or Child Welfare.
  • Former Speakers of the House & Speaker Pro-Tempore
  • Former Presidents
Section 2.
The Advisors shall make recommendations and provide information to the Steering Committee & President concerning the affairs of the LPC.
Section 3.
The Advisors shall serve as ex-officio members.

Article VIII

Standing Committees
Section 1.
The LPC shall consist of the following Standing Committees:
  • Child / Parent Advocacy
  • EXPO
  • Legislative
  • Membership
  • Publicity
Section 2.
Standing Committees shall consist of representatives from the full membership.
Section 3.
Each Standing Committee shall appoint a chairperson.
Section 4.
Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Steering Committee and / or the President as deemed necessary to carry on the work of the Congress.

Article IX

Amendment to Bylaws
Section 1.
The Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Steering Committee provided the amendment has been submitted in writing to the chairperson of the Steering Committee.
Section 2.
All proposed amendments to the Bylaws require a simple majority of the membership of the LPC.

Article X

Dues
Section 1.
The dues of the LPC shall be three dollars per individual, per calendar year.

Article XI

Section 1.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall guide the LPC in all cases to which no stipulations are provided in the bylaws.