What right does the Local Governance Documents Review Committee have to review chapter governance documents?

CTA Standing Rule 4-1 and NEA Bylaws 8-7 require that the governance documents of all chapters and affiliates shall be reviewed by the Association at least once every five years to determine compliance with minimum standards for chartering and affiliation.

How do chapters communicate with the Local Governance Documents Review Committee?

Communications to the Local Governance Documents Review Committee should be addressed as follows:

Local Governance Documents Review Committee

Attn: Carole Brunner
California Teachers Association
1705 Murchison Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010

How can a chapter know if its governance documents meet current chartering standards?

Request a review by the Local Governance Documents Review Committee by submitting your current governance documents.

Can chapters get help locally on governance documents?

Yes, contact your CTA Primary Contact Staff, your CTA Regional Manager, or the Committee for assistance.

Why do CTA chartered chapters have to meet NEA requirements?

California Teachers Association is a state affiliate of the NEA and in order to meet its obligations, CTA must require its members and chartered chapters to comply with NEA standards. Further, CTA chapters must be affiliated with the NEA as required by CTA Standing Rule 4-1.

Why must chapter governance documents include provision for the "one-person one-vote" principle?

This guarantees equal representation and is a requirement of CTA under Standing Rule 4-1a and also of NEA under Bylaws 8-7-a.

What is meant by "one-person – one-vote"?

NEA Bylaw 8-7 requires NEA affiliates to apply the one-person – one-vote principle for representation on its governing bodies, with some exceptions.

NEA Standing Rule 13C defines the principle as follows: One-person – one-vote principle shall mean a voting procedure by which the vote of each member of the constituency has equal weight, so that in the elected governing body each delegate represents approximately the same number of constituents as each and every other delegate.

Why are district negotiators excluded from membership?

There is a conflict of interest, i.e., a negotiator cannot represent an employer negotiating wages, hours of work, employment conditions, etc., and still fulfill one of the primary purposes of the chapter which is to represent its members in employer-employee relations. NEA Bylaws exclude these people from membership.

Why use Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, latest edition, as the parliamentary authority?

It is the most widely accepted authority on parliamentary procedures.

What is meant by Open Nominations?

Open Nominations means that all active members who meet qualifications for an elective position and who choose to run for that position shall have their names on the ballot.

What is meant by Secret Ballot?

A secret ballot means that a written or printed ballot is used with all eligible voters being given the right to vote in secret.

Who is entitled to vote in chapter elections?

All active members shall be eligible to vote in chapter elections except where the election is restricted to a specific group of active members, i.e., such as elections for faculty representatives or directors representing geographic or level constituencies.

Why is it necessary to have special elections to fill vacancies in elected offices? Why can’t the President appoint someone to fill a vacancy?

CTA/NEA rules require that elected persons serve in elective governance positions. Therefore, when a vacancy occurs, a special election is the only way the electorate has to ensure that the office will be filled by a person representing a majority of the electorate. An appointee of the President only represents the President.

What is meant by Ex-Officio?

Ex-officio means by virtue of office. A person serving on a representative council by virtue of an office held is serving ex-officio and has all of the rights of a regular elected council member, including the right to vote, unless designated "non-voting."

Why can’t appointed committee chairpersons serve on the Executive Board and/or Representative Council?

CTA/NEA rules require that all voting members of governance bodies be elected by the membership they represent. Therefore, appointed persons may serve on representative councils and executive boards in an ex-officio, non-voting status.

What is meant by "Due Process and Appellant Procedure" in a member discipline article?

When a member is disciplined (see CTA Bylaws Article III, Section 7.b), the member is entitled to "due process" which includes the right to select representation, to present evidence on his/her behalf, to confront and cross-examine his/her accuser and any other witnesses against him/her, and to examine and refute all evidence considered by the hearing panel, whether or not such evidence is presented at a hearing. The member has the right of appeal on the decision of the hearing panel to the governing body. (See Standing Rule 5-6 in the CTA Organizational Handbook)