By-Laws

ARTICLE I - NAME AND MISSION STATEMENT

Section 1.     Name: the foregoing documents shall be known as the Kaw Nation Constitution Committee Bylaws. Section 2.     The mission of the Constitution Committee is to provide and select the optimal approach to work as a volunteer committee for the General Council to evaluate, clarify, and amend the current 1990 Constitution of the Kaw Nation to increase effectiveness and to promote awareness of the Constitution.

ARTICLE II - AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
Section 1.     Authority: The Kaw Nation Constitution Committee was created and formed by the Kaw Nation Executive Council pursuant to Article II, Section 4 (a) (6) of the Constitution of the Kaw Nation, as ratified on July 31, 1990, and approved by the Secretary of Interior on August 14, 1990.
Section 2.     Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to provide input, guidance, and to facilitate the Constitution Reform Process and completion of the revisions of the Kaw Nation Constitution, Kaw Nation by-laws, ordinances, codes or policies and procedures of Kaw Nation tribal government commissions, boards, and committees. Further, the purpose of the Committee is to ensure proper representation and education of tribal members in the Constitution Reform Process to bring forth sustainable tribal government for future generations of the Kaw Nation.

ARTICLE III - DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.    Definitions:
    a.     "Constitution": shall mean the Constitution of the Kaw Nation.
    b.     "Executive Council": shall mean the legislative body of the Kaw Nation which is empowered to act on all matters and subjects in accordance with the Constitution.
    c.     "General Council": shall mean all enrolled members of majority age of the Kaw Nation and as further defined by the Constitution.
    d.     "Committee": shall mean the Constitution Committee as created by the Kaw Nation Executive Council and further as defined by these bylaws.
    e.     "Member": shall mean a Kaw Nation tribal member pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the Kaw Nation.

ARTICLE IV - COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE
Section 1.     Qualification of Members: A member of the Committee shall be an enrolled member of the Kaw Nation.
Section 2.     Number of Members: The Committee shall consist of all tribal members who attend a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Committee.
Section 3.     Voting: All tribal members in attendance shall have a vote on matters before the Committee.
Section 4.     Duration: The Committee shall exist and function for a term consisting of the time it requires to complete the Constitution Reform Process or as otherwise designated by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
Section 1.     Selection of Officers: The officers of the Kaw Nation Constitution Committee shall consist of: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary. After proper approval of these bylaws and at the next regularly scheduled meeting a date for officer elections shall be set, the Officers shall be selected from the Members present at the Committee by an affirmative majority vote of the Members present.
Section 2.     Qualifications of Officers: The Officer should have a strong commitment to the mission and purpose of the Committee and have the ability to attend most meetings of the Committee.
Section 3.     Duties of Officers:
    a.     Chairman: The Chairman shall preside at all Constitution Committee meetings and shall be responsible for the efficiency and functionality of the Committee.
    b.     Vice-Chairman: The Vice-Chairman shall preside over meetings and fulfill the functions of Chairman in the event of the Chairman's absence or disability.
    c.     Secretary: The Secretary shall coordinate with the Chairman to ensure that notices of all meetings are sent to all members in a timely manner and that meeting notices are posted at Kaw Nation headquarters. The Secretary shall record minutes of all meetings, and coordinate with the Committee Chairman to ensure that copies of the minutes are forwarded to the Kaw Nation Chairman/CEO and members of the Executive Council.
    d.     In the case that all of the officers are absent from a meeting, the Chairman shall appoint by written letter an acting Chairman in advance of the meeting; and if an acting Chairman is not appointed by the Chairman, the Committee shall select an acting Chairman from the Members present by majority vote of members and a quorum being present. Any acting Chairman appointed pursuant to this provision shall only have authority to act as Chairman during the meeting in which he/she was appointed.
    e.     Any of the above duties may be assigned to an employee of the Kaw Nation. However, any employee of the Kaw Nation shall not be considered a Member or allowed to vote unless said employee is a Kaw Nation tribal member.
Section 4.     Vacancies in Office: Should an officer of the Constitution Committee be unable to complete his/her duties and/or is removed from his/her duties, a replacement officer shall be selected at the next regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote of Members present with a quorum being present. The Vice-Chairman will automatically succeed as Chairman if they are unable to serve. A new Vice-Chairman will then be selected in accordance with this provision.
Section 5.     Removal of Officers: The removal of an Officer may be by a majority vote of the Committee, however, an Officer shall only be removed for three (3) consecutive absences from regular or special called meeting of the Committee. Removal pursuant to this provision only allows for a Member to be relieved from his/her duties as an Officer and has no affect on said Member's right to attend and vote at meetings of the Committee.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1.     Regular Meetings: The Kaw Nation Constitution Committee shall meet at least once a month at such place, time and date as is designated by the Committee. The meeting date may be set by the Committee at the previous regular or special meeting. All meetings shall be open to all Kaw Nation tribal members.
Section 2.     Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called at any time by the Committee Chairman, at the request of three Committee Members, with the concurrence of the Kaw Nation Tribal Chairman/CEO, or upon the formal request of the Executive Council. Special meetings shall be open to all Kaw Nation tribal members.
Section 3.     Meeting Notices: Notice of all Constitution Committee meetings must be posted at Kaw Nation administrative headquarters at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.
Section 4.     Quorum: A quorum shall consist of five (5) Members.
Section 5.     Compensation: All Members are considered volunteers. Payment for any per diem, costs and/or travel associated with the Committee must be approved and allocated in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Kaw Nation.
Section 6.     All resolutions and minutes of meetings of the Committee shall be considered the property of the Kaw Nation and shall be kept on file in the Tribal Constitution Reform office. Such records shall, upon reasonable request, be open for inspection by tribal members at such office during regular office hours. A copy of all minutes and resolutions shall be provided to the Kaw Nation Chairman/CEO's office and the Kaw Nation Executive Council.

ARTICLE VII - RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1.     The responsibilities of the Kaw Nation Constitution Committee shall be as follows:
    a.     Members shall be required to make a strong commitment to attend all meetings, trainings, and retreats of the Committee.
    b.     Members shall act in a respectful and honest manner and shall be required to respect the opinions of others even if they disagree with the views of another.
    c.     Members are encouraged to solicit the opinions of other Kaw Nation tribal members in regards to constitutional changes and bring these ideas to the committee.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 1.     Amendments: The Constitution Committee Bylaws may be amended at any time as deemed necessary and in accordance with the following procedures:
    a.     The Committee by majority vote may recommend proposed amendments to these Bylaws.
    b.     The Committee shall in a timely manner submit such Bylaws to the Executive Council for approval and such amendments shall have no force and effect until approved by the Executive Council.