CONSTITUTION OF THE (INSERT NAME HERE) CHESS LEAGUE    ARTICLE I.  NAME The name of this organization shall be the (insert name here) Chess League.   ARTICLE II. PURPOSES What is the purpose of your league? (To encourage play, organize a league and/or determine seeding for the state championship.) ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP Who can belong to the league? How is this determined?   ARTICLE IV. DUES Will you assess dues?  How much? What will they be used for?  Awards or facility use fee, etc? When are they due?  Who is responsible for collecting and disbursing league funds?  What happens to teams who don't pay?) ARTICLE V. MEETINGS When will the advisors meet? What will be the purpose?  Setting schedules, determining dues, ammending the league constitution, etc? Will you hold special meetings during the season for schedule changes, disciplinary actions against players or teams, etc? Who may vote at the meetings? What is considered a majority vote?  2/3 ?  Or something else?   ARTICLE VI. OFFICER Will you have a league director?  A league secretary or treasurer? Or a combined position? Is there a term of office? What will be their duties?  (Collecting dues, accounting for league expenditures, maintaining standings, reporting news to the advisors, and serving as liaison with the State Executive Secretary.) How are they elected?   ARTICLE VII.  ELIGIBILITY Will you only allow high school teams in your league? What will be the eligibility requirements for players on the teams?  (A certain grade level, attendance at the school, homeschoolers, etc.) If you have JV teams, what will be their requirements?   ARTICLE VIII. COMPETITION Section 1. RULES What rules will you follow? USCF or something else? Who will arbitrate disagreements during matches?  Who has the final decision? What if that person is unavailable?    Section 2. MATCHES When will matches take place? Who will decide this? What happens if a match must be rescheduled? Is there a time limit? What happens if a team fails to appear?   Section 3. TEAMS How many players are on a team? How to determine board order. What happens to teams who stack their boards? Who decides this? What happens if less than five team members are available? Will boards move up and fill the vacancy?   Section 4. NOTATION Is notation mandatory?   Section 5. CLOCKS Are clocks mandatory? What if there aren't enough clocks available? Are digital clocks preferred?   Section 6. TIME CONTROLS What are the time controls on the games? What if someone is expected, but is late?   Section 7. COLOR How will you determine who is white and who is black?  (Generally, the team listed first in the pairings is considered white with boards 1, 3 & 5 playing white, while boards 2 & 4 play black and vice versa on the other team) What kinds of sets will you allow?   Section 8. TEAM CAPTAINS    • When and for what should players talk to their captains?  Do they have to speak in front of the other team?  • Do players have to take their captain's advice?     • Who is allowed to talk to the team?  If advisors and spectators are not allowed to talk or communicate, what will happen if they do? What kinds of things are considered communication?  Talking, hand gestures, facial expressions, etc?   Section 9. ADVISORS What are an advisors responsibilities? Is there a code of conduct? Must the team advisor or his designee be present at matches? What happens if an advisor doesn't do what they are supposed to?   Section 10. LEAGUE STANDINGS / TIES How will you decide the league champion if there is a tie?  Match scores, board scores, blitz, toin coss?   ARTICLE IX  AWARDS When will you give out awards?  May the league director add awards if he/she chooses?   ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS When and how may this constitution be amended?  Will it have to be at the annual meeting, will you allow changes by mail or email?  What kind of a majority do you need to make changes?