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​​Constitution of the Catholic Academy of Liturgy

[approved 3 January 2002]

Article 1: Name

1.1 The name of this organization is the Catholic Academy of Liturgy [abbreviated CAL].

Article 2: Goals and Purposes

2.1 The CAL is an association of Catholic specialists in liturgy.

2.2 It is the Academy's purpose

2.2.1 to engage in research, publication and dialogue concerning the Christian liturgy, east and west, past and present

2.2.1.1 in order to promote the principles articulated in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and subsequent documents, especially the principle of full conscious and active participation, and

2.2.1.2 to promote leadership that embraces these principles.

Article 3: Admission

3:1 Admission to the CAL is open to those Catholics who have met the membership criteria of the North American Academy of Liturgy and been admitted to that body.

Article 4: Officers

4:1 The executive committee

4.1.1 An executive committee of three [3] individuals coordinates the CAL.

4.1.2 This three-person committee works collaboratively, dividing responsibilities among themselves or delegating them, as they deem necessary for the well being of the CAL and its work.

4.1.3 The longest serving member of the committee serves as convener of the executive committee.

4:2 Elections and terms of Office

4.2.1 Members of the executive committee are ordinarily elected for a 3-year term.

4.2.2 Terms of the executive committee are staggered, so that every year one member of the executive committee is replaced by a newly elected committee member.

Article 5: Committees

5:1 The executive committee is authorized to establish whatever committees are necessary for the well being of the CAL and its work.

Article 6: Meetings

6.1 The Annual meeting: the annual meeting of the CAL is ordinarily held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the North American Academy of Liturgy, according to the time and place designated by the latter.

Article 7: Amendments

7:1 Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be presented in writing to any member of the executive committee at least sixty (60) days prior to the next annual meeting of the CAL. The executive committee is charged with circulating the proposed amendment(s) to the membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of that same meeting.

7:2 A two-third majority vote of the total number of members present and voting at the annual CAL meeting is required for approval of amendments to the Constitution.

Article 8: Bylaws

8.1 Bylaws may be adopted by simple majority vote of members present and voting at the annual CAL meeting. Article 9: quorum

9.1 A quorum for the annual academy meeting will be one-half the total number of members plus one, with the exception of article 8.

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Bylaws of the Constitution of the
Catholic Academy of Liturgy

[Approved 1 June 2005]

Article 1: Election of new members of the executive committee
[January 2004]

1.1 A two-person nominating committee will be composed of the outgoing member of the executive committee and one other member of CAL appointed by the executive committee.

1.2 The nominating committee shall call for recommendations for nominations from CAL members by 1 September and fashion a slate of at least 2 nominees willing to serve on the executive committee.

1.3 A slate of nominees, with biographical data, shall be conveyed to the membership at least 30 days before the annual meeting.

1.4 Additional nominations may be made from the floor if the nominee has given prior consent, a printed sheet with biographical data is available for distribution to the membership, and two CAL members are prepared to second the nomination.

1.5 In the event one person on the first ballot receives one more than one-half of all votes cast, she or he will be elected. If no one person receives more than one-half of the votes cast, there will be a runoff between the two persons with the highest number of votes. The candidate receiving the majority will be elected.

1.6 In case of a tie [either on the first or second ballot], the choice between the candidates shall be decided by lot.

Article 2: Issuing an Academy Position Statement
or Recommendation for Action [January 2005]

2.1 The initiative for a statement or recommendation for action can come from any member of the academy.

2.1.1 Any member can submit a proposed statement or recommendation. The draft should not exceed 1,000 words. The draft should make clear the intended audience.

2.1.2 The proposer need obtain a second from another member of the academy.

2.1.3 The proposal is submitted by e-mail to the executive committee.

2.1.4 The executive committee decides if the matter at hand is significant enough for the action of the academy as a body and if the proposal is consonant with the goals and purposes of CAL.

2.1.5 If the proposal meets those criteria, the executive committee determines whether the proposal should be presented at the annual meeting or more immediately through the Internet to the academy membership.

2.2. If the proposal can be considered at the annual meeting

2.2.1 The proposal is circulated to members prior to the meeting for consideration.

2.2.2 The item is placed on the agenda and time is given for discussion and amendment.

2.2.2 A simple majority vote of the current membership is required to approve the proposal.

2.2.3 If a simple majority of the current membership is not present for the meeting, or if the proposal fails to achieve a simple majority at the meeting, the executive committee can extend the vote by e-mail as noted below in 2.3.4 and following.

2.2.4 If the proposal is passed, the executive committee sends it to the appropriate recipients in the name of the academy.

2.3 If the proposal requires more immediate action between annual meetings 2.3.1 The executive committee posts the proposal to the members-only of the CAL website with the name and e-mail of the author of the proposal and the same information for all those who have seconded the proposal.

2.3.2 The executive committee notifies the academy membership by e-mail to review the proposal and post any amendments to the proposal within two weeks via the internet.

2.3.3 The executive committee posts the final version of the proposal online, notifies the academy membership that the proposal is available for final consideration, and calls for a vote.

2.3.4 Members submit their vote electronically as directed within 7 days of the posting of the final proposal.

2.3.5 A simple majority of the current membership is required to carry the proposal

2.3.6 If the proposal is passed, the executive committee sends it to the appropriate recipients in the name of the academy.

2.3.8. The executive committee retains hard copies of all votation, which are deposited in the archives along with the history and various drafts of the proposal.

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