Mid-America Forensic League Constitution
Mid-America Forensic League
Constitution
Article I. Name and Purpose
This organization shall be known as the Mid-America Forensic League. Its purpose is to sponsor low-cost one-day individual events tournaments at varying locations.
Article II. Mission Statement
The Mid-America Forensic League is dedicated to promoting forensic education, community, and advocacy among its members while offering low-cost one day tournaments in varying locations throughout the midwest.
Article III. Membership
Membership shall be open to any accredited 2 or 4 year degree granting college or university. Members shall be those institutions, which have paid their organizational dues.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. There shall be five elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and two at-large members who shall be coaches at member institutions. No two elected officers may be from the same school. Executive Committee positions will be elected at the Spring business meeting, at-large members will be elected at the Fall business meeting to ensure continuity in leadership.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, and Secretary shall constitute the Executive Committee and be elected to three-year terms. At-large members will be elected to one-year terms.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall appoint an Tournament Director, who must then be approved by the majority of the voting members. The Tournament Director may be re-appointed at the discretion of the Executive Committee and serves a three-year term.
Article V. Ratification
This constitution shall be in force as soon as representatives from the several colleges or universities specified in Article II affix their signatures.
Article VI. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the member schools. Electronic ballot must be used.
Mid-America Forensic League
By-laws
Section 1 - Membership
Colleges and Universities eligible for membership shall be invited by the Tournament Director. Any institution wishing to join may join at any time, and must pay membership dues to the Tournament Director. In order to vote, the school must have paid its membership dues.
Section 2 - Fees
Membership fees shall be 300.00 per school year. This fee covers all entries for all league-sponsored tournaments. Entry fees for non-member schools will be $8.00 per individual event entry. A non-member school may attend one MAFL swing per year without paying membership dues. Judging fees shall be 15.00 per uncovered individual event slot.
Section 3 - Tournaments
A. MAFL tournaments shall be one-day tournaments, and/or hosted asynchronously. The schedule should attempt to minimize housing and meal expenses for schools in attendance. Asynchronous tournaments will be held Tuesday to Friday.
B. The Executive Committee shall encourage site rotation to equalize school travel.
C. Tournament dates should not conflict with established tournaments in the region. However, individual events tournaments may conflict with debate tournaments, and vice-versa.
D. MAFL tournaments shall be open to member and non-member colleges and universities.
Section 4 - Individual Event Tournament Procedures
A. Each MAFL tournament shall offer all eleven AFA-NIET events. Additional events may be offered at the Executive Committee’s discretion. Two patterns with two preliminary rounds and one final round will be offered.
B. Each qualified judge will cover six entry slots. An undergraduate may judge if they have used up or forfeited their eligibility.
C. AFA standards will apply regarding eligibility to compete.
D. A contestant may enter no more than four events. There shall be a limit of no more than six entries from a school per event.
E. In preliminary rounds, contestants should be ranked 1st through 5th. In finals, contestants should be 1st through 6th (7th etc., if necessary).Contestants will be rated on a 1-25 scale.
F. The top six contestants in each event shall advance to the finals unless there are sixty or more, when a semi-final including the top twelve contestants would be held in the first final time period. The Tournament Director has the discretion to decide, based on the size of the tournament, the number of semifinalist and finalist that will advance (i.e. 5-7 finalists, 11-14 semifinalists, or determining final results from three prelim ballots instead).
G. Tabulation Procedures:Out-round participants will be determined by preliminary round results in the following order:
1. Low Cumulative Rank Total
2. High Cumulative Rate Total
3. High Cumulative Rank Using Reciprocal
a. 1st = 1
b. 2nd = .5
c. 3rd = .33
d. 4th = .25
e. 5th = .2
f. 6th = .16
Out-round placements will be determined by elimination round results in the following order:
1. Low Cumulative Rank Total
2. Judges’ Preference of Ranks
3. High Cumulative Rate Total
4. In the instance of a three way tie in rank and rate, judges’ preference will be used by:
a. Judges’ preferences with all three competitors.
b. One-on-one judges’ preference in dyads (eliminate from tie either winner or loser). Remaining two-way tie broken on judges’ preference of remaining competitors.
c. If no competitor wins 2 out of 3 judges’ preference, then move to high cumulative rank of reciprocal. If this distinguishes the three competitors then the ranks should be assigned. If a tie exists with reciprocals between 2 of the competitors still, then go back to one on one judges’ preferences.
H. Team sweepstakes shall be determined in the following manner:
1. For preliminary rounds, 2 points for each 1st rank, 1 point for each 2nd
2. In finals, 1st place shall be awarded 10 points; 2nd place, 8 points; 3rd place, 6 points; 4th place, 4 points; 5th place, 3 points; 6th place, 2 points; 7th place or lower, 1 point
I. Awards shall be presented to the top six contestants in each event. Team awards shall be presented to the top five schools. Ties for team awards will be broken in the following manner:
1. Numbers of 1st places in final placing: number of 2nd places or 3rd places if still tied
2. Number of finalists
3. Duplicate awards are encouraged for further ties
Section 5 - Responsibilities of Host Schools
The host schools are responsible for providing the following: competition rooms, a pool of hired judges, and a list of lodging and lunch options. Interested schools in hosting should coordinate with the Tournament Director.
Section 6 - Duties of Officers, Committee and Appointees
A. President: The President shall call business meetings as needed and shall preside at all business sessions. The President must call at least one business meeting per semester, to be held at a League tournament.
B. Vice President: The Vice President shall assume the duties of President in the latter’s absence, and in case of a vacancy, shall succeed the President.
C. Secretary: The Secretary shall assist the Tournament Director with the correspondence of the League, and keep minutes of all business meetings.
D. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee or those designated by the Executive Committee, and the Tournament Director shall comprise the tab room staff at MAFL tournaments. The Executive Committee shall draw up a calendar of League tournaments for the coming school year, which will be submitted to the membership for approval by the Spring Coaches' Meeting (majority vote required). The Executive Committee shall appoint a Tournament Director for a three-year term, and submit the decision to the membership for approval by the Spring Coaches' Meeting (majority vote required). The Executive Committee in conjunction with the Tournament Director are responsible for website maintenance, purchasing of awards, reviewing applications for the MAFL intern, and administrative upkeep of the league.
E. Tournament Director: The Tournament Director shall be in charge of the administration of all league tournaments, including: coordinating with host schools, sending invitations, receiving entries, making schematics, and running the tabulation room at the tournaments. The Tournament Director shall collect and have charge of all money of the league, and submit a report of the league’s finances to the members at least once a year.
F. MAFL Intern: The MAFL Intern will assist with tournament administration during the second day of MAFL Swings in the Spring Semester (i.e. running a ballot table, overseeing extemp prep, tabulating and more). A MAFL intern will be selected by the Executive Committee in conjunction with the At-Large members from a pool of applicants whose applications have been completed by the spring deadline.
Constitution
Article I. Name and Purpose
This organization shall be known as the Mid-America Forensic League. Its purpose is to sponsor low-cost one-day individual events tournaments at varying locations.
Article II. Mission Statement
The Mid-America Forensic League is dedicated to promoting forensic education, community, and advocacy among its members while offering low-cost one day tournaments in varying locations throughout the midwest.
Article III. Membership
Membership shall be open to any accredited 2 or 4 year degree granting college or university. Members shall be those institutions, which have paid their organizational dues.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. There shall be five elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and two at-large members who shall be coaches at member institutions. No two elected officers may be from the same school. Executive Committee positions will be elected at the Spring business meeting, at-large members will be elected at the Fall business meeting to ensure continuity in leadership.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, and Secretary shall constitute the Executive Committee and be elected to three-year terms. At-large members will be elected to one-year terms.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall appoint an Tournament Director, who must then be approved by the majority of the voting members. The Tournament Director may be re-appointed at the discretion of the Executive Committee and serves a three-year term.
Article V. Ratification
This constitution shall be in force as soon as representatives from the several colleges or universities specified in Article II affix their signatures.
Article VI. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the member schools. Electronic ballot must be used.
Mid-America Forensic League
By-laws
Section 1 - Membership
Colleges and Universities eligible for membership shall be invited by the Tournament Director. Any institution wishing to join may join at any time, and must pay membership dues to the Tournament Director. In order to vote, the school must have paid its membership dues.
Section 2 - Fees
Membership fees shall be 300.00 per school year. This fee covers all entries for all league-sponsored tournaments. Entry fees for non-member schools will be $8.00 per individual event entry. A non-member school may attend one MAFL swing per year without paying membership dues. Judging fees shall be 15.00 per uncovered individual event slot.
Section 3 - Tournaments
A. MAFL tournaments shall be one-day tournaments, and/or hosted asynchronously. The schedule should attempt to minimize housing and meal expenses for schools in attendance. Asynchronous tournaments will be held Tuesday to Friday.
B. The Executive Committee shall encourage site rotation to equalize school travel.
C. Tournament dates should not conflict with established tournaments in the region. However, individual events tournaments may conflict with debate tournaments, and vice-versa.
D. MAFL tournaments shall be open to member and non-member colleges and universities.
Section 4 - Individual Event Tournament Procedures
A. Each MAFL tournament shall offer all eleven AFA-NIET events. Additional events may be offered at the Executive Committee’s discretion. Two patterns with two preliminary rounds and one final round will be offered.
B. Each qualified judge will cover six entry slots. An undergraduate may judge if they have used up or forfeited their eligibility.
C. AFA standards will apply regarding eligibility to compete.
D. A contestant may enter no more than four events. There shall be a limit of no more than six entries from a school per event.
E. In preliminary rounds, contestants should be ranked 1st through 5th. In finals, contestants should be 1st through 6th (7th etc., if necessary).Contestants will be rated on a 1-25 scale.
F. The top six contestants in each event shall advance to the finals unless there are sixty or more, when a semi-final including the top twelve contestants would be held in the first final time period. The Tournament Director has the discretion to decide, based on the size of the tournament, the number of semifinalist and finalist that will advance (i.e. 5-7 finalists, 11-14 semifinalists, or determining final results from three prelim ballots instead).
G. Tabulation Procedures:Out-round participants will be determined by preliminary round results in the following order:
1. Low Cumulative Rank Total
2. High Cumulative Rate Total
3. High Cumulative Rank Using Reciprocal
a. 1st = 1
b. 2nd = .5
c. 3rd = .33
d. 4th = .25
e. 5th = .2
f. 6th = .16
Out-round placements will be determined by elimination round results in the following order:
1. Low Cumulative Rank Total
2. Judges’ Preference of Ranks
3. High Cumulative Rate Total
4. In the instance of a three way tie in rank and rate, judges’ preference will be used by:
a. Judges’ preferences with all three competitors.
b. One-on-one judges’ preference in dyads (eliminate from tie either winner or loser). Remaining two-way tie broken on judges’ preference of remaining competitors.
c. If no competitor wins 2 out of 3 judges’ preference, then move to high cumulative rank of reciprocal. If this distinguishes the three competitors then the ranks should be assigned. If a tie exists with reciprocals between 2 of the competitors still, then go back to one on one judges’ preferences.
H. Team sweepstakes shall be determined in the following manner:
1. For preliminary rounds, 2 points for each 1st rank, 1 point for each 2nd
2. In finals, 1st place shall be awarded 10 points; 2nd place, 8 points; 3rd place, 6 points; 4th place, 4 points; 5th place, 3 points; 6th place, 2 points; 7th place or lower, 1 point
I. Awards shall be presented to the top six contestants in each event. Team awards shall be presented to the top five schools. Ties for team awards will be broken in the following manner:
1. Numbers of 1st places in final placing: number of 2nd places or 3rd places if still tied
2. Number of finalists
3. Duplicate awards are encouraged for further ties
Section 5 - Responsibilities of Host Schools
The host schools are responsible for providing the following: competition rooms, a pool of hired judges, and a list of lodging and lunch options. Interested schools in hosting should coordinate with the Tournament Director.
Section 6 - Duties of Officers, Committee and Appointees
A. President: The President shall call business meetings as needed and shall preside at all business sessions. The President must call at least one business meeting per semester, to be held at a League tournament.
B. Vice President: The Vice President shall assume the duties of President in the latter’s absence, and in case of a vacancy, shall succeed the President.
C. Secretary: The Secretary shall assist the Tournament Director with the correspondence of the League, and keep minutes of all business meetings.
D. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee or those designated by the Executive Committee, and the Tournament Director shall comprise the tab room staff at MAFL tournaments. The Executive Committee shall draw up a calendar of League tournaments for the coming school year, which will be submitted to the membership for approval by the Spring Coaches' Meeting (majority vote required). The Executive Committee shall appoint a Tournament Director for a three-year term, and submit the decision to the membership for approval by the Spring Coaches' Meeting (majority vote required). The Executive Committee in conjunction with the Tournament Director are responsible for website maintenance, purchasing of awards, reviewing applications for the MAFL intern, and administrative upkeep of the league.
E. Tournament Director: The Tournament Director shall be in charge of the administration of all league tournaments, including: coordinating with host schools, sending invitations, receiving entries, making schematics, and running the tabulation room at the tournaments. The Tournament Director shall collect and have charge of all money of the league, and submit a report of the league’s finances to the members at least once a year.
F. MAFL Intern: The MAFL Intern will assist with tournament administration during the second day of MAFL Swings in the Spring Semester (i.e. running a ballot table, overseeing extemp prep, tabulating and more). A MAFL intern will be selected by the Executive Committee in conjunction with the At-Large members from a pool of applicants whose applications have been completed by the spring deadline.