Bylaw Amendment Proposal 2023-2024

Article and Title: Article VII, Section 6

Currently reads as:

Officers of Oklahoma DECA shall be elected by a majority vote of the voting delegates in their division present at CDC, and attend the election session.  The top six high school division candidates receiving majority vote during the election session, shall be named to the high school division State Executive Council. From these top six, those that designated to run for President will be placed on a ballot, and the candidate receiving majority vote, shall serve as President. The State Chartered Association Advisor shall assign all remaining Vice President Officer Positions. Placement will be based on a review of the officers’ credentials, interview panel recommendations, and preference of office. The top three collegiate candidates receiving majority vote during the election session, shall be named to the collegiate division State Executive Council. From these top three, those that designated to run for President will be placed on a ballot, and the candidate receiving majority vote, shall serve as President. The State Chartered Association Advisor shall assign all remaining Vice President Officer Positions.

Proposed Amendment:

Officers of Oklahoma DECA shall be elected by a majority vote of the voting delegates in their division present at CDC, and attend the election session.  The top six high school division candidates receiving majority vote during the election session, shall be named to the high school division State Executive Council. From these top six, those that designated to run for President will be placed on a ballot, and the candidate receiving majority vote, shall serve as President. The State Chartered Association Advisor shall assign all remaining Vice President Officer Positions. Placement will be based on a review of the officers’ credentials, interview panel recommendations, and preference of office. The top three collegiate candidates receiving majority vote during the election session, shall be named to the collegiate division State Executive Council. From these top three, those that designated to run for President will be placed on a ballot, and the candidate receiving majority vote, shall serve as President. The State Chartered Association Advisor shall assign all remaining Vice President Officer Positions.

Rationale:

Currently, any student who runs for President but is not elected by majority vote to that position, is automatically eliminated from serving in any other state DECA leadership capacity for that year’s term. For the betterment of the entire council, this bylaw amendment will enable all students running for a position on the State Executive Council equal opportunity to serve in a leadership role.