CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE GEORGIA 4-H COUNCIL

ARTICLE I - NAME AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1. The name of the organization shall be THE GEORGIA 4-H COUNCIL.

Section 2. The Georgia 4-H Council shall be supported by the District 4-H Councils, one in each of the Extension Districts.  Each
                shall bear the name of the district in which  it is located, such as "Southwest District 4-H Council."

Section 3. The Georgia 4-H Council shall also be supported by County 4-H Councils, one in each of 159 counties, each bearing the
                name of the County in which it is organized, such as "Clarke County 4-H Council."

Section 4. The following terms shall have the meaning stated with such term:

1. County Board shall mean the officers and directors elected by the County 4-H Council.
2. District Adult Volunteer Advisors shall mean the volunteer leaders appointed by the Program DevelopmentSpecialist to advise the District Board.
3. District Board shall mean the officers and directors elected by the District 4-H Council.
4. 4-H District(s) shall mean the multiple County areas as defined by the State 4-H Faculty and 4-H Staff.
5. 4-H Staff shall mean the professional staff persons of The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Cooperative Extension Service whose responsibility it is to direct the 4-H Club activities atthe County level.
6. Junior 4-H'er shall mean a 4-H Club member in the 7th or 8th grade or between the ages of 12 and 13.
7. Local 4-H Club shall mean the various 4-H Clubs within the counties.
8. Non-Voting Delegate shall mean a 4-H Club member attending a Council meeting at any level that has not beenselected to be a Voting Delegate.
9. Program Development Specialist shall mean the professional staff person of The University of Georgia College ofAgricultural and Environmental Sciences/Cooperative Extension Service/4-H/and Youth whose responsibility it is todirect the 4-H Club activities at the District and 4-H Region level.
10.Senior District Project Achievement shall mean the annual meeting of 4-H Club members in their respective District for 4-H project competition.
11.Senior 4-H'ers shall mean a 4-H Club member in the 9th - 12th grade or between the ages of 14 and 19.
12.State Board shall mean the officers and directors elected by the Georgia 4-H Council.
13.State Board Volunteer Advisors shall mean the volunteer leaders appointed by the State 4-H Leader to advise theState Board.
14.State 4-H Faculty shall mean the professional, state level staff of The University of Georgia College of Agriculturaland Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service 4-H/Youth.
15.State 4-H Leader shall mean the administrator and program leader of The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service 4-H/Youth.
16.Voting Delegate shall mean a 4-H Club member attending a Council meeting at any level that has been selected to vote for the officers and directors.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND POLICY

Section 1. The purpose of the Georgia 4-H Council is to promote 4-H work in all of its phases in the State of Georgia and to assist
                the 4-H Staff in developing plans for 4-H work and the execution of these plans in the State, Districts, and Counties.

Section 2. The Georgia 4-H Council and the several subordinate Councils do not discriminate based on gender, race, color, national
                origin, or disability.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

State
Section 1. Each 4-H District will have a maximum number of voting delegates at the annual Georgia 4-H Council business meeting. The maximum number will be 
determined by the district with the largest number of counties times 4 votes.  For example, if the largest district has 40 counties, the maximum number of votes                 for all districts if 160 votes. Counties are encouraged to have four (4) Voting Delegates representing the County 4-H Council.  The Voting Delegatesshall
 automatically become members of the Georgia 4-H Council.  Voting Delegates must be Senior 4-H'ers inSeptember of the calendar year, and/or have not passed                 their 19th birthday and must be currently enrolled in 4-H. Certification of the maximum  Voting Delegates shall be the responsibility of the Program Development                 Specialist for the 4-H District.  To fill the Voting Delegate allocation for the 4-H District, a County 4-H Council may have up to six (6)Non-Voting Delegates who
may become Voting Delegates in addition to the four (4) predetermined Voting Delegates. Such additional Voting Delegates must be approved by the Program                 Development Specialist for the 4-H district.

Section 2. Members of the State Board and District Boards are members of the Georgia 4-H Council.

Section 3. State Board members and District Board members may be Voting Delegates at the annual Georgia 4-H Council business  meeting as representatives of their
                County  4-H Council.

District
Section 1. Each County shall have a maximum of six Voting Delegates representing the County 4-H Council at the District 4-HCouncil business meeting held at the Senior
                District Project Achievement meeting.  The Voting Delegatesmust be Senior 4-H'ers in September of the calendar year, and have not passed their 19th birthday
                and must be currently enrolled in 4-H.

Section 2. Members of the District Board shall become members of the Georgia 4-H Council following their election to office and installation to the District Board.

County
Section 1. 4-H members elected to any office in a Local 4-H Club are members of the County 4-H Council.

Section 2. Other 4-H'ers may be eligible to become members of the County 4-H Council as approved by the County Executive Committee as defined in Article IV, County,

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
State
Section 1. The Georgia 4-H Council shall be governed by nine member State Board.  The person receiving the highest number ofvotes will be the President of the Georgia   4-H Council.  The person receiving the second most votes will be the Vice President; Each  of the 4-H Districts shall elect an individual to represent their 4-H District  on the State Board.  A State Board member must be a Senior 4-H'er inSeptember of the current year, and not have passed their 19th birthday, is  currently enrolled in 4-H and will notgraduate during the current calendar year.

Section 2. The State Board members' term shall be from the annual Georgia 4-H Council business meeting to the next annualGeorgia 4-H Council business meeting.

Section 3. The State Board members are eligible to serve only one term.

Section 4. The Georgia 4-H Council shall have a State Executive Committee consisting of the State Board, the District Boardpresidents, the State Board Volunteer
                Advisors and the State 4-H Leader.

Section 5. A State Board member is not eligible to be a District Board member while serving as a State Board member.

District
Section 1. The District 4-H Council shall be governed by an eight member District Board.  The person receiving the highest number
                of votes will be the President of the District 4-H Council; the second highest number of votes will be the Vice President.
                A District Board member must be a Senior 4-H'er in September of the current year, and will not have passed their 19th
                birthday, is currently enrolled in 4-H and will not graduate during the current calendar year.  Other officers of the District
                Board may be elected from within the District Board as needed.

Section 2. The District Board members' term shall be from the annual District Board member installation meeting to the next District
                Board member installation meeting.

Section 3. The District Board members are eligible to serve only one term.

Section 4. The District 4-H Council shall have a District Executive Committee consisting of the District Board members, District
                Adult Volunteer Advisors, the Program Development Specialist and the State 4-H Leader.

Section 5. Junior 4-H'ers may be elected at the discretion of the Program Development Specialists to serve on a Junior 4-H District
                Board.
County
Section 1. Each County 4-H Council should have a President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary, Reporter and Parliamentarian.

Section 2. Each County 4-H Council should have a County Executive Committee consisting of the President, two Vice Presidents,
                Secretary, Reporter, Parliamentarian, and the 4-H Staff serving the County.

Section 3. Project or committee chairmen should be appointed by the County Executive Committee as the program demands.

Section 4. The County 4-H Council Officers shall serve a one year term immediately following their election.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS
State
Section 1. The State Board shall be elected at the regular annual business meeting of the Georgia 4-H Council.

Section 2. Only Voting Delegates may vote.

Section 3. The State Executive Committee shall nominate persons for election to the next State Board.

Section 4. All applicants who meet qualifications outlined in Article IV, State, Section 1, above, qualifications as outlined by the
                State Executive Committee in the officer candidate application form and are approved by their 4-H Staff will be nominated.

Section 5. In addition to the persons nominated by the State Executive Committee, nominations from the floor will be recognized by
                the President.  A completed candidate application form must accompany the nomination.

Section 6. Election shall be by secret ballot.  All candidates shall run in the state-wide officer election.  The five candidates
                receiving the largest number of votes in the state-wide officer election shall be the State Board officers.  A subsequent
                4-H District election shall be held in each of the  4-H Districts.  The candidate receiving the largest number of votes
                from within the 4-H District election shall be the State Board member for that 4-H District.  Candidates in the 4-H District
                election must have qualified and run in the state-wide officer election and may only run in the 4-H District in which they
                are a 4-H member.  Run-off elections shall be held as necessary to break a tie.

District
Section 1. The District Board shall be elected at the annual District 4-H Project Achievement meeting.

Section 2. Only Voting Delegates may vote.

Section 3. The District Executive Committee shall nominate persons for election to the next District Board .

Section 4. All qualified persons are eligible for nomination and will be nominated by the District Board.

Section 5. In addition to the person nominated by the District Executive Committee, nominations from the floor will be recognized by
                the President.  A completed candidate application form provided by the 4-H Staff must accompany the nomination.

Section 6. Election shall be by secret ballot.  The eight candidates receiving the largest number of votes will be the District Board.
                Run-off elections shall be held as necessary to break a tie.

Section 7. All applicants who meet the qualifications outlined in Article IV, District, Section 1 above, qualifications as outlined by the
                District Executive Committee in the candidate application form and are approved by their 4-H Staff will be nominated.
County
Section 1. Officers of the County 4-H Council shall be elected annually at a time designated by the County 4-H Council and
                4-H Staff.

Section 2. The County Executive Committee shall nominate the County 4-H Council officers.

Section 3. In addition to those nominations by the County Executive Committee, nominations from the floor will be recognized by
                the President.

Section 4. Election shall be by secret ballot.  The candidate for each office receiving the  highest number of votes will be elected.

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
State
Section 1. The President shall preside at all Georgia 4-H Council business meetings, State Executive Committee meetings, appoint
                committees, and perform usual duties of a presiding officer.

Section 2. The Vice President shall act in the capacity of the President in the absence of the latter or when called to occupy the
                chair by the President.

Section 3 The members of the State Board shall share the duties of presiding at non business meetings on a rotating basis.

District
Section 1. The President shall preside at all District 4-H Council business meetings, District Executive Committee meetings,
                appoint committees and perform usual duties of a presiding officer.

Section 2. The Vice President shall act in the capacity of the President in the absence of the latter or when called to occupy the
                chair by the President.

Section 3. The members of the District Board shall share the duties of presiding at non business meetings on a rotating basis.

County
Section 1. The President should preside at all County 4-H Council business meetings, County Executive Committee
                meetings, appoint committees and perform usual duties of a presiding officer.

Section 2. The Vice President should act in the capacity of the President in the absence of the latter or when called to occupy
                the chair of the President.

Section 3. The Secretary should keep the minutes of all county meetings, County Executive Committee meetings, reports of various
                committees, a record of all motions, whether adopted or defeated, and attend to all correspondence.

Section 4. The Reporter, with the help and guidance of the 4-H Staff, should regularly contribute news articles of interest from the
                County 4-H Council to Georgia 4-H Council publications, and contribute regularly to the local county newspaper on
                county wide events.

Section 5. The Parliamentarian should serve in an advisory capacity to the President, hold the assemblage to the order of business
                and settle all questions concerning Parliamentary Procedure.

Section 6. Additional duties may be assigned as needed by the County Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
State
Section 1. There shall be one annual Georgia 4-H Council business meeting during the year at a time and place designated by the
                State Executive Committee.

Section 2. Call meetings may be held on call of the State 4-H Leader.

Section 3. The program for the annual meeting shall be planned by the State Executive Committee and State 4-H Faculty.

District
Section 1. There shall be at least one annual District 4-H Council business meeting during the year at the time and place of the
                Senior District 4-H Project Achievement Meeting.

Section 2. Call meetings may be held on the call of the Program Development Specialist.

Section 3. The program for the annual District 4-H Council business meeting shall be planned by the District Executive Committee.
                There shall be one leadership training meeting for the District Board members following their election.  The time and
                place shall be determined by the Program development Specialist and State 4-H Faculty.

County
Section 1. There should be at least one County 4-H Council business meeting each quarter during the year at a time and place
                designated by the County Executive Committee.

Section 2. Call meetings may be held on the call of the County 4-H Council President and the 4-H Staff.

Section 3. Programs for the regular meetings should be planned by the County Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII - REPORTS
State
The annual report of the President shall be given at the annual Georgia 4-H Council business meeting.  This report shall cover the activities of the Georgia 4-H Council.

District
The annual report of the President shall be given at the annual District 4-H Council business meeting.  This report shall cover the activities of the District 4-H Councils.

County
The annual report of the President should be given at the annual County 4-H recognition meeting.  This report should cover the activities of the County 4-H Council.

ARTICLE IX - BY-LAWS

Section 1. The official motto for the several 4-H Councils shall be the National 4-H motto- "To make the best better."

Section 2. The official colors for the several 4-H Councils shall be green and white.

Section 3. The official emblem for the several 4-H Councils shall be the National 4-H emblem, the green four leaf clover bearing a white "H" on each leaf and should be used
                in accordance with policies and regulations set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Section 4. The official pledge for the several 4-H Councils shall be the National 4-H Pledge:
                "I Pledge: My Head to clearer thinking,my Heart to greater loyalty,my Hands to larger service,and my Health to better
                living For my Club, my Community, my Country and my World."

ARTICLE X - RATIFICATION
Section 1. The ratification of a new Constitution and By-laws shall be by a simple majority vote of the Voting Delegates at the
                annual business meeting of the Georgia 4-H Council, subject to the approval of the State 4-H Leader.

Section 2. This Constitution and By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Voting Delegates at the annual
                business meeting of the Georgia 4-H Council, subject to the approval of the State 4-H Leader.

Section 3. This Constitution and these By-laws shall be effective immediately upon the simple majority vote of the Voting Delegates
                at the annual business meeting of the Georgia 4-H Council and signature of the Georgia 4-H Council President and the
                State 4-H Leader.

This Constitution and these By-laws were duly ratified by the Georgia 4-H Council June 25, 2004 at the Georgia 4-H Council Meeting held at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Eatonton, Georgia.