Association of Salesian Cooperators – USA West

Regulations of the Congress

November 20, 2022

Before the Provincial Elective Congress

1. Regulations Art. 28 §2 The convocation of Local Councilors, Provincial Councilors, and FMA/SDB Delegates to a Provincial Congress will be made.

2. Regulations Art. 28 §5 The Regulations of the Congress will be prepared by the Provincial Council and approved by the World Council.

3. An Electoral Commission will be approved by the Provincial Coordinator.

4. Voting Members will be verified according to an updated register.

5. Regulations Art. 20 §4 The Provincial Council will prepare the list of Candidates eligible to be elected as Councilors, verify their acceptance of nomination, and communicate the list to Voting Members ahead of the Congress.

During the Elective Congress

1. All Voting Members will convene with a prayer of discernment.

2. A presence of absolute majority of Voting Members is established by the Electoral President, to include Local Councilors, Provincial Councilors, and SDB/FMA Delegates. Regulations Art. 20 §1

Those joining by Zoom will also be counted.

3. The Electoral President will guide the Congress in deciding the number of Councilors, between 4-12, to be elected. Regulations Art. 24 §3. Canon Law 119 §2

a. First Ballot: The vote with absolute majority will be approved. If no absolute majority, a second ballot will follow.

b. Second Ballot: The top two options will be placed on the second ballot. The vote with the absolute majority will be approved.

c. Final: If no majority has been achieved, the Electoral President will break the tie by his or her vote.

4. The list of Candidates is presented by the Electoral Secretary. Art 20 §4

5. When voting remotely, members will convene as a group with an Electoral Committee, unless it is not possible, due to long distance.

Begin Election

6. Electoral Scrutineer will verify that the number of Voting Members, in-person and remote, meets the required minimum.

7. The Electoral Secretary will pass out the ballots to each Voting Member to begin voting. Canon Law 172 §2

8. Voting Members will be allowed to select as many names on the ballot as the number of agreed upon Councilors from Step 3.

9. Those voting remotely will email their votes to the Electoral Secretary, who will assure the anonymity of the ballot and retain the ballots for a recount if necessary.

10. After all ballots have been collected, the Electoral Scrutineer will verify that all Voting Members have submitted their ballots. Art. 20 §1

11. The Electoral Secretary will publicly record the number of votes each Candidate received.

a. First Ballot: The Electoral President, along with the Electoral Scrutineer, will verify which candidates on the ballot received a majority vote and are elected to the Council. Canon Law 119 §1.

b. Second Ballot: If the elected councilors on the first ballot are less than the number decided, the remaining Candidates will go to a second ballot. Candidates with the majority vote will be elected to the Council.

c. Third Ballot: If the elected councilors on the first and second ballots are less than the number decided, the remaining Candidates will go to a third ballot for the final positions. Candidates with the majority vote will be elected to the Council.

d. Final: If any open positions remain after the third ballot, or in the case of a tie, those most senior in age will be elected to the Council.

12. The Electoral President will verify the public acceptance of each Councilor elected.

After the Elective Congress

1. Newly elected Provincial Council members, along with SDB/FMA Provincial Delegates, will gather to elect the Coordinator. Regulations Art. 20 §2 requires an absolute majority vote on the first and second ballots. For a third ballot, refer to the chapter in the PVA. The vote may be public or private per Art. 24 §5.

2. After the Coordinator has been elected, the Council will determine what roles of animation there will be, to include at minimum Treasurer, Secretary, and Formator. The Council will elect Councilors to fill each role Art. 24 §4. This vote may be public or private.

3. Within a reasonable time after the newly elected Provincial Council has been established, the authority of the previous Provincial Council will be handed over.

4. In the event that a Councilor renounces their position, which must be formally done in writing, the Candidate with the most votes amongst those not elected will take their place.