This organization shall be known as the "Pittsburgh Chess League", herein referred to as the "PCL".
The purpose of the PCL shall be to sponsor a series of chess matches among member teams.
The PCL shall consist of two or more teams. Each team shall be composed of four regular players and not less than two alternate players. No player may be a member of more than one team during the same PCL Season.
All team members and alternates must fulfill all requirements necessary for the Match Director to have all games played successfully rated. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that all their team members fulfill these requirements prior to their being placed on the Official Team Roster. Team captains shall receive a copy of the PCL Constitution, Playing Rules and By-Laws.
Each team shall pay an annual Entry Fee. Membership shall commence, and the Entry Fee be paid when an Official Team Roster is submitted. Additionally, each team shall maintain an escrow account to be used for the payment of fines at the end of the PCL season. This Escrow Fee must be paid when an Official Team Roster is submitted. The amount of these fees shall be determined annually by the PCL Council.
Each team, at the start of the PCL Season, shall choose a name and a Team Captain. A team shall not be considered a new team unless no more than two members are the same as the team of a previous year, or unless all fines from previous years have been paid.
The PCL Council shall have the right to censure, fine, forfeit, suspend, or expel a member team or individual for conduct determined to be to the detriment of either the PCL or chess in general. A member team may be suspended or expelled only by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the entire PCL Council.
The PCL shall be governed by a PCL Council comprised of the Officers and all of the Team Captains. Each Officer and Team Captain shall have one vote on the Council. No person may hold more than one office; however, a Team Captain may be an Officer and, if so, has an additional vote on the PCL Council.
The Officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor and Match Director. All Officers are responsible for the enforcement of this Constitution, Playing Rules and By-Laws.
The President presides at all meetings of the PCL Council. He shall be responsible for obtaining a playing site and determining playing dates for all PCL matches. He will be registered as an authorizing signature for all PCL checks.
The Vice-President is the acting President when the President is absent. He shall be responsible for maintaining a record of forfeits for each team, and for notifying each Team Captain in writing of forfeit fines levied against that team.
The Secretary shall record minutes of all meetings. He shall keep all pertinent historical records of matches and proceedings, and shall assist the Match Director with issuance of monthly match results.
The Treasurer shall keep all of the financial records of the PCL. He shall be registered as an authorizing signature on all PCL checks. He shall open and maintain a checking account for PCL funds. He shall be responsible for receiving all Entry Fees, Escrow Fees and fines, and for paying all authorized PCL expenses.
The Editor shall be responsible for a newsletter to be sent to all players in the PCL. The number and timing of issues shall be determined annually by the PCL Council.
The Match Director shall be responsible for administering the Playing Rules. He must be a certified tournament director, and shall fulfill those responsibilities normally expected of a tournament director for all PCL matches. He shall issue, with the assistance of the Secretary, a monthly report of match results and team standings, and shall report rating results at least every four months. The Match Director shall be compensated for services rendered at an amount to be determined annually by the PCL Council.
The PCL Council must hold an annual meeting. This meeting should be scheduled for the day of the March PCL round. Additional meetings may be called by the President, by three of the six Officers, or by three-fourths (3/4) of the entire PCL Council. Members of the PCL Council must receive at least one week's notice of any meetings which are not held during a PCL round. At all meetings, a quorum shall consist of two Officers and three Team Captains.
For any meeting, an Officer or a Team Captain may assign a proxy, who will serve as a substitute in all ways.
Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, except where qualified by this Constitution.
Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the PCL Council. They shall serve until the next annual meeting of the PCL Council. Vacant offices should be filled at the earliest opportunity.
Any Officer who fails to fulfill the duties of his office may be removed by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the entire PCL Council.
This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the entire PCL Council at any official meeting of the PCL Council.