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32 J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E board, and reporting to the commissions issues and concerns of the membership. H. Commissions shall take a stand on pertinent issues and present the commission's position to the CNA Board. Section 4. Membership of Commissions A. Composition 1. Each commission shall be composed of one (1) member from each region who shall, where possible as defined by individual regions, reside or be employed within that region during their term of office, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws. 2. a. Each commissioner shall be a member of CNA who has been active in the area of the commission's concern, is, or has been, or is eligible to be employed in the field, when applicable, and who meets other qualifications as established in these bylaws. b. Each region will elect one commissioner for the JNPC. There will be three (3) two (2) at-large positions on the JNPC, elected statewide: Nurse Practitioner/ Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Administratorand, Nursing Educator. 3. CNSA representatives may have a courtesy seat on all commis- sions. B. Election of Members, Term of Office, Vacancies, and Removal 1. Commissioners shall be elected as in Article XIII, Section 3, of these bylaws, for a two (2) year term. 2. a.Vacancies shall be filled by regional boards. Regional boards may also appoint interim replacements when the Commissioner is unable to attend a meeting. b.An individual filling a vacancy for more than half a term shall be considered to have served a full term. 3. Absence of a commissioner from two (2) consecutive meetings shall constitute a vacancy. 4. An employee of this Association is eligible to be a candidate contin- gent upon resignation from the staff position when candidacy is declared. C. Officers Officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the biennium. Section 5. Conduct of Business A. The first meeting of each biennium shall be called by the CNA presi- dent Council of Presidents or designee. B. Meetings shall be held at least four (4) times each year, with a quorum present. Further business may be conducted by mail or phone, provid- ed that such action is ratified at the next regular meeting. C. A quorum shall be a majority of commissioners with at least one officer present. Section 6. Government Relations Commission In addition to previous sections, the following specifications apply: A. Composition This commission shall consist of at least one (1) member from each region. For regions with more than 20 state legislative districts,ten (10) legislative districts thereafter an additional commissioner will serve that region, the total number shall not exceed four (4). Each region shall have only one vote on all Government Relations Commission decisions. This vote shall be cast by the commissioner receiving the highest number of votes for that region. B. Additional Responsibilities The Government Relations Commission will make recommendations to the CNA-PAC for endorsements of political candidates and for dis- bursement of the CNA-PAC Fund based on Board-approved policies and procedures. ARTICLE IX Regions Section 1. Definition A region of CNA is a component of the Association which represents is a geographical grouping of CNA members based on CNA-represented facili- ties. A CNA Category I member shall belong to the region in which their pri- mary work facility is located. A CNA Category II member may belong to any one region desired, regardless of location of residence or place of employment. Each Region shall adopt and maintain a documented structure of gover- nance, operations, and relations with CNA members residing or working within the geographical boundaries of the region, stated in Bylaws or other organizational documents for the Region. The principal purpose of the Regions is to establish and maintain an effective means of member commu- nication and accountability by and between members and elected CNA lead- ership and administration in order to obtain immediate and effective response of member mobilization and involvement activities at the interna- tional, national, state, regional and local levels germane to CNA's representa- tional functions and obligations as an exclusive representative of registered nurses. Associate and retired members shall be members of a Region per the proce- dures established by the Board of Director's policy. Section 2. Qualifications for Regions A. Boundaries 1. Boundaries of a region shall be established by CNA Board action upon request of the Council of Presidents.CNA members who wish to affiliate to form such a region The Council shall receive and review any request to establish a new Region of existing CNA members, or to alter or modify the geographical boundaries of an existing Region, or to establish a new Region in order to accommo- date a newly recognized regional organization and shall forward recommendations for action to the Board. In the 2005-2007 Biennium, the Executive Committee shall fulfill this role. 2. Only one (1) region shall have jurisdiction in a given geographical area. 3. Changes in established boundaries common to two (2) or more regions shall result from requests for such change from all regions involved and shall be made by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the CNA Board. B. The approval of a new region shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the CNA Board. C. Bylaws