NAACP Branch Standing Committees

[By-Laws for Branches]

Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT- SO). The ACT-SO Program is

a major project of the NAACP, providing an instrument through which African-American youth are

encouraged and inspired toward excellence in academic and cultural pursuits while benefiting from the

maximum support of their community. ACT-SO affords the same respect for African-American

Scholastic and cultural achievement that is given to heroes. The ACT-SO committee plans and

conducts the annual ACT-SO academic competitions for students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12)

in accordance with the published guidelines of the National NAACP Office and oversight of the

National Director of the ACT-SO Program.

Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs. The Committee on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs seeks

to: (1) establish a working relationship with those agencies in government, national, state and local,

having the responsibility in the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans and to

ensure that the programs to which they are responsible are administered fairly and justly to members of

the minority community; (2) study conditions pertaining to veterans and members of the Military

Service and their dependents and/or survivors in the community; (3) serve as a center of information on

matters affecting the members of me Active Military, Reserves, State National Guard and Veterans; (4)

maintain a repository of materials, information and forms to be used in assisting veterans and/or

dependents of veterans and military personnel with their concerns; (5) receive and act on all complaints

relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, creed, or denial of benefits to which they are

entitled because of discrimination; (6) prepare a quarterly report on committee activities to be submitted

to the Executive Committee of the Branch and the National Director of Armed Services and Veterans

Affairs.

Communications, Press and Publicity. The Committee on Communications, Press and Publicity seeks

to:: (1) promote media content consistent with fundamental NAACP goals, which include the

elimination of racial isolation and fear and the furtherance of multi-racial and cultural understanding; (2)

work to eliminate employment segregation and discrimination in those industries, [comprising the

communications arts and sciences] (radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, newspapers, books,

related computer communications, business, cable television); (3) ensure African American ownership

and control of print and electronic media — both hardware and software; (4) monitor local and national

media, especially advertising performance; (S) provide the National NAACP Office with research and

data on those local businesses engaged in communications arts and sciences; (6) ensure that all people

have a meaningful right to choose from and have access to a variety of high quality telecommunications

goods and services at reasonable cost; (7) secure publicity for the work of the Branch and the NAACP in

the local press and on radio, television and other media; (8) interest persons in leadership positions in

local news media on conditions affecting minority groups; (9) counteract derogatory and erroneous

statements in local news media about African Americans and other minority groups; (10) be responsible

for forwarding to THE CRISIS magazine items covering Branch activities and important local affairs;

and (11) act as far as possible as an agency for the promotion and sale of THE CRISIS magazine. No

publicity shall be released without first being approved by the Branch President.

Community Coordination. The Committee on Community Coordination seeks to enlist the support of

other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of African Americans and other

communities of color.

Criminal Justice. The Committee on Criminal Justice seeks to: (1) eliminate harsh and unfair sentencing

practices that are responsible for mass incarceration and racial disparities in the prison system, (2)

support and seek to increase trust and public safety by advancing effective law enforcement practices,

(3) fight for the restoration of the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people and the removal of

barriers to employment, (4) elevate the voices of crime victims in order to identify and advance systemic

breakdowns existing in the criminal justice system that perpetuate crime, (5) end the war on drugs for its

disproportionate collateral consequences harm in communities of color, (6) the institution and

availability of alternatives to incarceration, including education, employment, and mental health

services, (7) eliminate zero tolerance policies implemented in our schools which are keeping children

out of the classroom and putting them on a path from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse, (8) investigate

programs implemented in local law enforcement agencies which derail them from their main purpose of

safety and order, and (9) seek budget modifications in states where incarceration receives more funding

than education.

Economic Development. The Committee on Economic Development sees to implement local efforts and

support national programs to preserve and expand economic empowerment among African-Americans

and other communities of color by. (1) researching and establishing relationships with private and

public entities; (2) supporting the work of the National NAACP Office in monitoring the progress and

activity of private and public economic development entities designated by national NAACP programs;

(3) implementing local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership; (4) increasing employment

and job creation; and (5) encouraging business development and home ownership.

Education. The Committee on Education seeks to: (1) eliminate segregation and other discriminatory

practices in public education; (2) study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; (3)

investigate the public school system and school zoning; (4) familiarize itself with textbook material that

is racially derogatory; (5) seek to stimulate school attendance; (6) keep informed of school conditions

and strive to correct abuses where found; (7) investigate the effects of standardized and high stakes

testing practices; (8) promote effective teacher certification; (9) promote parental involvement in

education; and (10) aim to be a center of community education on issues affecting minority communities

and on the work of the Association.

Finance. The Finance Committee consists of the President, Treasurer, and at least one other member.

The committee studies the financial needs of the Branch and is responsible for drafting an adequate

annual budget.

Freedom Fund. The Freedom Fund Committee plans and conducts fund-raising activities, entertainment

and other projects, for local and national NAACP purposes within the scope of the NAACP's programs.

It works closely with the Finance Committee.

Health. The Health Committee: (1) works to promote, protect and maintain the health of African

Americans; (2) assesses the health needs of the community; (3) advocates for equal access to health

education, care, treatment and research for all Americans; (4) sponsors health-related activities such as

health forums, fairs and workshops, highlighting issues of importance to people of color, and (5)

supports health initiatives of the NAACP.

Housing. The Committee on Housing: (1) studies housing conditions in the local community; (2)

receives and seeks to address complaints of housing discrimination; (3) opposes all public and private

restrictive housing practices; and (4) disseminates information and renders support to efforts to eliminate

discrimination in housing.

Labor and Industry. The Labor and Industry Committee attempts to improve the economic status of

minority groups by: (1) working to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and

government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training, promotion and unfair

dismissals; (2) encouraging greater participation in the trade union movement; (3) working to end

discriminatory practices in labor unions; (4) securing the enactment of local, state and federal fair

employment practices legislation; and (5) working for improved opportunities in vocational and

apprenticeship training.

Legal Redress. The Legal Redress Committee: (1) investigates all cases reported to it; (2) supervises all

litigation in which the Branch is interested; and (3) keeps the National NAACP and the Branch informed

on the progress of every case. The committee does not provide general legal advice.

Membership and Life Membership. The Membership Committee: (1) works throughout the year to

maintain and increase membership; (2) is responsible for planning and organizing the annual

membership campaign; (3) is responsible for soliciting new members and for securing membership

renewals; and (4) implements on-going initiatives to obtain Life Members.

Political Action. The Political Action Committee: (1) seeks to increase registration and voting; (2) works

for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational,

political and economic status of minority groups; (3) seeks the repeal of racially discriminatory

legislation; (4) works to improve the administration of justice; (5) works to secure equal enforcement of

the law; and (6) keeps the National NAACP Office, the NAACP Washington Bureau, and the Branch

informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The Committee is non-partisan and

does not endorse candidates for public office.

Prison Branch Support. The Prison Branch Support Committee shall support the work of the Prison

Branch in accordance with Article VHI, Section 6 fi- ll) by (1) working closely and directly with the

members of their respective Prison Branch and the Regional Prison Coordinator, (2) maintain contacts

with, and report regularly to the Regional Coordinators; (3) build, cultivate and maintain positive

relationships between prison officials, Prison Branch members and members within the local Branch;

and (4) solicit community organizations and business to establish a volunteer bank (teachers, writers,

poets, businessmen, ministers, lawyers, policemen, judges, government officials, politicians and media

personnel) to assist the Prison Branch in carrying out its programs.

Religious Affairs. The Religious Affairs Committee shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders

who are members of the Unit It shall: (1) promote an educational program designed to give moral and

ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; (2) interpret the work of the Association to organized

religious groups of all faiths; (3) enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership,

fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; and (4) provide resource assistance for

religious education and social action activities, associated with the improvement of race relations.

Young Adult. The Committee on Young Adult shall consist of Branch members twenty-one (21) - forty

(40) years of age. It shall be the function of the Committee to: (1) support all branch activities; (2)

stimulate interest through advocacy training and solicit membership of twenty-one (21) - forty (40) years

of age; (3) create a mentorship program (Branch to Young Adults and Young Adults to Youth Units) to

serve as a support bridge from Youth and College to Branch participation; (4) provide networking and

social opportunities for young adults in the local community; and (S) encourage the participation of

young adults in all activities and leadership within the Branch.

Youth Works. The Committee on Youth Work for State/State-Area Conferences shall consist of all

Youth Unit Advisors and Youth Unit Presidents in the state, and five (5) persons appointed by die

State/State- Area Conference President, The Committee on Youth Work for Branches shall consist of

the Youth Unit Advisor^), and Youth Unit Presidents) in the same community, and five (5) persons

appointed by the Branch President. The Youth Unit Advisors and the Youth Unit Presidents shall choose

the chair of the Committee. The Youth Work Committee shall develop and coordinate the programs of

the Branches) and Youth Units. The Branch Committee on Youth Work shall turn the names, addresses

and membership dues of youth solicited by the Branch over to the appropriate National Office

recognized youth group, if any, in their community. The Youth Work Committee shall monitor the

youth membership in the Branch If there is no local youth unit recognized by the National Office, the

Committee shall recommend the Branch apply to the National Office for a Youth Charter and organize

die appropriate youth group.

Women in the NAACP (WIN). State/State-Area Conferences, Branches, Prison Branches of the

Association may organize Women in NAACP (WIN) committees subject to the control of the Executive

Committee and to such rules and regulations as the Board of Directors may enact WIN committees shall

consist of a Chairperson and/or Co- Chairperson and at least three (3) other members. WIN shall address

within the framework of the NAACP, civil rights issues affecting women and children and shall carry

out other civil and cultural activities to enhance membership and provide financial support to the

Branch. The purpose WIN is (1) to enhance the leadership role of women; (2) to serve as an advocacy

vehicle to address the social, economic, political. educational, health and welfare issues affecting

women; (3) to advocate for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual development of children and

(4) to support the policies as well as the on-going mission and vision of the NAACP.

All Standing Committees must have at least three (3) appointed members. They shall report in writing

each month to the Executive Committee at its regular meetings