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Table of Contents

Article I - Mission Statement
Article II - Computers
Article III - Steering Committee
Article IV - Oversight Committee
Article V - Tournament Director
Article VI - Team Structure
Article VII - Precedence and Amendments

Article I - Mission Statement

Team chess is a rapidly growing venue for players of all strengths to compete both individually and as a team. This allows all players to enjoy the spirit of the game, to meet players worldwide, to foster team spirit, to encourage teaching of skills, and to promote good sportsmanship. The benefits for the existence of a Team League promotes these qualities and the location of a venue hosting such an event, attracting people who would not otherwise get to go to a team tournament live.

Team 45 45 League shares with the STC Bunch the primary goal of providing organized chess events at a longer time control rarely available anywhere else on the internet. Team 45 45 League also strives to provide for the enjoyment of the game of chess and establish a venue for friendships and community worldwide.

Article II - Computers

Team 45 45 League is a group of dedicated human chess players who desire to play Slow Time Control chess with other human chess players. The clandestine use of computer chess algorithms and/or chess engines is condemned in the highest degree. Cheating by the use of these computer programs to assist even in the slightest amount is completely and forcibly prohibited.

Article III - Steering Committee

The role and purpose of the Steering Committee is to manage the affairs of the league, to set its direction and expansion, see to its advertisement and management, writing the Constitution, Statutes and Handbooks, and reviewing the rulings of the previous Oversight Committee. This is the ultimate governing body of Team 45 45 League with all rights and responsibilities.

The Steering Committee consists of a council of no more than 11 people, some of whom may be permanent members, the rest shall be composed of volunteers from Team Captains and, if there is room, from the General League Membership.

The Steering Committee shall establish their own rules and are not subject to any statutes or administrative rules while acting on Steering Committee affairs.

Article IV - Oversight Committee

The purpose of the Oversight Committee is to provide adjudication of any disputes occurring during the specific Team 45 45 League Tournament for which it is seated and to serve as an Appellate Board in any decision made by the Tournament Director. Decisions are made in accordance with the Bylaws. Where no Bylaw exists, decisions are made in a manner consistent with the spirit and intent of the Bylaws. The Oversight Committee may recommend Bylaw changes or additions to the Steering Committee.

The Oversight Committee shall be seated for the duration of the event and shall be composed of a Chair, a Deputy Chair and seven other members who shall be volunteers from Team Captains and other experienced active league members. The Chief TD shall appoint the Chair and the Deputy Chair.

At the conclusion of the Tournament for which it is seated, after all results are in, and all adjudications are completed, the Oversight Committee shall be dissolved until the next Tournament.

The Oversight Committee shall establish its own administrative procedures for use while acting on its affairs.  ¶ SC 30-31.

Article V - Tournament Director

The Tournament Director shall have the responsibilities of running the day to day business of the League. Specifically receiving Team Entries, maintaining the web site, making the pairings for the current round of the event, receiving game scores, awarding forfeits, creating Administrative Rules required by statute, and promptly forwarding all contested decisions to the Oversight Committee.

The Tournament Director may have assistants as needed. Under no circumstance will the Tournament Director create or establish new statutes, nor will the Tournament Director disregard any directive from the Oversight Committee. The Tournament Director and all assistants will deal with all involved in a fair and equitable manner and at all times will behave with a diplomatic and reasonable deportment.

The selection of the Tournament Director shall be by a unanimous agreement of the permanent members of the Steering Committee and a majority of the entire Steering Committee (¶ SC 11-12). The Tournament Director shall establish Administrative Rules to govern the various levels of authority and responsibility for the group of assistants to the Tournament Director.

Article VI - Team Structure

There will be 4 to 6 players to a team. Each team must have one and only one Team Captain who decides who plays for the team, which 4 players will participate in any given round, represent the team in any dispute, and all other duties required by Statute or Interim Rule. The captain may be either a playing captain or a non-playing captain. Each team is required to designate an Alternate Team Captain to act on the Team Captain's behalf if they are unavailable. ¶ SC 12-13.

Team internal structure is beyond the scope of League Management, and teams are free to establish any sort of structure that complies with the Statutes and By-Laws, including the designations of Assistant Team Captain, Archivist, or any other position they wish to establish. Regardless of any internal team positions, only the officially designated Team Captain can speak for the team when communicating with other teams or League Managers.

Article VII - Precedence and Amendments

This Constitution, the Statutes,  Administrative Rules, Handbooks of Play, FAQ's, and any other document regulating the governance of Team 45 45 League shall be considered in total the By-Laws. If there exists inconsistencies or contradictions within the By-Laws, the following order of authority shall be used, from the highest authority to the lowest authority: The Constitution, the Statutes, Administrative Rules, the Handbooks of Play, Statements of Opinion by the Tournament Director, any other document regulating the governance of Team 45 45 League, and Tosses of the Coin.

The Constitution shall only be amended or changed by the agreement of at least seventy-five (75) percent of the permanent members of the Steering Committee and a majority of the entire Steering Committee. (¶ SC25-26)  The Statutes shall only be amended or changed by a majority of the Steering Committee. Administrative Rules shall be amended or changed by the Tournament Director. The Handbooks of Play shall be amended or changed by the person designated by the Steering Committee to write them. Statements of Opinion by the Tournament Director shall be superseded by more current Statements of Opinion by the Tournament Director.

¶ This Constitution approved by SC 10-11 unless otherwise indicated.
¶ All references to "Steering" by SC 11-12.

¶ Steering Committee increased from 9 to 11 members by SC 23-24.
¶ Article IV revised by SC 30-31. Also removed Interim Rules from Articles IV and VII.