Powerlifting America 

Constitution

  1. Objective

The objective of Powerlifting America is to promote and organize the sport of drug tested powerlifting and support general strength training. Part of the duty of Powerlifting America is to stimulate cooperation between the members and to represent Powerlifting America at international meetings and events. The work of Powerlifting America shall have a character of ethics, volunteerism, loyalty, and responsibility always focusing on good governance. The primary duty of Powerlifting America shall be to serve the athlete. All sport activity shall be based on fellowship, health, and honesty.

2. Organization

Powerlifting America is a union of members, clubs, schools, and universities, practicing the sport of powerlifting, fitness, wellness, and strength training.

Powerlifting America is a member of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF), and once recognized, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA). Powerlifting America fully accepts and agrees to follow the IPF Anti-Doping rules, and the WADA Code.

Powerlifting America fully accepts and agrees to follow IPF Technical Rules. Powerlifting America fully accepts and agrees to follow the IPF Constitution, as well as all IPF Codes and Guidelines.

Powerlifting America and ALL its registered members and non registered members agree to recognize the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland as the only external body for jurisdictional authority, applying the Code of Sports-Related Arbitration for all disputes which cannot be settled amicably or through local arbitration or mediation. However, all internal legal remedies must be exhausted before referring a matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

3. Duties and Competence

Powerlifting America shall develop and create activities, state and regional associations, committees as well as a fully functional accounting and auditing system to meet the requirements of the members, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the North American Powerlifting Federation, and the International Powerlifting Federation.

Powerlifting America shall serve as the only IPF approved governing body for the sport of Powerlifting in the United States.

The education of elected volunteers, serving on the Executive Committee and all committees should match their assigned responsibilities. Resumes shall be submitted in advance prior to assigning or electing officers to their positions.

4. Membership

Powerlifting America shall register members, clubs, teams, universities, and high schools practicing the sport of powerlifting which are eligible to join the association, provided they agree to follow the IPF Anti-doping Rules and the World Anti-Doping Code.

All members accepted by Powerlifting America are obligated to follow and comply with the constitution, rules and guidelines of Powerlifting America and the IPF.

5. Membership Fees

The General Assembly decides on membership fees proposed by the Executive Committee that will be charged by Powerlifting America.

Unpaid membership fees of the voting representatives shall result in loss of votes and the right to speak at the General Assembly meeting.

6. Economic compensations for honorary posts

Elected Officers serving on the Executive Committee or on committees, as well as contractors, may receive reasonable compensation for their work and their documented expenses. Such compensations shall be included in the budget and the annual accounts for Powerlifting America.

7. Appointment of Honorary Persons

A person employed by Powerlifting America may simultaneously hold an honorary position in the federation.

8. Disciplinary Committee

The Disciplinary Committee shall have a minimum of three (3) members. The committee rules on all disciplinary or ethical infractions of the members of Powerlifting America except anti-doping rule violations and shall oversee the disciplinary proceedings and impose penalties. The Committee shall be made up of non-members, with a legal background and shall have no involvement in the sport of powerlifting. Representatives shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. 

Discipline for all anti-doping rule violations nationally will be determined by USADA. All disciplines at IPF International or World Championships will be determined by the IPF Doping Hearing Panel.

9. The General Assembly 

The General Assembly is the ruling body for Powerlifting America. It is required that the General Assembly meeting be held annually by July of each year.

Notification

The Executive Committee shall notify the members no later than 60 days ahead of the General Assembly meeting. Proposals and amendments must be received by the Law and Legislation Committee at the latest 45 days prior to the General Assembly. The Complete Agenda must be sent to all members at the latest 30 days prior to the General Assembly. The General Assembly may be held in a virtual format when conditions do not allow for an in-person meeting.

Voting

At the General Assembly Meeting, a quorum will consist of 20% of the authorized delegates. No delegate shall have more than one vote as they cannot carry votes for persons that are not present at the General Assembly.

Proposals and Amendments

Proposals to change the Constitution and By-laws of Powerlifting America may be examined if included in the agenda distributed to all members. A change requires a two-thirds majority by the delegates that were accepted at the General Assembly. All accepted proposals will take effect the Monday following the General Assembly if not otherwise stated.

There shall be a minimum of two (2) Scrutineers approved by the General Assembly to oversee the elections and ballot counting.

10. General Assembly Meeting

Delegates with voting rights:

  1. The Executive Committee Members
  2. Regional Directors and at least one at large member per region 
  3. Standing Committee Chairs  

11. The Powers of General Assembly 

The agenda of the General Assembly (GA) is:

 

  1. Roll call of delegates
  2. Accept the agenda
  3. Executive committee report
  4. Treasurer’s report
  5. Budget report
  6. Auditor’s report
  7. Review membership fees and other fees
  8. Regional Director Reports
    1. Northeast
    2. Southeast
    3. Central
    4. Southwest
    5. West
  9. Election of the members of the Executive Committee serving staggered terms, for a renewable term of four (4) years. 
    1. President
    2. Vice President
    3. Secretary General
    4. Treasurer
  1. Election of the Chairpersons for each Committee for a renewable term of four (4) years. 
    1. Athlete Committee
    2. Coach Committee
    3. Law and Legislation Committee
    4. Technical Committee
  1. Unfinished Business
  2. Proposals and Amendments
  3. New Business

Gender equality should be observed in all elected positions

12. Order of votes at the General Assembly Meeting

A proposal shall be approved by a majority vote. However, Constitutional changes require a two-thirds majority.

Election of candidates shall be in writing if there is more than one candidate for a position. If there are more candidates but no one gains greater than 50 percent, a new election between the two candidates with the most votes shall take place. If the two candidates gain an equal number of votes, a flip of a coin shall be made to decide which candidate shall be elected. 

Since the By-laws fall under the authority of the Executive Committee and the EC has full and absolute governance over this document. The General Assembly can only propose amendments to the By-laws to be considered by the Executive Committee.

13. Extraordinary General Assembly

An Extraordinary General Assembly may be called by the President or the majority of the Executive Committee no less than 14 days before the date of the meeting. If conducted virtually, it may be conducted no less than 7 days before the date of the meeting.

The Extraordinary General Assembly requires at least 20% of the delegates in order to have a valid and approved meeting. The Extraordinary General Assembly may be held in a virtual format, when conditions do not allow for an in-person meeting. 

An Extraordinary General Assembly shall only deal with cases included in the agenda when called.

14. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee performs organizational, administrative, and specialist-technical tasks.

The Executive Committee is the executive body of Powerlifting America and performs tasks given by the General Assembly and tasks in its field. It leads Powerlifting America between sessions of the General Assembly.

Members of the Federation’s Executive Committee are the President, Vice President, Secretary General, and the Treasurer.

15. Powers of the Executive Committee

  1. It is the governing body of Powerlifting America between General Assemblies.
  2. It shall carry out decisions made by the General Assembly.
  3. It shall carry out daily management of the association and represent the association in all matters relevant to the daily operation of the association.
  4. When necessary, appoints members to vacant seats on committees.
  5. Maintain running control of the expenditures for Powerlifting America, in accordance with the budget approved by the General Assembly.

An executive committee meeting is called by the President or the majority of the Executive Committee members.

A quorum is formed if a majority of the Executive Committee members are present.

Decisions are made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee members present. In case of a tie, the President shall cast the deciding vote.

16. Committees

All committees shall consist of a minimum of three members.  of whom the chairperson is elected by the General Assembly and additional members are appointed by the Executive Committee, for a renewable term of four (4) years.

  1. Technical Committee. 

The committee shall educate and instruct referees, organize referee clinics, and appoint referees at national and international championships.

  1. Law and Legislation Committee

The committee shall evaluate all new Constitutional and By-laws proposals and amendments and state their conclusions to the Assembly. Further, the duty is to update and maintain the Constitution and By-laws and interpret the content if required.

  1. Coaching Committee

The Coaching Committee will work primarily with the staff to provide input, advice, and support to coaching education, programs and teams for Powerlifting America.

  1. Athlete Committee

The Athletes’ Committee is made up of active athletes of Powerlifting America and represents the interests of the athletes.

17. Constitutional changes

Constitutional changes are only possible at the ordinary General Assembly or at an extraordinary General Assembly. Such proposals must be included on the agenda when the General Assembly is called and requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the delegates present.

18. Dissolution

A proposal to dissolve Powerlifting America must first be discussed at an ordinary General Assembly. If a decision is made in favor of a dissolution by a two-thirds majority, an extraordinary General Assembly shall be called no later than 3 months later. Again a two-thirds majority is required for a final decision of a dissolution of Powerlifting America. 

The funds of the federation shall come to a superior sport federation or to a charity organization as voted on by the General Assembly.