The Board of Directors has deemed these guidelines as acceptable practices, which will promote fairness, assure a healthy and positive campaign for all of the candidates, and meet the needs of this corporation and the organizations that support it. The Board has given the Candidate Coordinator the authority to assure that all candidates adhere to these guidelines.

This document is meant to be used as a source of information to clarify the candidacy process. These guidelines are not part of the bylaws that govern the United Court of Austin. This document is not meant nor does it supersede any regulation that is specifically stipulated in the bylaws of this corporation. The bylaws specifically cover the eligibility and application process for candidacy and should be referred to for this information.

The candidate may select an individual to serve as their campaign manager. The candidate may also obtain additional staff to assist with the campaign. Campaign managers and staff can be anyone from within the organization or the community at large.

The candidate, the campaign manager, and the staff are all subject to comply and adhere to all of the bylaws and guidelines that govern or clarify candidacy. Campaign managers and staff are bound by the same code of conduct as the candidate. Any infraction by a candidate, a campaign manager or a staff member will result in immediate disciplinary action, which may include disqualification of the candidate.

Once candidate applications are submitted to the Board of Directors at the general membership meeting the review process begins. During this period and until Candidate Announcement, candidates, managers and staff are prohibited from campaigning in any form or fashion prior to this date.

Campaigning is defined as (but not limited to) public announcements, statements, posters, cards, flyers, or the dissemination of any type of promotional materials. Candidates, managers, and staff are allowed to speak privately to any member of the College of Monarchs, the Board of Directors, or the Campaign Coordinator about any topics relating to candidacy or their campaign. These conversations are considered confidential.

A Candidate interview will be conducted by the Board of Directors at which time the candidates will draw numbers. This will become the candidate's official presentation number. The candidates will be presented at all activities and functions in this order, up and through the night of Coronation.

The annual event known as Candidate Announcement marks the official commencement of the campaign. Campaigning is not to begin until the candidate is officially sashed and presented.

Requirements for Candidate Announcement

A. Entertainment: The candidates are required to provide a presentation of some kind of entertainment during announcement, not to exceed seven (7) minutes total.

B. Announcement Poster Requirements

• Size – at least 11" X 17" and no larger than standard Poster board size
• Contain a photographic image of the candidate at least 3" X 5" in size
• State Candidate's name and moniker
• Identify office that the candidate is seeking (Emperor or Empress)
• Identify the name of the organization (United Court of Austin, Inc.)
• Coronation information (date, time, and location)
• Voting information (date, time, and location)
• The poster must not contain any lewd or obscene subject matter

Candidates will be provided with a sash designating their official acceptance as an aspirant to the office of Emperor or Empress of the United Court of Austin. The aspirants are required to wear the sash at all Official Court Functions and State Functions of the International Court System. If the sash is damaged or lost, the candidate will provide a $50.00 fine to cover the cost of replacement.

All campaign pieces must be approved by the Candidate Coordinator prior to distribution. All posters used for public view must contain the same information as the Announcement poster (no larger than 11" X 17").

Candidates are required to produce one fundraising event during their campaign for the 501-(C) 3 Charity of their choice. The fundraiser can be individual or jointly produced by the candidates.

Campaign parties, gatherings or other events must not be within 4 blocks of the polling place except in the case where the location is the candidate's personal residence.

On voting day, Candidates and/or their announced and recognized campaign manager will review the ballots, tally sheets, and/or any other materials presented by the election committee prior to the opening of the polls. Candidates or the campaign manager will sign a statement attesting to having witnessed all materials.

Candidates and/or campaign managers will then be allowed to cast their ballots. Upon completion of this vote, the candidates and/or campaign managers will remove themselves from the location of voting and will not be within 100 yards of the location of voting until 15 minutes prior to the closing of the polls. Campaigning within 100 yards of the polls is not permitted. Only your campaign poster (Only ONE) may be displayed in the designated area next to the polls.

Candidates and/or the campaign manager will return to the location of voting 15 minutes prior to the closing of the polls. Failure to appear for these duties by either the Candidate or Campaign manager may result in the disqualification of the candidate.

Appropriate Conduct

• Present themselves and the Court in a positive manner at all times
• Adhere to all by-laws and guidelines
• Notify the management of any and all establishments before actively campaigning

Inappropriate Conduct

• Disparage or negatively campaign against another candidate
• Campaigning while incapacitated due to ingestion or consumption of any mind-altering substances including alcohol
• Present themselves in a manner unbecoming the office for which they aspire

Once candidacy has been made official at candidate announcement, the aspirant will relinquish any title that they currently hold. Only perpetual titles will remain intact such as Monarch or Lifetime titles. In either case, the only title that the candidate may use during campaign and until the end of Austin's Coronation is "Aspirant to the Throne of the United Court of Austin."

Candidates are required to purchase and place a full-page ad in the program for the United Court of Austin's Coronation Ball. Candidates will host or co-host the bar/bus tour on Friday night.

The candidates are required to provide a presentation of some kind of entertainment during Coronation, not to exceed seven (7) minutes total. A production number containing 3 or more people is suggested but not required.

All candidates are required to present themselves in attire appropriate to the office which they seek, during the bus tour and at Coronation. Candidates should be aware that should they win election, they must provide an appropriate crown to be worn after they complete their reign. The crown must be presented to the Board of Directors prior to the re-crowning ceremony during their Coronation at which they step down.

All candidates, campaign managers, or campaign staff who have a grievance of any sort during the campaign shall first present it to the Candidate coordinator who has First Rule. If the results are unsatisfactory, the candidate may appeal to a Special Election Committee.

This committee is formed by creation of the Board of Directors and will consist of 1 representative from each of the candidates campaign staff (candidates are not permitted to serve), and 3 or 4 members of the Board of Directors, whichever will constitute an odd number. All decisions by this committee are final.