Q: What is USCF?
A: The USCF Mission Statement: The United States Chess Federation (USCF or US Chess) is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institutions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and it promotes chess in American schools. To these ends, USCF offers a monthly magazine, as well as targeted publications to its members and others. It supervises the organization of the U.S. chess championship, an open tournament every summer, and other national events. It offers a wide range of books and services to its members and others at prices consistent with the benefit of its members.
USCF serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a participant in international chess organizations and projects. It is structured to ensure effective democratic procedures in accord with its bylaws and the laws of the state of Illinois.

Q: Who manages the affairs of the U. S. Chess Federation?
A: The Executive Board which consists of seven members elected for staggered terms of four years. The Executive Director serves as a non-voting member of the Executive Board, with the right to debate and make motions, but without the right to vote. All Executive Board members are national officers of the USCF.

Q: What does the Executive Board do?
A: The Executive Board shall manage the affairs of the Federation, including employment and other contracts, between meetings of the Board of Delegates and shall perform other duties as specified in these Bylaws. The Executive Board shall be subject to the authority of the Board of Delegates, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions taken by the Board of Delegates. The Executive Board's direction to the staff shall generally be given by the USCF President.

Q: How often does the Executive Board meet?
A: The Executive Board shall meet at least twice per year, the day and place to be fixed by vote of that Executive Board. Special meetings, including conference telephone calls or Internet conference meetings, may be called by the President or upon the written request of any three members of the Executive Board. Reasonable efforts to notify all Executive Board members of the meeting shall be made by mail, fax, telephone, email, or other means approved by the Executive Board. The minutes of the Executive Board shall be sent to all USCF Delegates and Alternate Delegates, and posted on the USCF's Internet web site, within six weeks of each meeting. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the elected members of the Executive Board present in person or participating in a conference telephone call or Internet conference meeting. The affirmative votes of at least three different Executive Board members will be required to approve any action, as long as there are at least four members on the Executive Board. All meetings of the Executive Board, including conference calls, shall be recorded in their entirety with a clear, permanent record by a means determined by the Executive Board. All Executive Board members shall receive copies of any audio tapes or video tapes of meetings within two weeks of those meetings. Any person wishing to obtain copies of audiotapes may do so at cost. The public portion of the permanent record will be available on the website within a month of the meeting record.

Q: Can I become a member of the Executive Board?
A: Any USCF member not a current employee of the USCF is nominated for election to the Executive Board upon submission to the Secretary of the following January 10 of an election year:
1. A valid nominating petition containing the signatures of thirty or more Voting Members. A nominating petition listing more than one candidate is not valid.
2. A filing fee of $250 made payable to the USCF.
3. A signed statement that they are running for the Executive Board and that they will serve if elected.
An employee of the USCF may not be nominated for election to the Executive Board.
The Secretary shall have advertised a call for nominations in the issue of Chess Life published no later than November 20 of the year prior to an election year and shall publish a list of all duly-submitted nominations in the issue published not later April 10th of an election year.
Once a candidate is certified, the candidate may purchase labels of Voting Members at the same rate as affiliates. These labels may only be used for campaign purposes.

Q: How does the USCF run their Elections?
A: Regular Elections. Executive Board members shall be elected by the Voting Members. Ballots for that purpose shall be included in an issue of Chess Life to be mailed prior to June 10 with ballots to be returned no later than July 5 of a year in which there is an election so that the ballots can be counted no later than July 20. Electronic voting may be used in addition to the ballot in Chess Life. Ballots shall be authenticated by use of official mailing labels provided with the ballots. The ballot shall list all duly submitted nominations. Each voting member may vote for as many persons as there are Executive Board positions to be filled. The persons receiving the largest vote totals shall be elected to the available Executive Board positions. The ballots shall be returned by mail to an independent agency and counted by an independent agency or by the Secretary or his or her designee and by tellers appointed by the Executive Board prior to the Annual Meeting of the Board of Delegates. Ties, if any, shall be broken by a secret ballot vote of the Delegates present in person at that year's Delegates meeting, taken at the time that election results are certified. The election of Executive Board members shall take place in odd-numbered years starting in 2003.

Q: What are special Elections?
A: Special Elections. The Executive Board, or the Office if the Executive Board is unable, may decide the schedule for a Special Election for the Executive Board, using the deadlines and dates for a regular election as a guide for scheduling reasonable intervals for announcing the special election and calling for nominations, the date for candidate petition filings and the issue of Chess Life which will contain the ballots. The requirement for candidate statements and election supplements may be reduced to having this information in a single issue of Chess Life. The Board may choose to waive any filing fees for a Special Election. The Executive Board, shall by January 15th of an election year for a regular Executive Board election, choose a date on which ballot counting shall be performed, which date is to be no earlier than the 20th of July and no later than the Wednesday prior to the annual meeting of the Board of Delegates. For a special election, the Executive Board shall choose a date for ballot counting no later than 90 days prior to that date. Ballots shall be authenticated by use of voting member information to be provided with or printed on the ballots. All properly authenticated ballots that have been received by the date designated for counting the ballots shall be counted. The Executive Board shall designate an address for the return of ballots at the time the date of counting ballots is set.

Q: How is it decided which Executive Board member is President, Vice President, Vice President for Finance, and Secretary?
A: Election of Executive Board Officers. At an organizational meeting immediately following the conclusion of the Delegates' Meeting at which regularly scheduled Executive Board election results are certified, the Executive Board shall elect among itself the following officers: President, Vice President, Vice President for Finance, and Secretary. The term of each officer shall be for two years, except that upon a vote of 2/3 of its membership, the Executive Board may at any time meet in person or by teleconference and elect new officers. A vacancy in the office of President shall be immediately filled by the Vice President. A vacancy in another office elected by the Executive Board shall be filled by majority vote either temporarily until the Executive Board meeting following the next Delegates’ Meeting or for the full unexpired portion of the office’s term as the Executive Board shall choose.

Q: How long is a term of office?
A: Terms of Office. The terms of office of the Executive Board members shall commence at their first meeting, which shall immediately follow the Annual Meeting, and shall continue for four years. except as provided in Section 9 of this article. The terms of the Executive Board officers shall commence at their first meeting, which shall immediately follow the Annual Meeting, and shall continue for two years. No individual shall serve more than eight consecutive years on the Executive Board. No person shall serve as USCF President more than four consecutive years.

Q: What are the duties of the President?
A: The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership, Board of Delegates, and Executive Board; carry out all requirements of these Bylaws, represent the Federation officially on occasion, and report annually to the Board of Delegates.

Q: What are the duties of the Vice President?
A: The Vice President shall execute the duties of the President when the President is unable to serve and perform such other duties as are assigned by the Executive Board or the President on its behalf.

Q: What are the duties of the Vice President for Finance?
A: Vice President for Finance shall obtain records of the financial affairs of the Federation, report to the Board of Delegates, and counsel and assist the Executive Board on financial affairs. The Vice President for Finance shall review and have the right to comment on all financial reports, including all financial information presented in interim and annual reports, prior to publication and release.

Q: What are the duties of the Secretary?
A: The Secretary shall review Minutes of all Executive Board meetings, Delegates’ meetings, and membership meetings. The Secretary shall post these minutes, after Executive Board review, on the USCF website and shall mail the Minutes to all Delegates and Alternate Delegates within six weeks of the meetings. The Executive Board shall determine a means of recording all meetings. The Secretary shall act as the custodian of the corporate seal, preside over Federation elections, ensure that the annual report is filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Illinois, and perform such other duties as are prescribed by these Bylaws.

Q: What are the duties of the Members at Large?
A: Members at Large of the Executive Board shall have such other duties as are assigned by the Executive Board or by the President on behalf of the Executive Board or as prescribed by these Bylaws.

Q: What happens when a Executive Board member resigns or can no longer serve on the Executive Board?
A: The Executive Board, or the Office if the Executive Board is unable, may decide the schedule for a Special Election for the Executive Board, using the deadlines and dates for a regular election as a guide for scheduling reasonable intervals for announcing the special election and calling for nominations, the date for candidate petition filings and the issue of Chess Life which will contain the ballots. The requirement for candidate statements and election supplements may be reduced to having this information in a single issue of Chess Life. The Board may choose to waive any filing fees for a Special Election.

Q: What happens when someone is nominated?
A: Candidate statements and advertising. Each duly nominated candidate who has met the requirements established in Section 4 is entitled to a 150 word statement plus photo in the issue of Chess Life published no later than April 10 of the election year, plus reasonable and equitable space on the USCF website. Election supplements shall accompany or be inserted in issues of Chess Life published no later than May 10 and June 10 of the election year. Each duly nominated candidate who has met the requirements established in Section 4 is entitled to one-half page of space in each election supplement. The purchase of additional campaign space in the election supplements or other USCF publications is prohibited.

Q: Who can be a Voting Member?
A: Any current member residing in the USA who is 16 years of age or older as of the time of an election is a Voting Member. For a regular or special election, the membership must be current through the last day of the month in which balloting is to begin and the member must have reached 16 years of age by the last day of the month in which balloting is to begin. Members not receiving Chess Life who are 16 years of age or older at the time of a regular or special election may request a ballot by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the current USCF office address before the 15th day of the month in which balloting is to begin. Members not receiving Chess Life who wish to vote must furnish their date of birth to the USCF office.

Q: Who are Delegates and what do they do?
A: The Board of Delegates is responsible for the management of the USCF. It shall formulate general policy, adopt the annual budget, and write the Bylaws. Section 2. Number. The Board of Delegates shall be composed of the Executive Board members, the Delegates at Large, and 125 Delegates, apportioned among the states in proportion to their resident USCF membership as of November 1 of the year prior to Delegate elections, except that each state with thirty or more members must have at least one Delegate. Each state with 1000 or more USCF members must have at least two Delegates. In addition, any Executive Board member-elect who is not already a Delegate becomes a Delegate immediately upon certification of the election result.

Q: What are Alternate Delegates and what do they do?
A: There shall be 125 Alternate Delegates, with each state having one Alternate Delegate for each Elected Delegate. All Life Voting Members under previous editions of these Bylaws shall automatically become Additional Alternate Delegates if they are not elected as Delegates. (Bylaws Section 3 governing the currently elected alternate delegates) There shall be 375 Alternate Delegates apportioned among the states in proportion to their USCF membership as of November 1 of the year prior to the Delegate elections, except that each state with 200 or more USCF members must have at least one Alternate Delegate, and each state with at least 400 USCF members must have at least two Alternate Delegates. All Life Voting Members under previous editions of these Bylaws shall automatically become Additional Alternate Delegates if they are not elected as Delegates.

Q: How do you get Nominated as a Delegate?
A: Members may be nominated for Delegate from the state in which they reside by submission of either a nomination from the official State Chapter to the USCF Secretary postmarked on or before February 1st of an Election Year, or a petition bearing the signatures of 10 USCF members who are residents of their state postmarked on or before April 1st of an Election Year. State Chapters shall submit an ordered list of nominees and the ballots shall list the State Chapter nominees in that order. Ballots shall indicate which candidates were nominated by their state chapter and they shall appear ahead of other nominees. A candidate petition may nominate only one candidate, who must consent to nomination by either signing the petition or by notifying the Secretary. State Chapters shall obtain the consent of all candidates they nominate.
Delegates and Alternate Delegates for each state shall be elected by the Voting Members of their state. Ballots for that purpose shall be included in an issue of Chess Life to be mailed prior to June 10 with ballots to be returned no later than July 20 of a year in which there is an election so that the ballots can be counted no later than August 1. Ballots shall be authenticated by use of official mailing labels provided with the ballots. Candidates nominated by their state chapter shall be designated as such on the ballot. Electronic voting may be used in addition to the ballot in Chess Life. Voting Members are allowed to vote for up to the designated number of Delegates for their state or voting district. An ordered list shall be created listing candidates in the order of votes received, highest first. A candidate must receive at least one vote to appear on this list. From this list, the designated number of Delegates shall be elected from the top of the list and the designated number of Alternate Delegates elected from the remaining candidates on the list. Once the list of Delegates and Alternates has been certified by the Board of Delegates (pending the breaking of any ties by the State Chapter as described below), any vacancies resulting from the death or resignation of an elected Delegate or Alternate shall be filled by the State Chapter as specified in Article V, Section 6A of the Bylaws. The ordered list of candidates shall also serve as the initial ordered list for filling vacancies at any meeting of the Board of Delegates’ Meeting as specified in Article V, Section 6A.

Q: How long is the term for a Delegate?
A: Delegates shall serve a term of two years commencing at the conclusion of the Delegates meeting at which their election is certified. Ties shall be broken by the President of the State Chapter in which the tie occurs. If the President of the State Chapter has not responded by October 1st, or if the President is involved in the tie, the other officers in the State Chapter shall be contacted and asked to break the tie. The response received by November 1st from the highest ranking Officer ( in order, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, members at large ) shall break the tie. If no response is received, any other official contacts for the State Chapter as provided on their latest affiliate renewal shall be contacted and asked to break the tie. If no response is received by December 1st, the tie shall be broken by the Executive Board. Elections for Delegates shall be held every evennumbered year starting in 2000. A member may not cast more than one vote for any person. Upon resolution of the Board of Directors of a State Chapter, communicated in writing to the USCF Secretary prior to April 1st of an Election Year, a state may be divided into two voting districts for the purpose of ensuring geographic representation. The resolution must specify how the division is to be made and how many Delegates and Alternate Delegates will be allocated to each district. The allocation shall be roughly proportional to the USCF membership in each district. Only voters from a district can vote for the Delegates and Alternate Delegates from that district.

Q: What is a Delegate at Large?
A: Delegates at Large shall consist of the following:
A. All USCF Presidents who have served at least three consecutive years, upon completion of their term and are so elected by a majority of the Board of Delegates.
B. Those individuals who have rendered distinguished service to chess and who are elected by at least a 3/4 vote of the Board of Delegates at two consecutive Annual Meetings by a motion on the advance agenda for both meetings. The number of individuals in this category shall not exceed twenty.
The term of the Delegates at Large shall commence at the Annual Meeting at which they achieve Delegate at Large status and continue for three more Annual Meetings. A Delegate at Large whose term is expiring or has expired may be elected to a new term.

Q: Where can I find the Bylaws of the U. S. Chess Federation?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/2004Bylaws.pdf

Q: Where can I find the current Executive Board Members?
A: http://www.uschess.org/about/uscfeb1.php

Q: What is the Standard of Conduct for the Executive Board and where can I find it?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/conduct.html

Q: Where can I find the Code of Ethics?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/codeofethics.php

Q: Where can I find the Financial Statements of the U. S. Chess Federation?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/reports_index.php

Q: Where can I find the minutes and motions from the Executive Board Meetings?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/

Q: Where can I find the different USCF Committees?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/index.php#committee

Q: Where can I find the Executive Board Newsletter?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/govern/PbMtg.php

Q: Where can I find out information on Chess Trust?
A: http://www.uschess.org/org/patrons1.php

Q: Are there additional US Chess Federation FAQs available?
A: Yes. Our index of "FAQ's" is offered on our USCF Homepage.